With a catchment area of 9.2 million people, Orlando International Airport (MCO) has half the population in Florida living within two hours driving time of it. This means it continues to capture business traffic, along with medical tourists and leisure traffic.
The number of international visitors to Orlando International Airport (MCO) grew by nearly 11% in 2009, which was also a record year for its international traffic. International routes include destinations in Canada, Europe, Mexico, Central America and South America.
At the Routes Americas event during February, Victoria Jaramillo, director of marketing at the airport, explained Lufthansa's key role in boosting business traffic to the gateway when it began flights from Frankfurt in 2007. "A few years ago we really focused on getting a European hub," she said. Major European corporations in Orlando, including Siemens, are key to Lufthansa's traffic to MCO. In fact, Lufthansa's biggest market to Orlando is currently through Paris from its Frankfurt hub (originating from Scandinavia).
Route Network (Americas)
Orlando MCO serves 88 US destinations and represents the third largest O&D market in the US, according to the airport.
Low-cost traffic is also on the increase; recently JetBlue chose to make its first foray to South America from Orlando and now has a 58% share of traffic between Orlando and Bogota, Colombia. The airport has strong relations with all low-fare airlines, including its largest LCC, Southwest, as well as Spirit, Allegiant Air and AirTran.
The airport is now starting to expand its network to include more South American destinations, Jaramillo says, and is focusing on attracting more non-stop services. The airport currently has service to Sao Paulo with airlines including COPA (via Panama City), Continental (via Houston), Delta (via Atlanta) and United (via Washington).
TAM started flying to Orlando from Sao Paulo in November 2008, and TACA Airlines began service from San Salvador in November 2009.
COPA now has double-daily services from MCO to Panama City, which connect to multiple destinations in Central and South America, says Jaramillo. Plus in Mexico, Mexicana and AeroMexico serve Mexico City and Cancun from MCO.
The biggest unserved Latin American market for MCO is Caracas, believes Jaramillo. "We receive 120 people a day who are connecting through airports such as Miami, Panama, El Salvador or Atlanta."
MCO is also a base for US carriers heading for the Caribbean, with JetBlue recently starting services to Montego Bay in Jamaica.
While air services are key to the airport's success, it is also working on a number of customer service products and new infrastructure. One of these is the Disney Magical Express service with Allegiant Air, which means passengers' bags cab be dropped off straight at their Disney hotel. The airline has switched 10 of its flights over to MCO on February 1 from Orlando Sanford.
On the infrastructure front, the airport will become more accessible thanks to the recent approval for funding for a Tampa City high-speed link, which will connect the city directly with Orlando international by 2015.
The airport takes a proactive approach to building and maintaining relationships across the route development community, involving airlines, the local community, Economic Development Commission and tourism agencies in the process.
Click here to view Orlando International's enhanced profile
|
In October, Martinair returned to MCO after a year and a half absence - launching three-times weekly services to Amsterdam. |
Related Content
