ORLANDO, FL. – In recognition of the Fourth of July Holiday, the Greater Orlando Aviation Authority and the Hyatt Regency Orlando International Airport will celebrate in advance with its traditional Liberty Weekend concert.

The performance by the Orlando Philharmonic Orchestra will be held at 8 p.m. Saturday, June 24, in the atrium of Orlando International Airport’s Main Terminal, Level 3.

With the theme “A Red, White and Blue American Celebration,” the music will include patriotic favorites and American classics.

Prior to the concert, at 7:45 p.m., the Colonel Joe Kittinger Award will be presented to a distinguished local veteran for service and contributions to aviation, the country and the Central Florida community.

The Aviation Authority and the Hyatt invite the community to attend the free event.

Those attending the event will receive three hours of complimentary garage parking. For ease of parking, please follow the blue roadway signs to the Terminal C parking garage. When entering Parking Garage C, pull a parking ticket. Attendees will be given a validated ticket at the event. Validation does not apply to valet parking or E-PASS/SunPass.

The Greater Orlando Aviation Authority is proud to operate Orlando International Airport (MCO) and Orlando Executive Airport (ORL), two of Florida’s premier air travel gateways. MCO is a world-class global connector, serving more than 50 million annual passengers in 2022. The recently-opened Terminal C is a next level facility that will add 10-12 million annual passengers of capacity and elevate the customer experience. ORL is conveniently located just miles from downtown Orlando and provides vital general aviation access to the heart of the region.

The Greater Orlando Aviation Authority (GOAA), which operates and manages the Orlando International Airport and the Orlando Executive Airport, will host the second of two public Open Houses to share information and gather feedback through a short survey about its 2023 Strategic Plan. The public is highly encouraged to attend.

ORLANDO, FL. – Orlando International Airport (MCO) is rewriting its record book when it comes to passenger traffic. The Spring Break travel period began on March 4th and only a week later MCO recorded the busiest day in history on March 11th with 95,287 departing passengers. That’s nearly five thousand more than the previous mark set in 2019. The following day was the second busiest in airport history with nearly 93,000 passengers. It hasn’t been an isolated occurrence, four of the highest outgoing traffic totals in airport history have come during the early days of Spring Break 2023. In fact, since the start of the new year, Orlando International has logged eight of the 10 busiest days in airport history.

“We expected and prepared for the historic levels of passenger traffic we are seeing this Spring Break season,” said Kevin Thibault, Greater Orlando Aviation Authority Chief Executive Officer. “Our success in attracting a record number of guests is a testament to the popularity of our world-class destination and the efforts of airport staff to deliver the highest level of customer service.”

The Aviation Authority is estimating a total of 7,274,281 passengers will fly through the airport during the 46-day Spring Break travel period.

Customer Mobility Enhancements

Customer convenience was a key topic of discussion at the March board meeting of the Greater Orlando Aviation Authority (GOAA). The Board approved several items that will assist in passenger mobility. To continue offering shuttle service from Terminal C to Terminals A & B for rental car customers, the Authority extended an agreement with Mears Destination Services. The initial six-month deal was to run from September 25, 2022 through March 24, 2023. Extending the existing agreement will continue bus and van service until May 31, 2023

After testing motorized vehicles in Terminal C for the past three months, GOAA will enter into a one-year agreement with Oceaneering International, Inc. to provide six, multi-passenger vehicles, on-site maintenance and support. The Authority recognizes the importance of enhancing the customer experience and reducing the concern over walking distances in Terminal C.

Four vehicles are currently in operation post-security on the main domestic level, assisting passenger transit between the Palm Court and gate areas. The remaining two vehicles are utilized to transport passengers along the International Arrivals corridor. The vehicles will be operated by Aviation Authority contract personnel, with an on-site supervisor from Oceaneering. The one year agreement will allow for further assessments of the vehicles’ performance and to gather the necessary data for a future competitive procurement.

A reimbursement for airport rental car companies was also approved today by the Board. GOAA agreed to provide financial compensation to Avis, Enterprise, Hertz and Sixt for costs in excess of normal costs for supplying vehicle shuttling services from Terminal C Garage to Terminals A&B Quick Turnaround Facilities and for security personnel to protect vehicles in the Terminal C Garage.

Budget Excellence

Additionally, the Board congratulated the GOAA Finance Department for receiving the GFOA Distinguished Budget award for the Authority’s Fiscal Year 2022 Budget. It is the fifth year in a row the organization has been recognized with this award.

The Greater Orlando Aviation Authority is proud to operate Orlando International Airport (MCO) and Orlando Executive Airport (ORL), two of Florida’s premier air travel gateways. MCO is a world-class global connector, serving more than 50 million annual passengers in 2022. The recently-opened Terminal C is a next level facility that will add 10-12 million annual passengers of capacity and elevate the customer experience. ORL is conveniently located just miles from downtown Orlando and provides vital general aviation access to the heart of the region.

