Oct 8 (Reuters) - U.S. airlines are canceling flights

and adjusting schedules with some Florida airports closing in

anticipation of disruptions as Hurricane Milton prepares to make

landfall in the state on Wednesday.

As of Tuesday afternoon, 1,311 flights within, into, or out

of the United States were delayed, and 701 were canceled, with

that number expected to rise as more than 1,500 flights

scheduled for Wednesday have already been canceled, according to

flight tracking data provider FlightAware.

Southwest ( LUV ), one of the largest U.S. airlines, said it was

adjusting its schedule at several airports that were pausing

operations, including Tampa International Airport and Orlando

International Airport.

Orlando International, one of the busiest airports in the

U.S., said it would cease operations at 8 a.m. local time on

Wednesday, according to a notice on its website, while Tampa

International said it was closed on Tuesday.

Allegiant Air, Sun County Airlines and JetBlue

Airways ( JBLU ) are among the carriers most likely to be

negatively impacted if Hurricanes Milton and Helene, which hit

Florida recently, weigh on travel demand, according to analysts

at Raymond James.

JetBlue ( JBLU ) and Allegiant have canceled 41 and 92 flights,

respectively, on Tuesday according to FlightAware, while Sun

Country told Reuters it had canceled about 19 passenger flights.

"We expect service to resume later this week, but there are

a variety of factors that will go into that decision," Allegiant

Air said in a statement.

Hurricane Milton was expected to expand in size on Tuesday

as it approaches Florida's battered Gulf Coast, where more than

1 million people were ordered to evacuate.

In response to the expected disruptions, some airlines

including United Airlines, JetBlue ( JBLU ) and Air Canada ( ACDVF )

have added extra capacity to move people out of Florida.