Featured Map for 18 September 2017:
Boeing 747s Provide Hurricane Irma Relief

It has been widely reported that Delta operated a Boeing 747 on a special, evaculation flight from Detroit to Florida (Orlando, specifically) on 8 September 2017, in advance of Hurricane Irma. DL 2517 was planned to depart Detroit at 12:15 pm local time and return from Orlando at 4:00 pm. The two flights departed 29 minutes and 58 minutes late, respectively, though on this occasion it's doubtful anyone complained about the minor delay.

The same aircraft (N667US) flew another round trip to Orlando the next day, substituting for a smaller aircraft on scheduled trips. Earlier in the morning, N666US had been used to upgauge another DTW-MCO-DTW trip, after having upgauged a DTW-ATL-DTW trip the previous evening.

After the hurricane, another 747 (PH-BFT) helped provide relief and post-hurricane evacuation for St. Maarten which was directly in Hurricane Irma's path. Last Friday, KLM flew a 747-400 from Amsterdam to Curaçao. Saturday morning, loaded with relief supplies and personnel, the aircraft flew the 96-minute flight to St. Maarten, then flew evacuees to Aruba. Yesterday morning, the aircraft ferried to Curaçao and then flew another relief flight to St. Maarten and evacuation flight to Aruba.

KLM's flights were the first time a 747 has visited St. Maarten since the "final" KLM 747 flew over Maho Beach on 28 October 2016. This weekend's 747 flights were surely as eagerly awaited.

Today's Featured Map illustrates these Delta and KLM flights along with the path of Hurricane Irma. (KLM's ferry flights are in grey.)

References and additional information:

• Delta Enlists Soon-to-Be-Retired Boeing 747 in Irma Exodus – Bloomberg (8 September 2017)
• Delta is sending its Boeing 747 jumbo jet to help people escape Hurricane Irma – Business Insider (8 September 2017)
• KLM sends plane to assist evacuation – The Daily Herald (15 September 2017)
• Last ever KLM 747 to buzz the beach at St Maarten touches down – Daily Mail (31 October 2016)
• Hurricane & Tropical Cyclone Details – Weather Underground
• Delta Air Lines
• KLM Royal Dutch Airlines
  
  
• Featured Map: Hurricane Irma Closes Florida (11 September 2017)