Ruth Haines
Orlando International Airport (MCO) is a major hub for aviation in the United States. Located in Florida, it is one of the largest airports in the country in terms of land area. The airport has a rich history, having first been constructed as a U.S. Army Air Forces facility in 1942. Orlando International Airport has seen significant growth over the years, with passenger numbers increasing from 5 million in 1978 to 47 million in 2018. In recent times, the airport has witnessed record-breaking travel days, flight disruptions due to hurricanes, and even a plane fire incident. With ongoing developments and renovations, the airport continues to play a crucial role in the region's transportation network.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Airport Code | MCO |
| Location | 6 miles (9.7 km) southeast of downtown Orlando, Florida |
| Number of Passengers in 2024 | 57,211,628 |
| Ranking in the US | 9th busiest airport |
| Operating Base | Breeze Airways, Frontier Airlines, Southwest Airlines, Spirit Airlines |
| Number of Daily Flights | 1,000+ |
| Number of Destinations | 170+ |
| Number of Airlines | 40+ |
| Renovation Project Cost | $72 million |
| Departure Delays | Gate hold and taxi delays lasting 15 minutes or less |
| Arrival Delays | Airborne delays of 15 minutes or less |
| Recent Events | Hurricane Milton, Delta plane fire, record-breaking passenger numbers |
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What You'll Learn
- Orlando International Airport is one of the largest commercial airports in the US
- The airport is Florida's busiest and the ninth busiest in the US
- It is located 6 miles southeast of downtown Orlando
- The airport is home to a maintenance base for United Airlines
- In 2015, Emirates began daily service to the airport from Dubai
Orlando International Airport is one of the largest commercial airports in the US
Orlando International Airport (MCO) is one of the largest commercial airports in the United States. It is located in Orlando, Florida, and covers 47 square kilometres (18.1 sq mi), making it the fifth-largest airport in the country by land area. With over 1,000 daily flights on more than 40 airlines serving over 170 domestic and international destinations, it is also one of the busiest airports in the US. In 2023, it handled 57.7 million passengers, an increase from 47 million in 2018 and 5 million in 1978.
The airport has four runways, with the longest being 12,005 feet (3,659 meters) long, making it capable of handling widebody airliners. It is also home to a maintenance base for United Airlines and was a hub for Delta Air Lines until 2007. The airport has North America's fourth-tallest control tower at 345 feet. Orlando International Airport was also a designated Space Shuttle emergency landing site.
The airport is conveniently located between Jacksonville to the north, Miami to the south, Tampa to the southwest, and Daytona Beach to the northeast. It is also in close proximity to popular tourist attractions such as Disney World and Universal Studios, making it a popular choice for travellers. The airport offers a range of amenities and services to accommodate the large number of passengers it serves.
Orlando International Airport has a rich history, with the airfield originally constructed as a U.S. Army Air Forces facility during World War II. It was known as Orlando Army Air Field #2 and later renamed Pinecastle Army Airfield in January 1943. After the war, the airport was turned over to the city of Orlando and became a joint civil-military facility in the early 1960s. It was first opened as Orlando Jetport but was described as inadequate for its task, leading to its closure in 1981.
Today, Orlando International Airport continues to be a major gateway for the Florida region, offering a wide range of travel options and contributing significantly to modern commercial aviation in the United States.
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The airport is Florida's busiest and the ninth busiest in the US
Orlando International Airport (MCO) is Florida's busiest airport and the ninth busiest in the US. In 2024, it served 57,211,628 passengers. It is the primary international airport located 6 miles (9.7 km) southeast of downtown Orlando, Florida. The airport covers 47 square kilometres (18.1 sq mi) and is one of the largest commercial airports in the United States in terms of land area.
MCO is home to a maintenance base for United Airlines and was a hub for Delta Air Lines until 2007. The airfield was originally constructed as a US 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 Orlando Executive Airport). In 1978, the airport handled 5 million passengers. By 2018, that number had risen to 47 million.
Orlando International Airport serves as an operating base for several airlines, including Breeze Airways, Frontier Airlines, Southwest Airlines, and Spirit Airlines. Southwest is the airport's largest carrier by passengers carried. The airport is also a focus city for JetBlue. In addition, the airport has North America's fourth-tallest control tower, standing at 345 feet.
The airport has seen significant growth and development over the years. In March 2015, Emirates began daily service to the airport from Dubai International Airport, making Orlando International the first airport in Florida served by the airline. The airport has also undergone a major renovation project costing nearly $72 million.
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It is located 6 miles southeast of downtown Orlando
Orlando International Airport (MCO) is located 6 miles (9.7 km) southeast of downtown Orlando, Florida. In 2024, it was the busiest airport in the state, serving 57,211,628 passengers and ranking as the ninth busiest airport in the United States. Orlando International Airport covers 47 square kilometres (18.1 sq mi), making it the fifth-largest airport in the US by land area. With a height of 345 feet, MCO boasts North America's fourth-tallest control tower.
