Passenger Numbers Down at MCO for Thanksgiving
Monday, November 25, 2013
By: Matthew Peddie

November 25th, 2013 | WMFE- The number of travelers through Orlando International Airport is down for the Thanksgiving holiday this year.

[Orlando International Airport. Photo: Matthew Peddie / WMFE]

More than 1.2 million passengers are expected through the airport for over the 12 day period which ends December 3^rd.

That’s about 13,000 fewer than the same time last year.

Greater Orlando Aviation Authority Executive Director Phil Brown says lingering fears about the economy, and the close proximity to Christmas are two factors causing a dip in airline travel.

Brown says the merger of Air Tran and Southwest has also had an impact- but he thinks other airlines will make up those numbers eventually.

“Over the longer term, we think that market that’s not being served by SouthWest now, you’re going to get some new entrants," says Brown, who says traffic through Orlando International Airport continues to be driven by tourism. 

"What we’re also seeing," he adds  "is there’s more and more interest in coming into Orlando to do business.”

Brown points to the regional carrier Silver Airways which now flies routes to Fort Myers and Tallahassee from Orlando.

And he says the airport is working to attract more international carriers, like ANA and Japan Airlines.

Brown says the Boeing 787 dreamliner would give those airlines the ability to fly direct from Tokyo to Orlando.