Orlando International Airport

I Said Orlando International Airport, not Orlando Sanford International Airport

It is easy to get confused about which Orlando airport is which, especially if you are new to Orlando, Florida. To clarify things, Orlando International Airport is the busiest airport in the state. Orlando Sanford International Airport is another airport which serves the Greater Orlando area of Florida. But both Orlando airports are located within Orlando, Florida, hence the similarity in names.

Orlando International Airport was the 13th-busiest US airport in 2006, having processed air travel for 34.8 million passengers that year. Not to rest on its laurels, Orlando International Airport is also the 23rd-busiest among the world's airports. One factor that contributes to the popularity of Orlando International Airport is that there has been significant commercial and residential development in Orlando, which also has many tourist attractions such as the Walt Disney World Resort.

Services and amenities at Orlando International Airport

If you are being fetched by someone in a private vehicle, they can use the parking facilities and pay with SunPass and E-Pass toll transponders. These toll transponders are also employed for paying toll fees at the BeachLine Expressway and Central FL GreeneWay which allow access to the airport.

Another service for people who need airport parking is the Cell Phone Parking Lot which allows free Wi-Fi access to those parking in the Lot. This makes it easier for drivers and passengers to rely on electronic mobile devices to check on flight arrivals and departures, surf the Internet, and check their email.

There is also an Express Pickup area at every terminal where drivers can park temporarily while they wait for their passengers to disembark at the airport. Only people with SunPass and E-Pass toll transponders can avail of this service though.

If you prefer to rent a vehicle for your private use, there are quite a few vehicle rental companies serving the Orlando International Airport. Some well known companies that conduct vehicle rental service here are National, L&M, Dollar, Budget and AVIS.

Access to arrival and departure flights

The Orlando International Airport has a total of 129 gates at its four terminals, called airside terminals. The airside terminals are linked to the single main terminal building via the people mover system.

Some carriers that rely on the Orlando International Airport as a flight destination are Freedom Airlines, Chautauqua Airlines, JetBlue Airways, Southwest Airlines, Delta Air Lines, and AirTran Airways. Other carriers that also use the airport are Virgin Atlantic Airways, British Airways, Northwest Airlines, and Spirit Airlines (among others.)

Problems besetting the airport

Orlando International Airport has one major problem that cropped up this 2007: a distressing lack of controllers manning its air traffic control tower. This problem is not confined to Orlando; actually, many air facilities throughout the US are experiencing such problems because thousands of controllers are headed for retirement at around this time. The problem at Orlando International Airport gets worse when weather turns ugly, or when control tower staff call in sick, sometimes at the same time.

Hopefully, Orlando International Airport will be able to address this situation so its service to passengers and the community does not suffer.

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