ST JOHN’S, Antigua (CMC) – The regional airline, LIAT, has announced the cancellation of more than 25 flights over the next three days as the Leeward Islands prepare for the passage of Hurricane Danny.

In a statement, the airline said that it had been forced to cancel the flights from Sunday to Tuesday “due to the pending closure of several airports in the LIAT network”.

The airline said that as many as 39 flights had been cancelled affecting travellers going to Barbados, St Lucia, Antigua, St Maarten, St Thomas, Tortola, Dominica, St Kitts-Nevis, Anguilla among other destinations.

“Any additional affected flights will be published in a subsequent advisory,” the airline said, noting that its call centre will also be closed on Monday.

“Customers affected by the disruptions who wish to rebook for a later date will be allowed to do so without change fees or fare differences for a period of two weeks from the date of their original scheduled travel. Following the two-week grace period, passengers will be required to pay applicable fare and change fees when re-booking.”

The Miami-based National Hurricane Centre (NHC) said that Hurricane Danny, the Category Three storm is weakening and could become a tropical storm by Sunday.

It said that the first named hurricane of the 2015 Atlantic Hurricane Season was now packing winds of 100 miles per hour (mph) and was located 740 miles east of the Leeward Islands.

“Interests in the Leeward Islands and the Virgin Islands should monitor the progress of Danny. Tropical storm watches will likely be required for portions of the Leeward Islands and the Virgin Islands later today,” the NHC said, adding “Danny is expected to become a tropical storm on Sunday as it approaches the Leeward Islands.”