Orlando International Airport (MCO) says that it expects record crowds this holiday season.
Nearly 3.9 million passengers are expected during the 23-day Christmas/New Year's travel period, a 13.5 percent increase over last year.
December 30, 2023, is projected to be the busiest day of the season with 187,000 total passengers.
"The holiday season is a joyous time of year, and our staff is focused on providing passengers with a frictionless journey," says Kevin J. Thibault, Chief Executive Officer of the Greater Orlando Aviation Authority. "We ask that passengers help the process by following our 3-2-1 guidelines upon arrival at the airport and by practicing patience throughout their travels. With this, we are confident our systems will meet the record demand at Orlando International."
The 3-2-1 guidelines are as follows:
- Passengers should be at the airport ticket counter 3 hours before their flight (this allows extra time for parking and busy ticket counters)
- At the security checkpoint 2 hours prior
- And at the gate 1 hour before departure
A new surface parking lot will open on December 22, following the opening of two lots during the Thanksgiving travel season. The three surface lots are accessible with E-Pass and SunPass Plus. SunPass customers must be enrolled with Easy Pay, and a transponder must be used to enter and exit the lots. MCO has more than 2,000 new spaces on airport property compared to last year.
For those passengers using a rideshare, additional amenities are being provided so that ample drivers are onsite ready to assist passengers. Passengers may also note an increase in the number of ambassadors during peak times and may want to take advantage of one of the dozens of concession shops open on Christmas Eve until 9 p.m. and on Christmas Day from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m.
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