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FORT MYERS - Despite some delays and cancellations, Southwest Florida International was quiet Saturday.

As Hurricane Irene battered the East Coast, the airport was a picture of calm and at some points looked more like a ghost town.

"It's very very quiet," said Tera Watson, "which is really unusual for southwest Florida."

"Quiet," echoed Brian Clark, "very, very quiet."

Ticket counters sat empty, like most of the airport, after at least four flights were canceled and a half dozen others were delayed.

"If you're planning on [going to] New York," said Clark, "you better watch out."

With some airports closing, planes sat empty as flights to New York, Philadelphia, Boston and Baltimore were scrapped because of Irene.

Flights elsewhere remained on time.

"I'm not worried about the hurricane at all," said Clark, who was flying to Dallas via Atlanta. "After seeing yesterday where the hurricane was going I wasn't concerned with it at all."

While some passengers napped to pass the time, we noticed a flight from Chicago arriving an hour and a half late. Passengers said that was because of mechanical problems and not Irene.

"That's what happens when you pick up people from an airport," said Pipper Meyer, "they're never on time."

And while Joe Lupo's flight to Pittsburgh was on time, he wishes it wasn't.

"I'd rather stay here," said Lupo, who was ending his vacation. "I'm not really ready to go back home."

MATT GRANT, REPORTER
mgrant@fox4now.com