Hurricane Katrina cancels some Continental flights

With heavy winds and rains devastating the South-east American coast, Continental Airlines has been forced to cancel some of its flights to the region.

Starting today, all flights to and from New Orleans, Baton Rouge, Lafayette, Mobile, Gulfport/Biloxi, Pensacola, and Fort Walton Beach have been cancelled.

Passengers with journeys involving any of these airports or those in the affected areas are advised to check with Continental regarding the status of their flight.

They can also check Continental's website, which is offering real-time flight status information, as well as weather advisories.

In total Continental has cancelled 111 flights today, and that could continue for as long as the hurricane remains in the area. However, the airline has said that service will resume as soon as the airports announce that conditions are safe again.

If a flight is cancelled or otherwise affected, Continental is allowing passengers to reschedule or reroute their travel for free. This offer will last through September 3, but could last longer if the storm persists.

Numerous other airlines have cancelled their flights to destinations in the Gulf Coast, offering similar rescheduling and rerouting options.

The duration of a hurricane is difficult to predict. Some, such as Hurricane Charlie, have come and gone in just 6 to 8 hours, but some can last more than 24 hours.

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