At the dawn of the rainy and hurricane season, international airports in the region anticipate several delays and missed connections while planes not equipped with nautical equipment will have to remain grounded waiting for the storm to pass. If an aircraft is to fly more than 50 nautical miles from land, the Federal Aviation Administration requires it to carry what it calls “nautical” equipment. This includes life rafts, flotation devices, emergency locator beacons and additional radio transmitters.
Air carriers, whose regular route flies over land, cannot circumvent bad weather conditions by going over water if they do not have the appropriate nautical equipment. This is especially difficult for flights to Florida, a state surrounded by water. These rescue items are not standard on every aircraft. They weigh a lot, are expensive and need to be replaced periodically in addition to taking up space and weight normally reserved for luggage. And the heavier the plane, the more expensive it is in fuel and the travellers pay the bill.
Now understand the reason for delays when there are storms!