Good news for passengers in and out of Orlando International Airpot as FAA lift emergency flight reductions

DOT and FAA announce termination of FAA Emergency Order, with a return to normal operations.

Travellers planning a trip in and out of Orlando International Airport can breathe easy as U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean P. Duffy and Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Administrator Bryan Bedford today announced that the agency’s flight reduction emergency order was terminated on Monday, November 17 at 6 am.

The emergency order that was put in place to ease staffing pressure during the government shutdown caused mass cancellations and delays at airports across the country including Orlando.

Now with the government shutdown over, the FAA has rolled back the emergency order back now that staffing levels are returning to normal.

The decision to terminate the emergency order is welcome news for Orlando International Airport as it comes as the airport looks forward to a busy Thanksgiving travel period. However, passengers should be aware that some delays and cancellations are still expected while the airlines ramp up operations and increase flights.

MCO is encouraging passengers to check with their airlines for the most recent information about their flights and to follow the 3-2-1 rule: Be at the ticket counters 3 hours before your flight; be at the TSA checkpoint 2 hours before your flight; and be at your gate 1 hour before the boarding time listed on your boarding pass.

With the federal government shutdown ending, the Greater Orlando Aviation Authority (GOAA) has thanked all federal employees who continued their vital work at their airports throughout the shutdown and thank passengers for their patience during this time.

Despite the shutdown, operations at Orlando International Airport (MCO) were minimally impacted because federal partners at MCO consistently came to work.

“We are deeply grateful for our partners at the Transportation Security Administration, Federal Aviation Administration, and U.S. Customs and Border Protection for their professionalism and commitment to come to work during the shutdown,” said GOAA CEO Lance Lyttle. “We are equally thankful to our passengers who were patient as we strived to maintain seamless airport operations.”

In response to the government shutdown, in which many federal employees did not receive paychecks, GOAA opened a food pantry. Since Wednesday, October 15, through Tuesday, November 11, the pantry received more than 1,300 visits by federal employees. Additionally, about 1,000 gift cards were donated, thanks to the generosity of the airport community, business partners, and the Central Florida community.

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