The airport's code, MCO, originates from its former name, McCoy Air Force Base, which was closed in 1975 following the end of the Vietnam War. During its time as a Strategic Air Command (SAC) installation, the base played a significant role in military operations. Today, the airport is a hub for several major airlines, including Breeze Airways, Frontier Airlines, Southwest Airlines, and Spirit Airlines. It also serves as a focus city for JetBlue. Southwest Airlines is currently the busiest carrier at MCO, and the airport is their largest by passenger numbers.
Orlando International Airport has witnessed significant growth over the years. In 1978, the airport handled 5 million passengers, a number that surged to 47 million by 2018. The airport has continued to break records, with March 16th, 2024, marking its busiest travel day ever during the spring break travel period. This prominent airport also made history in March 2015 when Emirates chose it as their first airport in Florida for daily service from Dubai International Airport.
Strategically located, Orlando International Airport is more than just a transportation hub. It has become a gateway to the world-renowned attractions of Orlando and the Florida region. With over 1,000 daily flights on more than 40 airlines, the airport connects travellers to over 170 domestic and international destinations. The airport's recent announcement of a $72 million renovation project underscores its commitment to enhancing the travel experience and accommodating the growing number of passengers choosing to fly through MCO.
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The airport is home to a maintenance base for United Airlines
Orlando International Airport (MCO) is home to a new maintenance base for United Airlines. The $315 million project broke ground in March 2025 and is expected to open in late 2027. The state-of-the-art Technical Operations complex will be located on the west side of the airport, along Tradeport Drive, and will cover an area of 354,400 square feet.
The facility will include two hangars, a warehouse, shops, offices, work areas, and staff parking facilities. It will have the capacity to accommodate up to six narrow-body aircraft or a combination of one wide-body and three narrow-body aircraft simultaneously.
The new complex will consolidate United's maintenance workforce of more than 1,000 employees into a single site, replacing the multiple facilities the airline currently occupies. United will continue to operate its existing facilities during construction, with plans to vacate and demolish an older hangar dating back to 1954 once the new campus is complete.
The development is part of a landmark agreement between United Airlines and the Greater Orlando Aviation Authority (GOAA). It is expected to enhance the airport's capabilities, strengthen the region's position as a leader in aviation, and create new economic opportunities. United currently operates more than 40 daily departures from MCO and has the world's largest mainline aircraft fleet.
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In 2015, Emirates began daily service to the airport from Dubai
Orlando International Airport (MCO) in Florida is a busy airport, having welcomed 62 million visitors in 2015. In September of that year, Emirates launched its 10th destination in the United States with a new daily nonstop service between Dubai and Orlando. The inaugural flight, carrying passengers from 29 different countries, arrived at Orlando International Airport on September 1st, 2015, and was greeted with an honorary water cannon salute. The return flight the following day marked the official inauguration of the daily round-trip service between the two cities.
The new route was Emirates' 10th US daily direct service and the first non-stop service from Florida to Dubai. It opened up access to Dubai and markets across the Middle East, South Asia, the Far East, and Africa for passengers flying from Orlando. Similarly, the route provided a direct link to world-class theme parks, entertainment, and business opportunities in Florida for passengers travelling from Dubai and beyond.
The launch of the new route was significant for several reasons. Firstly, it was expected to have a substantial economic impact, with estimates of over $100 million annually for the community. Secondly, it provided one of the quickest one-stop routings between Orlando and burgeoning markets like India and Southeast Asia. Finally, it marked the first time an airline had flown an A380 aircraft to Orlando on a regularly scheduled passenger flight, showcasing Emirates' Airbus A380 superjumbo.
The daily service between Dubai and Orlando was the result of a five-year partnership between Emirates and the Greater Orlando Aviation Authority. The route connected two of the world's busiest airports and strengthened the ties between the United States and the United Arab Emirates. The inaugural flight and subsequent daily service were celebrated by dignitaries and officials from both sides, including His Highness Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, Chairman and Chief Executive of Emirates Airline & Group, and Orange County Mayor Teresa Jacobs.
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Frequently asked questions
MCO. The airport code comes from the airport's former name, McCoy Air Force Base.
Orlando International Airport is one of the busiest airports in the United States. In 2024, it had 57,211,628 passengers, making it the ninth busiest airport in the country that year.
Orlando International Airport is a hub for Frontier Airlines, Southwest Airlines, Spirit Airlines, and Breeze Airways. It was a hub for Delta Air Lines until 2007.
A few notable incidents have occurred at Orlando International Airport, including a Delta plane catching fire, a Frontier flight making an emergency landing in Puerto Rico, and a plane aborting takeoff and getting stuck in the grass. The airport was also impacted by Hurricane Milton, which caused thousands of flight cancellations.
Yes, Orlando International Airport has announced a $72 million renovation project. The airport has also experienced significant growth in recent years, with an increase in passenger traffic from 5 million in 1978 to 47 million in 2018.
