PENSACOLA, Fla., Oct. 9, 2026 — Pensacola International Airport (PNS) closed its terminal to commercial flights at 10 a.m. Friday as Hurricane Isaias, now a Category 3 storm, closed in on the northern Gulf Coast. Airport officials expect to reopen on Saturday or Sunday, depending on what damage inspections find.
What is happening
- Closure: the terminal closed to commercial operations at 10 a.m. local time on Friday, October 9, WEAR-TV reports. The rest of Friday’s flights are cancelled, according to the Associated Press.
- Reopening: officials expect a return on Saturday, October 10, or Sunday, October 11. The exact day and time are TBA and depend on damage assessments.
- Saturday is already hit: FlightAware showed 35 Saturday flights cancelled at PNS by early Friday, about one-third of the day’s schedule, TravelPulse reports.
- The storm: on Friday morning Isaias had 120 mph winds and was about 240 miles south of Pensacola, moving north-northeast at 15 mph, the National Hurricane Center said. Some weakening is forecast before landfall.
- Landfall: forecast for late Friday or early Saturday between Mobile Bay, Alabama, and Choctawhatchee Bay, Florida, the AP reports. Pensacola sits between the two.
- Storm surge: 5 to 7 feet is forecast from Dauphin Island, Alabama, to Indian Pass, Florida.
- Nearby airports: Destin-Fort Walton Beach (VPS) has been closed since 9 p.m. Thursday. Mobile Regional (MOB) and Northwest Florida Beaches (ECP) each lost more than 60% of Friday’s flights.
Airline waivers covering PNS
| Airline | Travel dates covered | Key terms |
|---|---|---|
| Delta | October 9–10 | Rebook and travel by October 13; tickets issued by October 7 |
| American | October 9–10 | All fare classes; tickets bought by October 6 |
| United | October 9–10 | Rebooking deadline: TBA |
| Southwest | Through October 10 | Rebook or fly standby within 14 days of the original date |
These waivers are for revenue tickets. They matter to non-revs because they show how long displaced passengers will keep filling seats.
What it means for non-revs
- There is no flying in or out of PNS until the airport reopens. Do not position there, and do not list on Saturday flights without checking that the flight still exists.
- Expect heavy loads for days after reopening. Delta’s waiver lets revenue passengers rebook through October 13, and Southwest’s runs 14 days. Those passengers board ahead of every standby.
- The first day back may be thin. A third of Saturday’s flights were already cancelled before the storm arrived, and a Sunday reopening is possible.
- The usual alternates are not alternates this weekend. VPS is closed, and MOB and ECP have lost most of their Friday flights. Delta’s waiver also covers Birmingham, Montgomery, Dothan, Gulfport-Biloxi and Columbus, Mississippi, so expect disruption there too.
- Commuters based out of PNS should contact their airline now about commuter policies. A Monday trip may need a drive to an airport well outside the storm zone.
- Parking and rental car status: TBA. The airport had posted no storm notice on its website when we checked on Friday.
Sources
- WEAR-TV: Pensacola International Airport terminal to close Friday morning ahead of Isaias
- NBC Chicago (Associated Press): Hurricane Isaias to make landfall Friday night on northern Gulf Coast
- CBS12: Florida prepares for Category 3 Isaias: Evacuations ordered, shelters open, crews deployed
- TravelPulse: Hurricane Isaias Prompts Airline Waivers, Cruise Changes Along Gulf Coast
- Travel Market Report: Hurricane Isaias Takes Aim at Gulf Coast: Airline Waivers, Airport Closures, and Cruise Updates
- Delta Air Lines: Hurricane Isaias advisory
- Pensacola International Airport: flypensacola.com
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