Today the base serves as the largest airport in Florida and the 11 th largest in the nation whisking

Orlando International Airport is certainly vital to Central Florida s economy bringing in more than $20.7 billion annually to the area. But, that wasn t always the case. From 1958-1975 OIA was known as McCoy Air Force Base prior to its commercial flight days.
The air base performed vital defensive duties during the Cold War serving as a frontline Strategic Air Command, launching U-2 reconnaissance planes over Cuba as the world came to the brink of nuclear war. Fortunately, tensions cooled and the base all but lost its military importance. Upon closure of the base in 1975, the Greater Orlando Aviation Authority stepped rv travel trailer in and restructured the property for civilian use.
Today the base serves rv travel trailer as the largest airport in Florida and the 11 th largest in the nation whisking 35.6 million passengers to and from the region rv travel trailer in 2008 averaging 916 flight operations per day. More than 60 carriers service the airport allowing OIA to have direct flights to 90 U.S. cities and 23 international cities, says Carolyn Fennel, rv travel trailer director of public affairs at OIA. In fact, this past January JetBlue Airways launched daily direct flights to Bogota, Columbia creating an additional estimated $44 million annually to the economy. The more airlines we can attract rv travel trailer and encourage to attend here the more we can service and connect the community around us, she says.
To date, the airports enormous $300 million operating rv travel trailer budget does not rely on local tax dollars one bit either. Where does the money come from to fund the massive operation you ask? According to Fennell, airline activity accounts for 27 percent of the funding with the rest coming from concessions, merchants, the Hyatt hotel, car rental companies (of which Central Florida ranks number one in the country), passenger fees, parking and transportation. Mainly it s user fees meaning if you use the facility, you pay for it she says. Otherwise you don t.
The economic impact OIA makes is undeniable. More than 18,000 central Floridians work on airport s 13,297-acre property. Another 62,100 have jobs that relate directly and indirectly to OIA operations. Not to mention the hundreds of passengers, flight crews and maitenance staff that fly in and out of the airport and utilize surrounding ammenities while in the Orlando area.
The sprawling property is the third largest in the U.S. with 96 total gates. The terminal buildings encompass nearly 4.5 million square feet with more than 100 shops, bars and restaurants, and the 445 guest room Hyatt hotel. Currently, the airport is undergoing $300 million in construction to increase efficiency, capacity and customer service. Fennell says: A new trend is travelers looking for additional retail and food service beyond initial security rv travel trailer check points so we are continually adding those spaces for guests. The construction also includes expanding on-site car rental turnaround rv travel trailer facilities to eliminate the hassle of busing customers off the property. According to Fennell, 96 percent of inventory will now be on property thanks rv travel trailer to a new facility where rental car companies can easily house their cars.
Orlando International Airport s history, which spans more than four decades, is one of continued expansion and prosperity says Fennel. The continued growth and expansion of infrastructure, services and carriers keeps Orlando International Airport a competitive force in the region and helps guarantees a bright economic future for Orlando, she says.
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