Orlando International Airport (MCO)

Page last updated: 12 August 2025

Orlando International Airport in Orange County, Florida is the main air entry point to Central Florida’s theme parks and vacation hubs. The airport routinely ranks among the world’s busiest thanks to steady demand from Disney World, Universal Studios and other attractions.

How many passengers use Orlando International Airport each year?

Over 57 million passengers are processed through Orlando International Airport (MCO) each year.

• Before the pandemic, MCO Airport processed approximately 50.61 million passengers annually in 2019.
  
• Annual processing dropped to a pandemic low of 21.62 million passengers in 2020, then recovered to 40.35 million in 2021, 50.18 million in 2022, and reached 57.74 million in 2023.
  
• In 2024, MCO processed 57.21 million passengers, a decrease from 2023 but still approximately 13% higher than the pre-pandemic 2019 levels.

How many passengers use Orlando International Airport in 2024?

Orlando International Airport handled 57.21 million passengers in 2024.

• Domestic travelers made up approximately 86% (49.41 million), while international travelers accounted for about 14% (7.8 million).

How many passengers use Orlando International Airport in 2023?

• Orlando International Airport served 57.74 million passengers in 2023, with approximately 88% domestic (50.7 million) and 12% international (7.04 million).

How large is Orlando International Airport?

Orlando International Airport spans approximately 11,605 acres of land in Orange County, Florida, making it the 4th largest airport in the U.S. by land area.

• Runways: Four parallel runways, 8,000 to 12,000 ft long
  
• Terminals: Three main terminals (A, B and C) with 140+ gates
  
• Parking: 25,000+ spaces across garages and economy lots
  
• Planned capacity: 100 million+ passengers by 2050 under the Vision 100 program

How many aircraft operations occur at Orlando International Airport each year?

Over 400,000 aircraft operations (including takeoffs and landings) occur at Orlando International Airport (MCO) each year.

• Before the pandemic, MCO Airport handled approximately 354,200 operations in 2019 across all categories.
• Airport operations fell to 289,300 operations in 2020 (down 18% due to COVID-19), recovered to 379,700 in 2021, and reached 406,200 in 2023.
• The airport reached 404,306 operations in 2024, down from the previous year but still maintaining high activity levels.

Orlando International Airport Aircraft Operations
Year	Air Carrier	Air Taxi	General Aviation	Military	Total Operations
2019	340,000	2,000	12,000	200	354,200
2020	270,000	1,000	18,000	300	289,300
2021	365,000	1,500	13,000	200	379,700
2022	378,000	1,800	13,500	200	393,500
2023	392,000	500	13,500	200	406,200
2024	389,160	932	14,004	210	404,306

How much revenue does Orlando International Airport generate each year?

Orlando International Airport (MCO) generates over $847 million in revenue each year.

• The airport generated $582 million in revenue in 2019, but dropped to $438 million in 2020 due to the pandemic.
  
• Recovery progressed steadily from $613 million in 2022 to $755 million in 2023, reaching $847 million in 2024.
  
• In 2024, the airport generated $847 million in revenue, up 12% from 2023 and 46% higher than pre-pandemic 2019 levels.

MCO International Airport Revenue in 2024

• MCO generated $847 million in revenue in 2024, a 12% rise over 2023 and 46% above 2019 levels.

MCO International Airport Revenue in 2023

• MCO generated $755 million in revenue in 2023, a 23% rise over 2022 and 30% above 2019 levels.

Which terminals are busiest at Orlando International Airport?

Terminal B is the busiest terminal with 25 million passengers in 2024, handling 44% of the total airport traffic at Orlando International Airport (MCO)

Orlando International Airport Terminals by Passenger Volume (2024)

1. Terminal B (Airsides 2 & 4): 25 million passengers (Southwest Airlines hub)
   
2. Terminal A (Airsides 1 & 3): 20 million passengers (Mixed carriers)
   
3. Terminal C (South Terminal): 12 million passengers (New terminal, international focus)
   

Which airlines carry the most passengers at Orlando International Airport?

Southwest Airlines carries the most passengers with a 22% market share at Orlando International Airport (MCO), followed by Delta Air Lines at approximately 13% market share.

Market Share by Airline at MCO (2024)

• Southwest Airlines: 22% market share
  
• Delta Air Lines: 13% market share
  
• Spirit Airlines: 11% market share
  
• American Airlines: 11% market share
  
• Frontier Airlines: 11% market share
  
• JetBlue Airways: 9% market share
  
• United Airlines: 9% market share
  
• Other carriers: 14% market share

What are the busiest routes at Orlando International Airport?

