Gulf Shores International Airport Shuts Down at Noon Friday as Hurricane Isaias Approaches

GULF SHORES, Ala. — Gulf Shores International Airport will stop all flight and airfield operations at noon Friday, Oct. 9, as Hurricane Isaias approaches the Alabama coast. Airport officials say they hope to reopen at 10 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 10, but only if a post-storm safety assessment shows the airfield is ready.

Airport leaders called the temporary closure a proactive step to protect passengers, employees, tenants, general aviation pilots and the airport itself. Commercial, charter and general aviation flights will all stop during the shutdown. Only emergency services aircraft will be allowed to operate.

The reopening time is tentative. It depends on the storm clearing the region, damage assessments being completed and every movement area meeting federal safety standards. The airport said it will issue another announcement on reopening after its post-storm site evaluation, which is planned for Saturday morning.

Closure details at a glance

• Closes: Noon Friday, Oct. 9, 2026, to all operations except emergency services aircraft.
• Tentative reopening: 10 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 10, 2026, pending a post-storm safety assessment.
• Affected: Commercial airline service, charter flights and general aviation.
• Airline: Allegiant Air, the airport’s only commercial carrier, will notify passengers of cancellations and schedule changes.
• Allegiant contact: allegiantair.com or (702) 505-8888.
• Updates: The airport’s official website and social media channels.

How crews are preparing the airfield

Airport Director Jesse Fosnaugh said airport operations and maintenance staff have been carrying out emergency readiness procedures in the days before the storm. That work includes securing aircraft on the apron, anchoring ground support equipment, protecting terminal facilities and coordinating closely with emergency management officials.

“Our crews are working hard to prepare for this storm, including securing equipment and inspecting our facilities, and we remain ready to reopen as soon as conditions are safe for our staff to assess the airport’s condition after the storm,” Fosnaugh said. “The safety of our passengers, employees, and all airport users is our highest priority.”

The airport is working with City of Gulf Shores Emergency Management and the Baldwin County Emergency Management Agency on readiness and response before, during and after the hurricane.

Preparing an airport for a hurricane is a lot of work. Aircraft that can’t be flown out ahead of the storm have to be tied down or moved into hangars. Ground equipment such as baggage carts, tugs and fuel trucks has to be anchored or put away so it doesn’t become a projectile in high winds. Loose debris on ramps and taxiways must be cleared, since even small objects can damage aircraft engines once flights resume, and terminal buildings must be protected from wind and water.

What Allegiant passengers should do

Allegiant Air is the only commercial airline serving Gulf Shores, so its passengers are the travelers most directly affected. The airline has said it will notify travelers whose flights are canceled or changed because of the storm and the closure.

Allegiant has also issued a travel alert covering Friday, Oct. 9, through Oct. 12, and is contacting passengers about specific cancellations and delays.

Travelers booked to or from Gulf Shores this weekend should:

• Check their flight status directly with Allegiant online or by calling (702) 505-8888.
• Make sure their contact information in their reservation is up to date so they receive cancellation and rebooking notices.
• Have their confirmation number ready when calling about changes.
• Not drive to the airport for a flight that has not been confirmed. With the airport closed starting at noon Friday and hurricane conditions expected along the coast, roads may be crowded or dangerous.

Charter customers and general aviation pilots should contact their charter companies or local flight operators for schedules and rebooking information. Pilots should also watch Federal Aviation Administration notices for the field’s operating status.

Travelers who planned to drive to Mobile, Pensacola or another regional airport should keep in mind that the storm’s reach is wide. Airports across the region may also see delays or cancellations, so check with each airline before leaving.

Visitors whose return flights out of Gulf Shores are canceled should also keep the governor’s evacuation order in mind. Tourists south of the Intracoastal Waterway are required to leave, so waiting at the beach for a later flight is not an option. Travelers in that position may need to leave by car and work with their airline on rebooking from another airport after the storm.

