Jazmin Li
Orlando International Airport (MCO) is a major airport in the United States, located 6 miles southeast of downtown Orlando, Florida. It is one of the largest commercial airports in the country in terms of land area, covering 47 or 53.83 square kilometres. The airport served over 57 million passengers in 2023 or 2024, making it one of the busiest airports in the US. In this response, we will explore the features, history, and operations of Orlando International Airport, including its role as a hub for various airlines and its significance in the region's transportation network.
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What You'll Learn
Orlando International Airport's history
Orlando International Airport (MCO) is the primary international airport located 6 miles southeast of downtown Orlando, Florida. The airport code MCO comes from the airport's former name, McCoy Air Force Base, which was closed in 1975.
The airfield was originally constructed as a U.S. Army Air Forces facility, and military operations began in 1942 as Orlando Army Air Field #2, an auxiliary airfield to Orlando Army Air Base, now known as Orlando Executive Airport. In 1943, Orlando Army Air Field #2 was renamed Pinecastle Army Airfield, and the airfield was briefly used for unpowered glide tests of the Bell X-1.
In 1971, the opening of the Walt Disney World Resort and its Magic Kingdom theme park caused a surge in air traffic, with Eastern Airlines becoming Orlando's busiest carrier and the official airline of Walt Disney World. In 1974, McCoy Air Force Base was acquired by local authorities and renamed Orlando International Airport. The airport gained its current name and international status in 1976, and in 1978, it handled 5 million passengers.
In 1978, construction began on a new Landside/Airside Terminal complex, which was completed in 1981. The new terminal complex featured two Airsides on the west side of the terminal (known today as Airsides 1 and 3) and a third airside terminal added in 1990. The airport continued to expand throughout the 1980s and 1990s, with the addition of parking garages, a luxury hotel, and various other facilities.
Orlando International Airport is one of the largest commercial airports in the United States in terms of land area, covering 47 square kilometers. It is a major international gateway for the Florida region, with over 1,000 daily flights on more than 40 airlines serving over 170 domestic and international destinations. In 2024, the airport handled 57,211,628 passengers, making it the busiest airport in Florida and the ninth busiest in the United States.
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MCO's ranking in the US
Orlando International Airport, also known as MCO, is one of the largest commercial airports in the United States in terms of land area. Covering 47 square kilometres (18.1 sq mi) or 11,605 acres (4,696 ha), it is the fifth-largest airport in the country by land area. In 2024, MCO was the ninth busiest airport in the United States, with 57,211,628 passengers.
MCO has North America's fourth-tallest control tower, standing at 345 feet. The airport is also a major international gateway for the Florida region, with over 1,000 daily flights on more than 40 airlines serving over 170 domestic and international destinations. It is the primary international airport located 6 miles (9.7 km) southeast of downtown Orlando, Florida.
In terms of operational performance, MCO has been ranked as the 15th-best airport in the country. While it offers advantages such as low rental car prices, it is also notorious for long baggage wait times, with passengers often experiencing delays of up to 40 minutes for their luggage.
MCO has a rich history, initially constructed as a U.S. Army Air Forces facility, with military operations commencing in 1942 as Orlando Army Air Field #2. It has undergone various transformations, including serving as a Strategic Air Command installation and being renamed Pinecastle Army Airfield in 1943. The airport has also been a hub for several airlines, including Delta Air Lines until 2007 and AirTran Airways from 1993 to 2014. Today, Southwest Airlines is the busiest carrier at MCO.
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Airlines that use MCO as a hub
Orlando International Airport (MCO) is the primary international airport located 6 miles southeast of downtown Orlando, Florida. It is one of the largest commercial airports in the United States in terms of land area, covering 47 square kilometres (18.1 sq mi) and 11,605 acres (4,696 ha). In 2024, MCO handled 57,211,628 passengers, making it the busiest airport in Florida and the ninth busiest airport in the United States.