The busiest domestic and international routes at Orlando International Airport (MCO) reflect both leisure and vacation travel patterns.

Top Domestic Routes by Passengers (2024)

1. MCO – Atlanta (ATL): 3.0 million passengers
   
2. MCO – Newark (EWR): 1.4 million passengers
   
3. MCO – New York JFK (JFK): 1.2 million passengers
   
4. MCO – Philadelphia (PHL): 1.2 million passengers
   
5. MCO – Chicago O’Hare (ORD): 1.1 million passengers
   

Top International Routes by Passengers (2024)

1. MCO – San Juan (SJU): 1.1 million passengers
   
2. MCO – Toronto (YYZ): 800,000 passengers
   
3. MCO – London (LGW/LHR): 600,000 passengers
   
4. MCO – São Paulo (GRU): 300,000 passengers
   
5. MCO – Mexico City (MEX): 200,000 passengers
   

When is the peak month at Orlando International Airport?

December was the peak month at Orlando International Airport (MCO) in 2024.

• December was the busiest month with approximately 5.50 million passengers, followed by July with 5.30 million and March with 5.25 million.
• August attracted around 5.12 million passengers, while June drew 5.00 million.

Orlando Travel Resources

• Car hire prices in Orlando (RV)
• Orlando to Fort Lauderdale Car Rentals
• Orlando to Miami Car Rentals
• Orlando to Tampa Car Rentals

How much cargo moves through Orlando International Airport each year?

Orlando International Airport (MCO) handles approximately 220,000 metric tons of cargo each year.

• MCO Airport handled 252,000 metric tons in 2019, decreased to 223,000 metric tons in 2020 during the pandemic, then fluctuated to 251,000 metric tons in 2022.
  
• Volume decreased to 213,000 metric tons in 2023 as global cargo demand cooled post-pandemic.
  
• In 2024, the airport processed 223,000 metric tons of cargo, up 5% from 2023 but still 12% lower than pre-pandemic 2019 levels.

How reliable is Orlando International Airport?

Orlando International Airport (MCO) achieved a 77% on-time departure rate in 2024.

• Cancellations: 1.9 % of flights
  
• Average delay: 45 minutes for departures, 50 minutes for arrivals
  
• Peak delay window: 3 to 7 PM
  
• Best performers: Delta Air Lines at 79 % on-time, Southwest at 78 %
  

How does Orlando International Airport rank globally?

Orlando International Airport (MCO) ranks as the 9th busiest airport in the United States and 18th busiest globally by passenger traffic in 2024.

• Destination airport ranking: 1st in the United States as a non-hub “destination mega-airport” with 91% origin & destination traffic
  
• Cargo ranking: 30th busiest cargo airport in the United States by tonnage
  

What is Orlando International Airport’s economic impact?

Orlando International Airport (MCO) contributes over $41 billion in economic activity annually to the Central Florida region.

• Jobs supported: 21,000 on campus, hundreds of thousands throughout the Orlando area
• Tourism gateway: Main entry point for Disney World, Universal Studios, Central Florida attractions
• Regional reach: Serves over half of Florida’s population within a 2-hour drive
• Tourism economy: 85% tourists, crucial to Florida’s tourism sector

Other US Airport Statistics

• Charlotte Douglas International Airport
• Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport
• Denver International Airport
• Harry Reid International Airport
• Hartsfield–Jackson Atlanta International Airport
• John F. Kennedy International Airport
• Los Angeles International Airport
• O’Hare International Airport

USA Travel Statistics Resources

• Arizona Statistics (incl. Grand Canyon National Park)
• California Statistics (incl. Los Angeles, San Diego, San Francisco, Universal Studios Hollywood)
• Florida Statistics (incl. Destin, Key West, Miami, Orlando, Universal Orlando, Walt Disney World)
• Hawaii Statistics (incl. Kauai, Maui, Oahu)
• Illinois Statistics (incl. Chicago)
• Louisiana Statistics (incl. New Orleans)
• Massachusetts Statistics (incl. Boston)
• Nevada Statistics (incl. Las Vegas)
• New York Statistics (incl. New York City, Statue of Liberty)
• South Dakota Statistics (incl. Mount Rushmore)
• Tennessee Statistics (incl. Memphis, Nashville)
• Texas Statistics (incl. Dallas, Houston, San Antonio)
• Utah Statistics
• Washington Statistics (incl. Seattle)
• Yellowstone National Park Statistics

References

1. FAA: Federal Aviation Administration Operations Data and Airport Statistics
2. BTS: MCO Passenger Data and Route Information
3. GOAA: Orlando Aviation Official Statistics and Press Releases
4. MCO: Orlando International Airport Official Statistics and Media Reports