Lois Larson
Orlando International Airport (MCO) is a major airline hub located 6 miles southeast of downtown Orlando, Florida. MCO is the airport code for Orlando International Airport, which was originally built for the U.S. military in the early 1940s. The airport's code, MCO, stands for McCoy Air Force Base, its former name. Orlando International Airport is one of the largest commercial airports in the United States in terms of land area, covering 47 square kilometres.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Full Form | McCoy Air Force Base |
| Airport Name | Orlando International Airport |
| Location | 6 miles (9.7 km) southeast of downtown Orlando, Florida |
| Area | 47 sq. km. (18.1 sq. mi.) |
| Land Area | 11,605 acres (4,696 ha) |
| Ranking in the US by Land Area | 5th largest airport |
| Ranking in the US by Passenger Traffic | 8th busiest airport |
| Ranking in Florida by Passenger Traffic | 2nd busiest airport |
| Number of Destinations | Over 110 |
| Number of Restaurants and Cafes | More than 70 |
| Number of Retail Stores | More than 90 |
| Number of Concourses | 4 |
| Number of Gates | 93 |
| Operating Base | Breeze Airways, Frontier Airlines, Southwest Airlines, Spirit Airlines, and JetBlue Airways |
| Largest Carrier by Passengers Carried | Southwest Airlines |
| Year of Construction | 1940s |
| Previous Name | Orlando Municipal Airport |
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What You'll Learn
MCO stands for McCoy Air Force Base
McCoy Air Force Base was a Strategic Air Command (SAC) installation, which closed in 1975 following the end of the Vietnam War. The site was redeveloped and is now known as Orlando International Airport, which retains the base's original FAA LID airport code of MCO.
Orlando International Airport is located 6 miles southeast of downtown Orlando, Florida. In 2024, it was the busiest airport in the state of Florida and the ninth busiest in the United States, with 57,211,628 passengers. It covers 47 square kilometres and is the fifth-largest airport in the US by land area.
The airport is the primary operating base for Breeze Airways, Frontier Airlines, Southwest Airlines, and Spirit Airlines. It is also a focus city for JetBlue, with Southwest being the airport's largest carrier by passengers carried.
There are still several tributes to Colonel McCoy at the airport, including a portrait of him hanging in the airport's main landside terminal.
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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 US in terms of land area. Covering 11,605 acres (4,696 ha), it is the fifth-largest airport in the country by land area. It is also one of the busiest airports in the US, handling 5 million passengers in 1978, which rose to 47 million in 2018 and 57.2 million in 2024. It is the busiest airport in Florida, serving as a major international gateway for the region with over 1,000 daily flights on more than 40 airlines, serving over 170 domestic and international destinations.
The airport's IATA code, MCO, is derived from its previous use as the McCoy Air Force Base, named after Colonel Michael Norman Wright McCoy, a former pilot who was killed during a bombing and navigation competition. The base was closed in 1975 following the end of the Vietnam War, and the airport opened to commercial traffic in the early 1960s. Today, it is a joint civil-military facility, serving as an operating base for several major airlines and as a hub for Delta Air Lines until 2007.
Orlando International Airport is located 6 miles (9.7 km) southeast of downtown Orlando, Florida. It features North America's fourth-tallest control tower at 345 feet and is a designated Space Shuttle emergency landing site. The airport has four runways, with the longest being 10,181 feet (3,103 meters) long, capable of handling widebody airliners. The airport has invested in expanding its facilities to accommodate larger aircraft, such as the Boeing 787.
The airport is overseen by the Greater Orlando Aviation Authority (GOAA) and managed by a CEO appointed by the Authority. It has a team of approximately 800 full-time employees and has implemented various initiatives to enhance the passenger experience and ensure a safe environment, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic. Orlando International Airport has also been a pioneer in accepting modern payment methods, becoming the first airport in Florida to accept E-Pass and SunPass toll transponders for parking in 2005.
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$9.95
The airport is a hub for airlines like Southwest, JetBlue, and Spirit
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, a Strategic Air Command (SAC) installation that was closed in 1975 following the end of the Vietnam War.
MCO is one of the largest commercial airports in the United States in terms of land area. It is the busiest airport in Florida and the ninth busiest airport in the country, serving as a major international gateway for the region. The airport features two terminals: the North Terminal Complex and Terminal C, which is found south of the airport property.
In addition to these airlines, MCO serves as an operating base for several other carriers, including Breeze Airways, Frontier Airlines, and more. With over 1,000 daily flights on more than 40 airlines, Orlando International Airport is a bustling hub for domestic and international travel, catering to millions of passengers each year.
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MCO has North America's fourth-tallest control tower
Orlando International Airport (MCO) is the primary international airport located 6 miles (9.7 km) southeast of downtown Orlando, Florida. Covering 47 square kilometers (18.1 sq mi), it is the fifth-largest airport in the United States by land area. MCO is one of the largest commercial airports in terms of land area in the country, spanning 11,605 acres (4,696 ha).
MCO boasts North America's fourth-tallest control tower, standing at 345 feet (105 m). This tower, which opened in 2002, replaced two earlier control towers: the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) tower and the US Air Force (USAF) control tower. The new tower's height serves a practical purpose, allowing air traffic controllers an excellent bird's-eye view of the airport to direct air traffic in and out and on the ground.
The construction of this new tower and the airport's expansion have contributed to significant growth in passenger numbers. In 1978, the airport handled 5 million passengers, and by 2018, that number had surged to 47 million. MCO 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.
The airport's code, MCO, originates from its former name, McCoy Air Force Base, a Strategic Air Command (SAC) installation closed in 1975 following the Vietnam War. Today, MCO serves as an operating base for several airlines, including Breeze Airways, Frontier Airlines, and Southwest Airlines, the airport's busiest carrier.
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MCO offers shuttle services to Disney World and nearby hotels
Orlando International Airport, also known as MCO, is the primary international airport in 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). The airport, which served over 57 million passengers in 2024, is a major international gateway to the Florida region, with daily flights to over 170 domestic and international destinations.
Mears Connect has been providing transportation services to and from MCO for over four decades. They offer direct, round-trip airport transfers with minimal wait times and competitive rates. Their shuttle services are a convenient and cost-effective alternative to renting a car or using ridesharing services like Uber, especially for families with young children as kids under three ride for free.
In addition to the shuttle services, MCO also provides other transportation options, including taxi and car hire services, to and from Disney Resort hotels. The airport is easily accessible via two toll roads, SR 528 (Beachline Expressway) and SR 417 (Central Florida GreeneWay), which offer automatic toll collection for added convenience.
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Frequently asked questions
MCO stands for McCoy Air Force Base, the airport's original name.
The full name of the airport is Orlando International Airport, located in Central Florida.
The airport code MCO comes from the airport's former name, McCoy Air Force Base, which was named after Colonel Michael Norman Wright McCoy, a pilot who was killed during a bombing and navigation competition.
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