TAMPA, Fla. — Tampa International Airport announced that it will be reopening to the public at 8 a.m. Friday after shutting down Tuesday due to Hurricane Milton.
In a news release, officials said staff conducted damage assessments Thursday morning and are working to address the effects of the storm, which made landfall last night around 8:30 p.m. near Siesta Key.
"Roadways are clear and parking garages are in good shape," officials stated in the release. "The City of Tampa confirmed the Airport is not experiencing wastewater issues and the Airport Rescue and Fire Fighting station had no significant damage."
But, heavy winds and rainfall from Milton did impact several areas of the airport. Officials listed the following impacts:
- TPA’s fuel depot lost power but is running on generator power while TECO is onsite assisting with permanent repairs.
- Six boarding bridges that move passengers from the airsides to aircraft were damaged by high winds.
- Debris across the campus, including at the Airside C shuttle guideway, and repairing leaks in parts of the main terminal and some gate hold areas.
- The general aviation fixed-base operator, Signature, has some significant structural damage, though no aircraft damage has been reported.
"TPA officials are working with our partners to facilitate the arrival of emergency relief flights this afternoon, and crew-only commercial aircraft tonight so they can be ready for morning departures," officials stated.