Roberta Aguirre
Orlando International Airport, located 6 miles southeast of downtown Orlando, Florida, is identified by the letters MCO. The airport, which is one of the largest commercial airports in the United States in terms of land area, was originally constructed as a US Army Air Forces facility and began military operations in 1942. The airport code MCO is derived from the airport's former name, McCoy Air Force Base, which was closed in 1975. Orlando International Airport is a major international gateway for the Florida region, with over 1,000 daily flights serving over 170 domestic and international destinations.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Airport name | Orlando International Airport |
| IATA code | MCO |
| ICAO code | KMCO |
| FAA LID | MCO |
| Location | 6 miles (9.7 km) southeast of downtown Orlando, Florida |
| Area | 47 sq km (18.1 sq mi) |
| Number of terminals | 2 (A and B) |
| Number of gates | ~100 |
| Number of passengers (2024) | 57,211,628 |
| Ranking in Florida | 1st busiest airport |
| Ranking in the US | 9th busiest airport |
| Ranking in North America (control tower height) | 4th tallest control tower |
| Operating base for | Breeze Airways, Frontier Airlines, Southwest Airlines, Spirit Airlines, JetBlue, United Airlines |
| Former name | McCoy Air Force Base |
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What You'll Learn
Orlando International Airport's IATA code is MCO
Orlando International Airport is located 6 miles (9.7 km) southeast of downtown Orlando, Florida. Covering 47 square kilometres (18.1 sq mi), it is one of the largest commercial airports in the United States in terms of land area. The airport is also the fifth-largest airport in the country by land area, with North America's fourth-tallest control tower. Orlando International Airport is the primary international airport in the region, serving as a major gateway with over 1,000 daily flights to more than 170 domestic and international destinations.
The airport is a base for several airlines, including Breeze Airways, Frontier Airlines, Southwest Airlines, and Spirit Airlines. Southwest Airlines is the busiest carrier at the airport, and it also serves as a focus city for JetBlue. In 2024, Orlando International Airport handled 57,211,628 passengers, making it the busiest airport in Florida and the ninth busiest in the United States. The airport has experienced significant growth, with 5 million passengers in 1978, 35 million annual passengers in 2012, and 47 million in 2018.
Orlando International Airport has two terminals (A and B), with a third terminal scheduled to begin operations in September 2022. The airport offers a variety of services and facilities for travellers, including shops, restaurants, and commercial opportunities. It is also known for its cleanliness and friendly staff. The airport provides access to popular destinations in the United States, Latin America, Europe, and other regions, with a total of over 850 flights per day.
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MCO comes from the airport's former name, McCoy Air Force Base
The airport code for Orlando International Airport is MCO. This comes from the airport's former name, McCoy Air Force Base, a Strategic Air Command (SAC) installation that was closed in 1975 as part of a general military drawdown following the end of the Vietnam War.
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. Orlando Army Air Field #2 was renamed Pinecastle Army Airfield in January 1943. At the end of World War II, Pinecastle was briefly used for unpowered glide tests of the Bell X-1 from B-29 aircraft before the program moved to California for the world's first supersonic flight.
With the establishment of an independent U.S. Air Force in 1947, the airfield was briefly placed in caretaker status until being reactivated during the Korean War as a Strategic Air Command (SAC) installation. In 1958, the airport was renamed McCoy, in commemoration of Colonel Michael Norman Wright McCoy.
Orlando International Airport is one of the largest commercial airports in the United States in terms of land area, covering 47 square kilometres (18.1 sq mi). It is located 6 miles (9.7 km) southeast of downtown Orlando, Florida, and is the primary international airport for the region, with over 1,000 daily flights on more than 40 airlines serving over 170 domestic and international destinations.
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The 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. It covers 47 square kilometres (18.1 sq mi) and is the fifth-largest airport in the country by land area. The airport is also one of the busiest in the US, handling over 57 million passengers in 2024, making it the ninth busiest airport in the country.
