Sarasota-Bradenton International Airport Suffers Extensive Damage from Hurricane Milton, to Remain Closed Until October 16

Sarasota-Bradenton International Airport (SRQ) has been severely impacted by Hurricane Milton, which made landfall near Siesta Key on Wednesday, October 9. The hurricane’s powerful eyewall brought winds exceeding 100 mph, causing significant damage to the airport’s infrastructure.

The most notable damage is the complete loss of the roof over Concourse B, which houses the screening checkpoint and all 13 aircraft loading gates. Photos from the airport reveal extensive debris and water damage in the boarding gates and waiting areas, as well as a nearly destroyed general building outside the main terminal.

The airport closed at 4 p.m. on Tuesday, October 8, in anticipation of the hurricane’s arrival. Weather instruments at the airport confirmed that the eye and its potent eyewall passed through the area, with wind gusts reaching as high as 102 mph. The extreme winds caused power outages, leading to a halt in weather data reporting from the airport.

As a result of the damage, SRQ will remain closed to commercial flights until October 16 at 9 a.m. Airport officials have assured that the SRQ team is actively engaged in cleanup and repair efforts. “The SRQ team is hard at work,” they stated, expressing gratitude for the public’s understanding.

Other airports in the region, such as Tampa International Airport and St. Pete-Clearwater International Airport, have already begun resuming operations. Tampa International Airport reopened on Friday, while St. Pete-Clearwater International Airport plans to resume flights starting at 4:30 a.m. on Saturday.