Tampa International Airport is open and has resumed flight operations

After being closed for nearly three days due to Hurricane Ian, Tampa International Airport reopened to the public and resumed operations on Friday, Sept. 30.

Airport maintenance and operations staff inspected the airfield and facilities Thursday morning and determined TPA did not sustain any serious damage during the storm. Overnight and early Friday morning, Airport employees worked quickly to open the FAA tower, airline ticket counters, TSA screening checkpoints, shops and restaurants, baggage processing areas and other operations necessary to get passengers moving in and out of the Tampa Bay region again. Commercial aircraft that was removed ahead of the aircraft also returned to begin the first departures and arrivals.

With high passenger volumes expected, passengers are urged to arrive at the Airport at least 2 hours before their scheduled departure.

“We feel very lucky to have come out on the other side of this largely unscathed and are eager to restart operations after such a fraught and anxious week,” Tampa International Airport CEO Joe Lopano said. “We can now continue serving as an important resource for our travelers and community, and begin helping our fellow Floridians in their time of need.”

 TPA suspended operations at 5 p.m. on Tuesday, Sept. 27 ahead of Ian’s landfall to allow time to secure and protect Airport infrastructure from strong winds or rising water, and to ensure passengers and employees had time to get home or evacuate. The hurricane was forecast to potentially hit the Tampa Bay area directly, but the track shifted further south, sparing the Airport from the worst of the storm’s Category 4 impacts.

Passengers should check with their airlines for the latest information on flight status, as TPA operates and maintains the Airport but does not determine airline schedules.

Follow @FlyTPA on Twitter for the latest updates.