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Orlando International Airport to welcome record number of passengers this Holiday Season

Alastair Mac
1 hour ago
4 min read

The Ho Ho Holiday travel season has kicked off at MCO with the airport ready to welcome over three million passengers.

Orlando International Airport to welcome record number of passengers this Holiday Season

Orlando International Airport (MCO) is preparing for what could be a record-breaking holiday travel season, with nearly 3.1 million passengers expected to arrive and/or depart during the Christmas and New Year’s travel period.

The travel season, which begins Friday, December 19th, and runs through Monday, January 5th, 2026, shows an increase of 2.6 percent in overall passenger traffic.

The busiest day will be Saturday, January 3rd, with approximately 196,212 total passengers arriving and departing MCO. Sunday, January 4th, comes in second with 195,960 travelers.

Here are the projected Top 5 busiest days for this Christmas/New Year travel period:

Saturday, January 3 – 196,212 travelers

Sunday, January 4 – 195,960

Friday, January 2 – 191,324

Monday, December 29 – 186,055

Monday, January 5 – 185,556

With expected record traffic at MCO, passengers are encouraged to heed the following suggestions and tips to help save time and enhance their overall travel experience.

Holiday Travel 2025

Time-Saver Tips:

Arrive at least three hours in advance of your flight at MCO to allow time for parking, ticketing and security processing. You should be at your gate one hour before boarding.
Check with your airline prior to arriving at the airport for the latest status of your individual flight or download the Orlando MCO app for real-time flight information via iPhone or Android.
Use the Reserved Parking feature, which guarantees you a parking space without having to search for an available spot. Parking Reservations are limited at peak times.
Passengers without TSA PreCheck or CLEAR+ can book a time to go through airport security using the free MCO Reserve service.

Smarter Travel:

When traveling with gifts, the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) recommends not wrapping them beforehand. TSA officers will open wrapped packages for inspection.
As always, adhere to the TSA 3-1-1 rules. No fluids or gels over 3.4 ounces, place them in one quart-size bag, and only one bag per traveler.
Avoid tying ribbons, scarves, or other attachments to checked luggage. These items can get caught in the airport’s automated baggage handling system, obstructing barcode scanners and potentially causing your bag to miss its flight.
Double check your carry-on luggage for any weapons before arriving at the airport. If you are found with a weapon during screening, you will miss your flight and could face hefty TSA fines.
Do NOT make any light-hearted jokes about explosives during any point in your travel journey.
Tape a card with your name and contact information on all your electronic devices.
If traveling with a pet or comfort animal, bring a leash. The pet will need to be on a leash while the animal and carrier are properly screened by TSA.

Navigating MCO:

Remember, curb parking is not permitted. Unattended vehicles will be towed.
When picking someone up from MCO, take advantage of the Cell Phone lots. These special lots, located in the north and south on airport property, allow you to park in a secure location with restrooms and amenities such as free Wi-Fi while waiting for your party to arrive. Parties should be picked up once they land and retrieve their luggage.
Take advantage of last-minute sales and gift ideas, even on Christmas Day, at one of dozens of retail concessions. Some vendors even offer express shipping, so you don’t have to worry about carrying the present with you.
For additional information and wayfinding assistance, please check out www.flymco.com.
Remember to Practice Patience. You are not alone. You are part of over 3.1 million travelers at MCO this holiday season.

CONSTRUCTION NOTICE

Orlando International Airport is in the midst of a multi-year Gate Link Replacement project, replacing aging infrastructure with state-of-the-art technology to deliver a smoother, faster, and more reliable passenger experience.

Construction activity is currently underway near Gates 100-129 (Avelo and Southwest).

During normal operations, most passengers should experience less than 15 additional minutes in their journey, even during peak holiday periods. From time to time, especially overnight, travelers will use shuttle buses as part of their journey through the airport. Travelers using rental car or ground transportation services are encouraged to allow an additional 30 minutes in their pickup planning.

For additional information and wayfinding assistance please check out our website at www.flymco.com

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