In anticipation of danger posed by Hurricane Irene's path up the Eastern Seaboard, airlines canceled 26 flights that were scheduled to depart Tampa for destinations in the Northeast – including New York City; Newark, N.J.; Philadelphia; Washington D.C. and Baltimore.
In addition, 15 flights that were scheduled to arrive in Tampa have been canceled, said Brenda Geoghagan, a spokeswoman for Tampa International Airport.
Among those affected were some cruise ship passengers who, upon arriving at the Port of Tampa, expected to catch flights to airports in those cities. Tampa International Airport, working with the Tampa Port Authority and Carnival Cruise Lines, was helping those ship passengers whose flights were canceled, said Geoghagan.
Chad Lucas and his girlfriend, Shannon Emmanuel, both 23, and both of New Jersey, arrived in Tampa on Friday night from their five-day cruise to Grand Cayman and Cozumel -- only to find their Saturday flight cancelled.
"You'd find a TV here and there on the ship but we were having a good time, so we were trying not to focus on it too much," Lucas said at TIA today, where he and his girlfriend tried to find a way to make it back to Newark. "Figured we'd deal with it when we get in and we certainly are."
Emmaneul was supposed to start a new job as a licensed social worker Monday. As for Lucas, he had to call work to let his employers know about the hold-up. "I mean, it's a natural disaster. You're not going to be held accountable for that kind of stuff," he said.
The couple found a flight for Monday, but it will take them to La Guardia, not the airport at Newark.
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