Press

ORLANDO, FL. – Orlando International Airport (MCO) is rewriting its record book when it comes to passenger traffic. The Spring Break travel period began on March 4th and only a week later MCO recorded the busiest day in history on March 11th with 95,287 departing passengers. That’s nearly five thousand more than the previous mark set in 2019. The following day was the second busiest in airport history with nearly 93,000 passengers. It hasn’t been an isolated occurrence, four of the highest outgoing traffic totals in airport history have come during the early days of Spring Break 2023. In fact, since the start of the new year, Orlando International has logged eight of the 10 busiest days in airport history.

“We expected and prepared for the historic levels of passenger traffic we are seeing this Spring Break season,” said Kevin Thibault, Greater Orlando Aviation Authority Chief Executive Officer. “Our success in attracting a record number of guests is a testament to the popularity of our world-class destination and the efforts of airport staff to deliver the highest level of customer service.”

The Aviation Authority is estimating a total of 7,274,281 passengers will fly through the airport during the 46-day Spring Break travel period.

Customer Mobility Enhancements

Customer convenience was a key topic of discussion at the March board meeting of the Greater Orlando Aviation Authority (GOAA). The Board approved several items that will assist in passenger mobility. To continue offering shuttle service from Terminal C to Terminals A & B for rental car customers, the Authority extended an agreement with Mears Destination Services. The initial six-month deal was to run from September 25, 2022 through March 24, 2023. Extending the existing agreement will continue bus and van service until May 31, 2023

After testing motorized vehicles in Terminal C for the past three months, GOAA will enter into a one-year agreement with Oceaneering International, Inc. to provide six, multi-passenger vehicles, on-site maintenance and support. The Authority recognizes the importance of enhancing the customer experience and reducing the concern over walking distances in Terminal C.

Four vehicles are currently in operation post-security on the main domestic level, assisting passenger transit between the Palm Court and gate areas. The remaining two vehicles are utilized to transport passengers along the International Arrivals corridor. The vehicles will be operated by Aviation Authority contract personnel, with an on-site supervisor from Oceaneering. The one year agreement will allow for further assessments of the vehicles’ performance and to gather the necessary data for a future competitive procurement.

A reimbursement for airport rental car companies was also approved today by the Board. GOAA agreed to provide financial compensation to Avis, Enterprise, Hertz and Sixt for costs in excess of normal costs for supplying vehicle shuttling services from Terminal C Garage to Terminals A&B Quick Turnaround Facilities and for security personnel to protect vehicles in the Terminal C Garage.

Budget Excellence

Additionally, the Board congratulated the GOAA Finance Department for receiving the GFOA Distinguished Budget award for the Authority’s Fiscal Year 2022 Budget. It is the fifth year in a row the organization has been recognized with this award.

The Greater Orlando Aviation Authority is proud to operate Orlando International Airport (MCO) and Orlando Executive Airport (ORL), two of Florida’s premier air travel gateways. MCO is a world-class global connector, serving more than 50 million annual passengers in 2022. The recently-opened Terminal C is a next level facility that will add 10-12 million annual passengers of capacity and elevate the customer experience. ORL is conveniently located just miles from downtown Orlando and provides vital general aviation access to the heart of the region.