Owais Crawford
Orlando International Airport (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. In 2024, it had 57,211,628 passengers, making it the busiest airport in the state of Florida and the ninth busiest in the United States. The airport is also a popular hub for layovers and cruise ship departures, with nearly 3 million people passing through during the 2024 holiday season. With such a high volume of travellers, it's no surprise that Orlando International Airport is often busy, with travellers reporting delays and crowded conditions.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Number of passengers in 2021 | 40.3 million |
| Number of passengers in 2017 | 44.6 million |
| Number of passengers in 2024 | 57,211,628 |
| Busiest days in 2024 | December 20th through January 5th |
| Busiest days in 2025 | December 19th through January 4th |
| Number of passengers expected during the 2024 holiday season | 2.9 million |
| Number of passengers in 2018 | 47 million |
| Number of passengers in 1978 | 5 million |
| Orlando International Airport's ranking in the US by land area | 5th largest |
| Orlando International Airport's ranking in Florida in 2024 | Busiest airport |
| Orlando International Airport's ranking in the US in 2024 | 9th busiest airport |
| Number of passengers on March 16, 2019 | 90,804 (current record) |
| Number of passengers on February 27, 2022 | 74,772 |
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What You'll Learn
- Orlando International Airport is the busiest airport in Florida
- It is the ninth busiest airport in the United States
- The airport is a hub for several major airlines
- The airport is located near popular tourist attractions
- The busiest time to travel through the airport is during the Christmas and New Year's holiday season
Orlando International Airport is the busiest airport in Florida
Orlando International Airport (MCO) is the busiest airport in Florida. In 2024, it had 57,211,628 passengers, surpassing Miami International Airport to become the busiest airport in the state. The airport is located 6 miles (9.7 km) southeast of downtown Orlando, Florida, and serves 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 busiest time of year is during the Christmas and New Year's season, with nearly 3 million people passing through the airport during the 2024 holiday travel period, which ran from December 20th through January 5th. The airport's record for the busiest day was set on March 16, 2019, with 90,804 passengers.
Orlando International Airport is the primary international airport in Orlando, Florida, and it has continued to expand and develop its infrastructure to accommodate increasing passenger traffic. In 2017, the airport opened the Orlando International Airport Intermodal Terminal, a $684 million project that included a new 2,500-space parking garage and the Brightline higher-speed regional rail service to South Florida. The airport also launched its own radio station, FlyMCO 105.1 HD2, in 2016, providing passengers with access to airport information, local weather, and music.
The airport's growth can be attributed to its role as a hub for several airlines, including Breeze Airways, Frontier Airlines, Southwest Airlines, and Spirit Airlines. Southwest Airlines is the busiest carrier at MCO, and the airport serves as a focus city for JetBlue. Additionally, the airport's proximity to popular tourist destinations, such as Disney World and Universal Orlando Resort, contributes to its high passenger volume.
With ongoing expansion plans, Orlando International Airport is expected to accommodate up to 100 million passengers annually when completed. The airport's continuous development, convenient location, and efficient operations have solidified its position as the busiest airport in Florida.
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It is the ninth busiest airport in the United States
Orlando International Airport (MCO) is the primary international airport located 6 miles (9.7 km) southeast of downtown Orlando, Florida. In 2024, it had 57,211,628 passengers, making it the ninth busiest airport in the United States. The airport serves as a hub for several major airlines and is a focus city for JetBlue. It is also a major international gateway for the Florida region, with over 1,000 daily flights serving over 170 domestic and international destinations.
The airport's busiest time of year is during the Christmas and New Year season. In 2024, the busiest days to travel were from December 20th through January 5th. During this period, nearly 3 million people passed through the airport over a span of 17 days. To accommodate the high volume of travellers, the airport recommends arriving three hours early, reaching the security checkpoint two hours early, and arriving at the gate one hour in advance of the boarding door closing.
Orlando International Airport has continued to experience growth in passenger traffic over the years. In 1978, the airport handled 5 million passengers, which increased to 44.6 million in 2017. The airport surpassed Miami International Airport to become the busiest airport in the state of Florida. In 2018, the number of passengers rose to 47 million, reflecting a consistent increase in traffic.
The airport's growth has led to the development of additional infrastructure. The Orlando International Airport Intermodal Terminal opened in November 2017, providing connections to other terminals through an automated people mover system. The South Terminal Complex, including Terminal C, was completed in September 2022, adding 20 gates. Plans for further expansion include the addition of Terminal D to accommodate an annual passenger volume of 70 million. The airport's final estimated capacity is set at 100 million passengers annually upon completion of all expansion projects.