Part of a wider shutdown on the coast

The airport closure is one of many steps being taken along the Alabama coast as Isaias approaches. On Thursday afternoon, Oct. 8, Gov. Kay Ivey ordered a mandatory evacuation of tourists and other non-residents from Baldwin County south of the Gulf Intracoastal Waterway, including Gulf Shores and Orange Beach, and from Mobile County’s Zone 1, including Dauphin Island and parts of Bayou La Batre. The order took effect at 2:30 p.m. Thursday and remains in place until the state of emergency expires or is modified.

The cities of Gulf Shores and Orange Beach have declared states of emergency. Bridges to the coastal islands will close once sustained winds reach 45 mph, and officials have warned visitors not to count on them staying open past Friday afternoon. Municipal facilities in Gulf Shores, Orange Beach and Foley are closing non-essential operations, as are state buildings in nine south Alabama counties.

The National Shrimp Festival, which was scheduled for this weekend on the Gulf Shores beachfront, has been canceled.

The forecast behind the decision

Isaias became a hurricane Thursday. The National Hurricane Center said it had reached Category 2 strength with 100 mph winds and was expected to strengthen further. The coast is under a hurricane warning and a storm surge warning.

Forecasters expect tropical storm-force winds, 39 to 73 mph, to reach Alabama’s beaches by late Friday morning, around the time the airport closes. Landfall is forecast somewhere along the Mississippi coast, Alabama coast or near Destin, Florida, around midnight Friday night into early Saturday. The National Weather Service has forecast 5 to 7 feet of storm surge for Alabama’s beaches and Mobile Bay if the peak surge arrives at high tide. Heavy rain and flash flooding are also possible, and a flood watch takes effect at 1 p.m. Friday.

Those conditions make it unsafe to fly or keep people working on an open airfield. Strong crosswinds and gusts can exceed what aircraft can safely handle on takeoff and landing, and heavy rain cuts visibility. Ground crews working outdoors in tropical storm-force winds also face serious risk. Closing ahead of the worst weather gives staff time to finish securing the airport and get to safety.

Why reopening depends on an inspection

The airport has tied its reopening to a post-storm safety assessment. After a hurricane, crews generally have to check runways, taxiways and aprons for debris and standing water, inspect lighting and navigation equipment, check fencing and buildings, and confirm that fueling systems and other services are working. The airport said flights will resume only when all movement areas meet federal safety standards.

If the airfield and terminal come through the storm in good shape, the airport hopes to reopen at 10 a.m. Saturday. If the inspection finds damage, flooding or debris that needs to be cleared, reopening could be delayed. Airport officials urged the public to watch the airport’s official channels for the latest on reopening.

Commercial flights may take longer to return than the airfield itself. Airlines often need time to move aircraft and crews back into position after a storm, so the first scheduled flights may come later than the airport’s reopening time. Passengers should rely on Allegiant for the status of their specific flights.

About Gulf Shores International Airport

Gulf Shores International Airport serves the Alabama beaches and the rest of south Baldwin County. It is known by the FAA identifier JKA, which comes from its former name, Jack Edwards National Airport, and it uses the passenger code GUF for airline service. The airport has long served general aviation, flight training and charter traffic, and it has grown in recent years with scheduled Allegiant service and terminal improvements. That growth has made it an increasingly important gateway for visitors to Gulf Shores and Orange Beach.

The airport works closely with Gulf Shores and Baldwin County emergency officials during severe weather. After a storm, airports along the coast can also serve as staging points for recovery flights, which is one reason the airport is keeping emergency services aircraft operating during the closure.

How to stay informed

Residents and visitors still in the area should follow official sources as Isaias approaches:

• Gulf Shores International Airport: Official website and social media for closure and reopening updates.
• Allegiant Air: allegiantair.com or (702) 505-8888 for flight status and rebooking.
• City of Gulf Shores: City website, social media and text alerts for local emergency information.
• Alert Baldwin: The Baldwin County Emergency Management Agency’s alert system for updates before, during and after the storm.
• National Weather Service Mobile/Pensacola: weather.gov/mob for local forecasts and warnings.
• National Hurricane Center: nhc.noaa.gov for official advisories on Isaias.

Officials are asking residents and visitors who remain on the coast to finish their preparations, stay off the roads once conditions deteriorate and follow instructions from local emergency managers until the storm has passed.