Orlando Airport, World’s Seventh Biggest, Will Open Glossy $3 Billion Terminal And Seek More Flights

Orlando Airport, World’s Seventh Biggest, Will Open Glossy $3 Billion Terminal And Seek More Flights

Like many airports, Orlando International Airport kept building through the pandemic. Not only did altered travel patterns make MCO the world's seventh busiest airport in 2021, but also work continued on a new $2. 8 billion terminal that will open next month. The new terminal encompasses 300 acres and adds 15 gates, increasing airport capacity by an estimated 10 million to 12 million passengers. In 2021, the airport ranked seventh in the world with 40. 3 million passengers. In 2019, it ranked 31st in the world with 50. 6 million passengers. Pandemic travel pattern restrictions sharply reduced international travel, while U. S. domestic leisure travel recovered quickly, particularly in Florida and other parts of the South. What distinguishes Terminal C, besides modernity, sweeping views and 1. 8 million square feet of space, is technology improvements, particularly in security and baggage handling. "We are excited rolling out a terminal that is at the cutting edge of passenger convenience and leveraging technology," said CEO Kevin Thibault. The technology is so splashy, Thibault said, that it could boost airport traffic, especially once it is linked to a rail line that will offer 18 daily trips between the airport and heavily populated South Florida.