Airports, major retail center reopen in Tampa Bay region

Tampa International Airport is set to reopen at 10 a.m. Friday, having sustained little to no damage from Hurricane Ian, the storm that devastated communities in Charlotte, Collier and Lee counties. The airport suspended operations at 5 p.m. Tuesday prior to Ian’s landfall.

However, TIA anticipates higher-than-normal passenger volumes over the coming days, so travelers are urged to arrive at the airport at least two 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,” TIA CEO Joe Lopano states in a news release. “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.”

Across the bay, St. Pete-Clearwater International Airport also planned to reopen on Friday. Like TIA, the facility reported no significant damage, though passengers are encouraged to monitor their airlines’ communications for updated flight information.

Also reopening at 10 a.m. Friday is International Plaza, the shopping center near TIA. The facility will resume its normal operating hours of 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Mondays through Saturdays and 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sundays.