MCO serves as an operating base and hub for several airlines, including Breeze Airways, Frontier Airlines, Southwest Airlines, and Spirit Airlines. Southwest Airlines is the busiest carrier at MCO and is the airport's largest carrier by passengers carried. Silver Airways also uses MCO as a hub, and JetBlue, Frontier Airlines, Southwest Airlines, and Spirit Airlines use MCO as a focus city. Delta Air Lines previously operated a hub at MCO from 1987 until 2007, when they closed their hub and AirTran Airways relocated to Airside 4, which was primarily designed for Delta's hub operations. AirTran merged with Southwest Airlines in 2014.
MCO is also home to a maintenance base for United Airlines. The airport serves as a major international gateway for the Florida region, with over 850 to 1,000 daily flights on more than 40 airlines serving 135 to over 170 domestic and international destinations. Some of the international airlines serving MCO include Aer Lingus, British Airways, Lufthansa, Virgin Atlantic, and Icelandair.
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MCO's busiest year
Orlando International Airport (MCO) is the primary international airport located 6 miles southeast of downtown Orlando, Florida. In terms of land area, MCO is one of the largest commercial airports in the United States, covering 47 square kilometres (18.1 sq mi).
MCO has experienced significant growth in passenger traffic over the years. In 1978, the airport handled 5 million passengers. By 2018, this number had surged to 47 million.
The airport serves as a crucial operating base for several prominent airlines, including Breeze Airways, Frontier Airlines, Southwest Airlines, and Spirit Airlines. Southwest Airlines, in particular, stands as the busiest carrier at MCO. Additionally, the airport is a designated focus city for JetBlue.
To accommodate the growing passenger traffic, MCO has undergone expansions and improvements. The Greater Orlando Aviation Authority (GOAA) is responsible for managing and overseeing these developments. In 2024, plans were announced for a $40 million terminal renovation project, aiming to enhance the interior of Airsides 1 and 3 and levels 1 and 3 of Terminals A and B within the North Terminal Complex. This project also addresses parking concerns, including expanding spots available by reservation.
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MCO's terminals and runways
Orlando International Airport (MCO) is the biggest airport in Orlando, Florida. The airport covers 47 square kilometres (18.1 sq mi) and is the fifth-largest airport in the United States by land area. MCO is also one of the largest commercial airports in terms of land area in the country.
MCO features a main terminal building with 4 airside concourses. The terminal building is split into two sides: Terminal A and Terminal B. There is also a separate Terminal C, which was constructed recently to accommodate the growing number of passengers. Terminal A is used by airlines like JetBlue Airways, Frontier Airlines, and Spirit Airlines. Terminal B hosts airlines like Southwest Airlines, American Airlines, and Delta Air Lines. The newest Terminal C handles a mix of international and domestic flights, with airlines like Aer Lingus, Emirates, and British Airways.
The airport has a total of four runways. The west-side runways, Runway 18L/36R and Runway 18R/36L, were designed for B-52 Stratofortress bombers. Runway 17L/35R was opened in 2003, providing the airport with its fourth runway.
MCO offers various amenities, including dining, shopping, and lounges. The airport also features an on-site Hyatt Regency hotel within the main terminal structure. The hotel is located on the east side of the Terminal A/B complex, with guest rooms beginning on level five and above.
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Frequently asked questions
Orlando International Airport (MCO) is the biggest airport in Orlando.
Orlando International Airport covers 47 square kilometres (18.1 sq mi) and is the fifth-largest airport in the United States by land area.
Orlando International Airport served 57 million passengers in 2023, making it the second busiest international hub in the state of Florida.
The airport code MCO comes from the airport's former name, McCoy Air Force Base, a Strategic Air Command (SAC) installation that was closed in 1975.
MCO serves as an operating base for Breeze Airways, Frontier Airlines, Southwest Airlines, and Spirit Airlines. It is also a focus city for JetBlue.
