MIAMI -- Flight operations returned to normal schedules at Miami
Airport today, airport officials said, following a series of
cancellations and re-routings stemming from severe rainstorms that
struck South Florida on Tuesday.
American Airlines, the largest carrier operating at Miami
Airport, cancelled 22 outbound flights early Wednesday, but it
expected to have restored all of its service by late evening.
Elsewhere, many employees could not get to work because of
flooded roads or the need to care for children who could not attend
schools, which were shut.
Carnival Cruise Line in Miami housed some employees overnight at
a nearby motel and overcame the absence of 50% of its 320 Miami
reservationists by arranging for its Colorado reservations center
employees to report to work early, thus diverting many calls
there.
Coastal hotels were operating as usual. In fact, Marriott held
grand opening ceremonies today for its downtown J.W. Marriott and
Miami Beach Marriott at South Beach.
The worst flooding occurred in west Miami residential areas near
the Everglades, where drainage is poor, according to David
Whitaker, senior vice president of marketing for the Greater Miami
Convention & Visitors Bureau.
A Monroe County Tourist Development Council spokesman said that
the storm had no lasting effect on the Keys.
Some American Eagle flights among others were cancelled or
postponed, but the Overseas Highway remained open.