MCO is located 6 miles (9.7 km) southeast of downtown Orlando, Florida, and is the primary international airport for the region. It offers flights to some of the most popular destinations in the US, Latin America, Europe, and other regions. The airport serves as a base for several major airlines, including Southwest Airlines, Breeze Airways, and JetBlue.
With two terminals (A and B) and almost 100 gates, the airport provides a wide range of services and facilities for travellers. It is also a major commercial zone, offering a variety of shops, restaurants, and pubs. The airport is well-connected to the city of Orlando and the surrounding areas, with two toll roads, SR 528 (Beachline Expressway) and SR 417 (Central Florida GreeneWay), providing easy access.
Orlando International Airport has a rich history, initially constructed as a US Army Air Forces facility during World War II. It was formerly known as McCoy Air Force Base, which is where its airport code, MCO, originates. The airport has undergone several transformations over the years, including a period of caretaker status after the war until it was reactivated during the Korean War.
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MCO is 6 miles or 10km from central Orlando
Orlando International Airport, also known by the letters MCO, is located 6 miles or 9.5-9.7 km southeast of downtown Orlando, Florida. The airport is one of the largest commercial airports in the United States in terms of land area, covering 47 square kilometres (18.1 sq mi). MCO is the primary international airport in Orlando, serving as a major gateway for the region, with over 1,000 daily flights to more than 170 destinations.
The airport's IATA code, MCO, is derived from its former name, McCoy Air Force Base, a Strategic Air Command (SAC) installation that closed in 1975 after the Vietnam War. The airport's ICAO code is KMCO, and its FAA LID code is also MCO.
MCO is conveniently located near major attractions such as Walt Disney World and Universal Orlando, making it a popular choice for domestic and international travellers. The airport offers various transportation options to and from downtown Orlando, including buses, trains, taxis, and ride-sharing services.
The road distance from MCO to Orlando is approximately 13 miles, and it takes about 18 minutes to drive between the two locations. However, travellers can also take the Line 42 bus, which only takes 13 minutes and costs $2. Additionally, Brightline trains connect MCO to various destinations, including Orlando, with daily services operating from 5 am to 11 pm.
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MCO is the busiest airport in Florida
Orlando International Airport, also known by the airport code MCO, is the busiest airport in Florida. In 2024, it served 57,211,628 passengers, making it not only the busiest airport in Florida but also the ninth busiest airport in the entire United States. Orlando International Airport covers 47 square kilometres (18.1 sq mi) and is the fifth-largest airport in the US by land area. With over 1,000 daily flights on more than 40 airlines, it serves as a major international gateway to the Florida region.
The airport code MCO is derived 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. Despite its name, the airport does not offer scheduled international flights, although chartered international flights are not uncommon. The airport serves as an operating base for several airlines, including Breeze Airways, Frontier Airlines, Southwest Airlines, and Spirit Airlines. Southwest Airlines is the busiest carrier at MCO and is also the airport's largest carrier by passenger numbers.
The history of Orlando International Airport dates back to World War II, when it was constructed as a U.S. Army Air Forces facility. Military operations began in 1942 as Orlando Army Air Field #2, an auxiliary airfield to what is now known as Orlando Executive Airport. The airfield was renamed Pinecastle Army Airfield in 1943 and briefly used for glide tests of the Bell X-1 before the program moved to California. With the establishment of an independent U.S. Air Force in 1947, the airfield was placed in caretaker status until it was reactivated during the Korean War as a Strategic Air Command installation.
Orlando International Airport has continued to expand and develop over the years. In 1978, the airport handled 5 million passengers, a number that had grown to 47 million by 2018. The airport has also attracted new airlines, such as Emirates, which began daily service to the airport from Dubai International Airport in 2015. Today, Orlando International Airport remains a busy hub, even outside of peak season, and is a significant gateway to Central Florida for travellers from around the world.
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Frequently asked questions
MCO.
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.
IATA codes are often based on the first three letters of the airport's city. However, some codes are based on the airport's location, and others are not.
Orlando International Airport (MCO) is the primary international airport located 6 miles (9.7 km) 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 kilometers.
