GOAA approves $1.1 billion Capital Improvement Plan

The Greater Orlando Aviation Authority (GOAA) Board voted to set the wheels in motion to nearly double Orlando International Airport’s (MCO) passenger capacity. The airport was originally designed to accommodate 24 million travelers annually, but the approved expansion plans will increase the capacity of MCO’s current terminal to 45 million passengers per year.

“As a major economic engine for the region, Orlando International Airport is poised to meet the growth demands of our global community,” says Frank Kruppenbacher, Chairman of the Greater Orlando Aviation Authority. “Over $5 billion has been earmarked for investment into local industries, which creates jobs, and we must anticipate the demand these investments will create.”

The Board-approved Capital Improvement Plan (CIP) was developed to reflect the airport’s philosophy of building to meet demand. Main objectives of the CIP include maintaining existing facilities consistent with The Orlando Experience®; modifying and expanding existing facilities to achieve ultimate North Terminal capacity; improving international processing to accommodate growth and developing facilities to generate non-aviation revenue. The goal of the CIP is to address issues of capacity for the near term and far term.

Major elements of the $1.1 billion project include:

Maintaining Current Facilities

• Terminal Ticket Lobby/Baggage – $113M
• Baggage Improvements – $148M
• Other Terminal Projects – $60M
• Airsides 1 & 3 APM – $90M
• Airfield Projects -$76M
• Ground Transportation/Other – $33M

Support Sustainable Growth

• South Airport APM Complex – $470M
• Airside 4 International Improvements – $114M

Future Considerations

• South Terminal – TBD

The South Airport APM Complex will support future multi-modal travel connections, including All Aboard Florida, and enhance the airport’s current North Terminal capacity by providing a direct connection to the 2,400 space South Terminal parking garage; Airside 4 improvements increase international and domestic passenger processing capabilities and will include the addition of four new international gates; ticket lobby renovations will provide for more efficient processing of passengers and baggage in the North terminal. The planned enhancements will also enable Orlando International Airport to continue providing a high level of customer service while maintaining its reputation for fiscal responsibility.

“Our philosophy has always been to plan for the future and implement strategies that make financial sense,” says Phil Brown, Executive Director of the Greater Orlando Aviation Authority. “Our overall goal is to provide an efficient facility by phasing in projects over time and securing funding, while limiting the impact on the traveling public.”

Additional benefits to the Central Florida community will be an estimated 4,000 direct and indirect jobs and the global traveling community will enjoy greater ease of access. Construction on these projects is expected to begin in fiscal year 2014 and will conclude by fiscal year 2017.

Key sources of funding for these and future projects include; Passenger Facility Charges (PFC’s) Customer Facility Charges (CFC’s) and bonds.