Irma: Florida flights resume after hurricane while thousands of passengers remain stranded

BA and Virgin aim to start flying passengers home from Miami and Orlando tonight

Flying tonight? Orlando Airport warning about flights after Hurricane Irma (Orlando Airport)

American Airlines flight 1070 signalled the resumption of flights at Florida's main hub airport when it touched down in Miami just after 7am local time (noon BST) on Tuesday. The Boeing 737 jet from Seattle was the first operation at the airport for four days, after Hurricane Irma struck the "Sunshine State".

A wave of overnight flights from South America, starting with Sao Paulo, Brasilia and Rio, followed in its wake.

But hundreds of flights to and from Florida’s main hub have been cancelled on Tuesday, as airlines struggle to re-establish operations after Hurricane Irma. With aircraft moved out of the area to avoid storm damage, the usual first wave of departures from Miami did not take place. Outbound flights will begin only when aircraft have arrived from outside Florida.

The same American Airlines jet is therefore likely to be the first departure for four days, too, leaving gate D48 for Las Vegas shortly before 9am local time (2pm BST).

British Airways and American Airlines cancelled their morning services from Heathrow to Miami, but BA is planning to dispatch a Jumbo jet this afternoon on the route as scheduled at 1.45pm. BA has deployed aircraft to Bermuda, Baltimore and Boston in order to be able to fly in to Florida, pick up passengers and return to London with the same flight crew.

The airline expects to operate both its flights from Miami to Heathrow today, though the earlier departure due out at 5.10pm local time has been delayed by two-and-a-half hours.

BA will also operate one of its two daily flights from Orlando to Gatwick.

At Orlando, where thousands of British holidaymakers are waiting to return, the main airport is resuming “some limited commercial service”.

Damage to the airport includes “Water intrusions throughout the Main Terminal” and “Debris and obstructions on airport roadway system”.

The airport says: “After multiple days of cancelled flights, all passengers are advised to verify a confirmed seat assignment with their individual airline before arriving at the airport.”

Virgin Atlantic is sending five Boeing 747s from Gatwick, Manchester and Glasgow to Orlando to pick up almost 2,000 stranded passengers.

BA’s services to and from Tampa continue to be cancelled, and Key West airport remains closed.

Many curfews are still in operation throughout Florida, with no cars permitted in South Beach, Miami, until noon on Tuesday (5pm BST).