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The airport is a hub for several major airlines
Orlando International Airport (MCO) is a hub for several major airlines, including Breeze Airways, Frontier Airlines, Southwest Airlines, and Spirit Airlines. In addition, JetBlue uses the airport as a focus city. As a result, the airport serves as a significant 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 role as a hub for these airlines contributes to its high passenger volume. 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's passenger numbers have been steadily increasing over the years, with 44.6 million passengers in 2017, surpassing Miami International Airport, and 47 million in 2018.
The airport's busiest time of year is during the Christmas and New Year season. In 2024, the busiest days were from December 20th to January 5th, with nearly 3 million passengers expected to pass through during this period. To accommodate the growing passenger traffic, the airport has undergone expansion projects, including the construction of the South Terminal Complex, which includes Terminal C, which opened in 2022, and plans for Terminal D.
Orlando International Airport's role as a hub for several major airlines, combined with its convenient location in central Florida, contributes to its status as one of the busiest airports in the United States. The airport's continuous expansion and improvement projects aim to enhance its capacity and efficiency in handling the increasing passenger volume.
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The airport is located near popular tourist attractions
Orlando International Airport (MCO) is located in Orlando, Florida, and is the primary international airport serving the city and the surrounding region. The airport is situated just 6 miles (9.7 km) southeast of downtown Orlando, placing it in close proximity to several popular tourist attractions that draw visitors from around the world.
One of the major factors contributing to the airport's busy nature is its role as a gateway to Orlando's renowned theme parks and entertainment destinations. Orlando is famously known as the home of Walt Disney World, which includes theme parks such as Magic Kingdom, Disney's Hollywood Studios, and Epcot. Universal Orlando Resort, with its popular theme parks and attractions, is another major draw for tourists visiting the area. The airport's convenient location near these attractions makes it a preferred choice for travellers looking to experience the magic of Disney and Universal.
In addition to theme parks, Orlando offers a diverse range of tourist attractions that contribute to the airport's high traffic. The city boasts a vibrant cultural scene, with destinations such as the Dr. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts and numerous museums. Orlando is also known for its natural beauty, offering visitors opportunities to explore lush gardens, springs, and nature trails. The city's vibrant nightlife, dining options, and shopping districts further enhance its appeal to travellers.
The airport itself is a significant hub for several airlines, including Breeze Airways, Frontier Airlines, Southwest Airlines, and Spirit Airlines. It serves as a focus city for JetBlue, and Southwest Airlines is the busiest carrier at MCO. With over 1,000 daily flights on more than 40 airlines serving domestic and international destinations, the airport facilitates convenient travel to and from Orlando.
Orlando International Airport's location near these popular tourist attractions makes it a bustling hub, experiencing high passenger traffic throughout the year. The airport's efficient operations and convenient connections to world-class attractions contribute to its reputation as one of the busiest airports in Florida and the United States.
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The busiest time to travel through the airport is during the Christmas and New Year's holiday season
Orlando International Airport (MCO) is the primary international airport located 6 miles southeast of downtown Orlando, Florida. It is the fifth-largest airport in the United States by land area, covering 47 square kilometers. In 2024, the airport handled 57,211,628 passengers, making it the busiest airport in Florida and the ninth busiest in the United States.
The busiest time to travel through the airport is during the Christmas and New Year holiday season. In 2024, the busiest days to travel were from December 20th through January 5th, with nearly 3 million people passing through the airport during this period. The airport recommends arriving three hours early for flights during this busy period, aiming to be at the security checkpoint two hours before departure, and reaching the gate one hour in advance of the boarding door closing.
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. The airport serves as an operating base for several major airlines, including Breeze Airways, Frontier Airlines, and Southwest Airlines, the latter being the busiest carrier at MCO. With its convenient location and extensive flight network, it is no surprise that Orlando International Airport experiences significant traffic, especially during the holiday season.
The airport has been continuously expanding to accommodate growing passenger numbers. The Orlando International Airport Intermodal Terminal opened in November 2017, providing a connection to Terminals A and B through an automated people mover system. In September 2022, Terminal C opened, adding 20 new gates. Plans for further expansion include the addition of Terminal D to the South Terminal Complex, with a projected final capacity of 100 million passengers annually.
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Frequently asked questions
Orlando International Airport is the primary international airport in Orlando, Florida. It is the fifth-largest airport in the United States by land area and is a major international gateway for the Florida region, with over 1,000 daily flights on more than 40 airlines. In 2024, it was the busiest airport in Florida, with 57,211,628 passengers.
The busiest time of year to travel through Orlando airport is during the Christmas and New Year's season. In 2024, the busiest days to travel were December 20th through January 5th.
Orlando International Airport is the ninth busiest airport in the United States. In 2018, it was the second busiest airport in the state of Florida, with 47 million passengers.
On March 16, 2019, Orlando International Airport saw 90,804 passengers, which is the airport's record for the busiest day.