ORLANDO, FL.- The busiest travel time of the entire year is now at Orlando International Airport (MCO), Spring Break 2023. Starting tomorrow, March 4th MCO is expecting approximately 7.3 million passengers during the 46-day travel period that runs until April 18th. This represents an anticipated 13 percent increase over last year or nearly 1 million more travelers.

Based on pre-spring break traffic numbers, MCO is prepared at any point during this window to set an all-time daily record for the number of passengers at Orlando International during a 24-hour period.

The current daily travel record at MCO is 90,804 departures set in March 2019, just prior to the start of the pandemic. However, recently records have been falling and four of the top ten busiest days in airport history were set in February of this year. The second busiest day ever at MCO was set last weekend with 89,863 departures.

Adding to the increase in traffic is the addition of service from Lynx, Breeze, Avelo, Southwest and Spirit Airlines at MCO.

Top 5 Spring Break Travel Tips: 1. Travelers should allow plenty of time to park, check baggage and go through security processing. 2. Pack as lightly as possible. 3. Do NOT pack firearms or weapons in your carry-on luggage. 4. Print or download your boarding pass prior to arriving at the airport. 5. Pack your patience.

The Greater Orlando Aviation Authority (GOAA), which operates and manages the Orlando International Airport and the Orlando Executive Airport, will host two Public Open Houses to share information and gather feedback through a short survey about its 2023 Strategic Plan.

WHAT: GOAA is updating its Strategic Plan to organize and articulate a vision for its future. As a major economic generator for the Central Florida region, public involvement is requested in the form of a survey that will help shape the Aviation Authority’s dynamic role in the community. A blueprint for the future and direction on priorities are critical tools for GOAA's success. The Strategic Plan will revise mission and vision statements as well as distinct goals to help guide business practices.

WHEN:

4 p.m. to 7 p.m. Thursday, March 16, 2023 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. Wednesday, March 29, 2023

WHERE: Thursday, March 16 Orlando Executive Airport, Community Room 365 Rickenbacker Dr. Orlando, FL 32803

Wednesday, March 29 University of Florida/IFAS Extension Orange County 6021 S Conway Rd Orlando, FL 32812

WHO: These meetings are open to the general public. Attendees will learn about the 2023 Strategic Plan, including process and schedule. Attendees will also be invited to participate in a short survey to contribute to GOAA’s 2023 Strategic Plan.

The Greater Orlando Aviation Authority is proud to operate Orlando International Airport (MCO) and Orlando Executive Airport (ORL), two of Florida’s premier air travel gateways. MCO is a world-class global connector, serving approximately 50 million annual passengers. The recently-opened Terminal C is a next-level facility that elevates the customer experience.

Orlando International Airport (MCO) has been awarded $69 million in federal funds for two Terminal C expansion projects. The Greater Orlando Aviation Authority (GOAA) was notified on Monday by the U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) and the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) of the funding allocation. The pair of Terminal C projects were previously suspended during the pandemic due to budget considerations.

“We are grateful to the administration, USDOT and the FAA for making this investment in the Central Florida region,” said Carson Good, GOAA Chairman. “We also thank Mayor Buddy Dyer and Mayor Jerry Demings, Congressman Darren Soto, Kevin Thibault and the rest of the Authority management staff for supporting the effort to secure these grants.”

• MCO will receive $49 million for the Terminal C Phase 1 Expansion project, which includes construction of four additional Multiple Aircraft Ramp System (MARS) gates capable of serving either four wide body or eight narrow body aircraft.
• An additional $20 million will be earmarked to fund a portion of the 450-foot, enclosed Pedestrian Connector Bridge, which will provide direct access between the Train Station and Terminal C.

“As Orlando International continues to handle record-setting passenger totals, it is vital that airport improvement efforts keep pace with our traffic,” said Kevin Thibault, GOAA Chief Executive Officer. “Terminal C is the future of transportation in Central Florida and its multimodal connectivity will increase our capacity to accommodate projected future demand.”

The FAA is awarding nearly $1 billion to airports across the country for projects aimed at improving the passenger experience, accessibility, and more. The funding, which comes from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL), will be awarded in grants of differing amounts to about 100 different airports across the United States.

With demand for air travel surging back, funding to improve the passenger experience has taken on greater urgency. These grants will enable airports to make it faster and easier for passengers to check bags, get through security and find their gate, all while creating jobs and supporting local economies. The BIL provides $1 billion annually for five years for Airport Terminal Program grants. In total, the law will provide a historic $25 billion to modernize our country’s airport infrastructure.

The Greater Orlando Aviation Authority is proud to operate Orlando International Airport (MCO) and Orlando Executive Airport (ORL), two of Florida’s premier air travel gateways. MCO is a world-class global connector, serving more than 50 million annual passengers in 2022. The recently-opened Terminal C is a next level facility that will add 10-12 million annual passengers of capacity and elevate the customer experience. ORL is conveniently located just miles from downtown Orlando and provides vital general aviation access to the heart of the region.