hurricane irma bore southern unite state wednesday airlines adjust flight schedule make cancellations assure passengers would pay unusually high fare ahead storm arrival irma second powerful hurricane approach unite state many weeks expect make landfall florida weekend already pummel islands caribbean rain pound wind surge surf wednesday storm precise trajectory remain uncertain airlines preemptively cancel flight likely affect regions put place travel waivers customers reschedule plan american airlines large u.s. carrier passenger traffic say wednesday would begin wind operations south florida include miami fort lauderdale west palm beach friday miami-bound flight arrive friday europe south america cancel american delta air line jetblue announce fare cap flight florida 99 jetblue american 399 delta residents try get storm path want try leave ahead hurricane focus safe evacuation rather worry cost flight jetblue spokesman doug mcgraw say airlines criticize past raise price wake deadly episodes irma approach social media users accuse carriers engage price-gouging scheme ahead dangerous storm response senators richard blumenthal edward markey call u.s. department transportation wednesday launch investigation potential opportunistic fare hike airlines would certainly offensive airlines rely publicly support infrastructure bolster american taxpayers nearly century use opportunity impose unconscionable cost consumers write letter transportation secretary elaine chao accusations unfair price techniques investigate past include deadly amtrak derailment 2015 u.s. officials say last year find evidence wrongdoing instance unite airlines take substantial financial hit hurricane harvey slam texas last week say suspend operations san juan puerto rico u.s. territory rake powerful category hurricane wednesday afternoon extend travel waiver include cities south florida case carriers add flight upsized aircraft florida caribbean storm strike accommodate many passengers evacuate area possible fort lauderdale-based spirit airlines say expect large operational hub affect plan move operations center detroit thursday even beyond u.s. airlines canadian carriers air transat westjet airlines launch evacuation operations wednesday remove passengers could affect hurricane irma dominican republic air canada allow passengers change flight impact areas free-of-charge westjet canada second-largest carrier operate rescue flight punta cana puerto plata wednesday could make additional trip santa clara cayo coco cuba thursday airline spokeswoman lauren stewart say carnival cruise line major operations florida cancel two bahamas-bound cruise say likely schedule would affect storm path impact become clear u.s. airlines brace passengers hurricane irma