Greater Orlando Aviation Authority shares Orlando airport updates in Winter Garden

The Greater Orlando Aviation Authority, which oversees both the Orlando International Airport and the Orlando Executive Airport, held a community meeting Sept. 12 at Heller Hall in Winter Garden

“I’m very excited that (GOAA) believed it was important to come out here,” Orange County District 1 Commissioner Nicole Wilson said. “That they felt they should come out … and bring their entire executive team to explain what the future holds for OIA really, to me, says a lot about the importance that our residents have in the bigger scope of what’s happening regionally and across the country.” 

Led by GOAA CEO Kevin J. Thibault, West Orange residents received insight on the current state of Orlando’s two airports — and ongoing projects — and learned more about upcoming projects, as well as what future developments at OIA could look like.

“My take on the presentation was that there’s a lot of opportunity for growth,” Wilson said. “Sure, it’s growth that’s going to happen incrementally, but I’m super excited to see what that’s going to look like for our economy, for jobs and for travel, right? It’s exciting as a traveler to see what our opportunities are going to be.”

Terminal C expansion

One of the biggest updates from the community meeting was regarding OIA’s newest addition, Terminal C.

Although it was initially part of phase one of Terminal C construction, COVID-19 forced the pedestrian bridge project to be deferred. The terminal’s pedestrian bridge now is almost ready to go.

The bridge, which will provide direct access to Terminal C, the Train Station, the Terminal Link people-mover to the North Terminal and Parking Garage C, is slated to be substantially complete by fall 2024. It includes four moving walkways, elevators, escalators and stairs. 

Another Terminal C project is the construction of Gates 250-253, which also were part of phase one of the terminal’s development plan but was pushed back for the same reason.

Gates 250-253 will be Multiple Aircraft Ramp System gates that allow up to a total of eight aircraft positions; they will feature common use equipment for utilization by any airline. According to the presentation, the additional four gates are expected to be substantially completed by early 2026.

Beyond the expansion of the MCO’s newest terminal, Thibault shared the current planning studies for Terminals A and B — a new concessions master plan, a capacity and condition assessment, and visions for new terminal facilities and baggage handling — as well as concepts depicting what the airport’s future could look like. 

Wilson said she is looking forward to seeing the forward-thinking planning of GOAA come to a reality.

“I get very excited when we start talking about the other modes of transportation,” Wilson said. “So, seeing that there are already baked-in, built-in designs for light rail, commuter rail, inter-city rail, makes me very hopeful that we won’t need as much parking. So, to see that they are making a plan for now, but they also have the groundwork for the future, is exactly the right balance that we need. … It was very exciting to see the timeline, see the growth and what to expect.”