Orlando International Airport History
(The information on this page is taken from The Greater Orlando Aviation Authority website at http://www.orlandoairports.net)

2003 Alaska Airlines started scheduled service
Major renovation of airport shops & restaurants complete
Thomas Cook, Powered by Condor, starts scheduled service to Germany

2002 New air traffic control tower opened - the tallest in North America
Newsweek named Orlando as the "top U.S. airport for just hanging around"
Tango started scheduled service to Montreal, Canada

2001 FedEx regional service facility opened on Tradeport

2000 Airside 2 (the 4th airside) opened
AvStar Completion Center opened on Tradeport
British Airways became a signatory airline
Copa started scheduled service to Panama
JetBlue started scheduled service, and became a signatory airline
North crossfield taxiway opened
Passenger traffic exceeded 30,000,000 annual passengers for the first time (30,823,509)

1999 Air Transat started scheduled service to Canada
Fourth runway (17L/35R) approval for construction received
Frontier Airlines started scheduled service
Satellite parking lot "Blue" opened
South terminal site preparation started
Spirit Airlines became a signatory airline
Virgin Atlantic became a signatory airline

1998 Cargo exceeded 250,000 annual short tons for the first time (262,365)
Airside 2 (the 4th airside terminal) construction began
Parking garages expanded to accommodate 1,600 more vehicles
Ranked by Auto Rental News as the top rental car site among U.S. airports
Ranked by IATA as the number one airport in North America for overall passenger satisfaction
South Terminal complex ground breaking

1997 AirTran Airways selected Orlando as the site for its new headquarters
Mexicana started scheduled service
Midwest Express started scheduled service
MII ballot approved $965 million of airport expansion programs
Ranked by Auto Rental News as the top rental car site among U.S. airports
Ranked by IATA as the number one airport in North America for overall passenger satisfaction

1996 Aeromexico started scheduled service
AirTran Airways became a signatory airline
American Trans Air became a signatory airline
Orlando hosted the National Business Aircraft Association annual convention
Ranked by Airports Council International as the fastest growing major airport in the world
Ranked by Auto Rental News as the top rental car site among U.S. airports
Ranked by IATA as the number one airport in North America for overall passenger satisfaction
Southwest started scheduled service with 19 flights per day to 7 destinations, and became a signatory airline
Passenger traffic exceeded 25,000,000 annual passengers for the first time (25,587,773)

1995 Air Canada started scheduled service
Gulfstream International started scheduled service
North Walk and South Walk retail shopping facilities in the terminal completed
Ranked by Airport Monitor as the number one airport in North America for overall customer convenience

1994 AirTran Airways started scheduled service
American Eagle started scheduled service
Martinair Holland started scheduled service

1993 Cargo exceeded 200,000 annual short tons for the first time (211,104)
Spirit Airlines started scheduled service

1992 Air Transat started chartered service from Canada
America West started scheduled service
Hyatt Regency Orlando International Airport opened in airport terminal
Opened the U.S. Department of Agriculture plant inspection station and perishables center
Passenger traffic exceeded 20,000,000 annual passengers for the first time (21,147,888)
Virgin Atlantic started scheduled service to England

1991 Cargo exceeded 150,000 annual short tons for the first time (153,814)
LTU started scheduled service to Germany
Opened the hotel atrium on the east end of the terminal
Opened the terminal top parking garage

1990 Air Jamaica started scheduled service
Airside 4 (the 3rd airside terminal) opened with 24 gates and 15 commuter aircraft positions
Federal inspection facilities increased international arrivals processing capacity to 2,000 passengers per hour
USAir Express started scheduled service

1989 International traffic increased 106%
3rd runway opened

1988 Bonds issued for $430 million for the Phase II Capacity Improvement Program
Comair became a signatory airline
Passenger traffic exceeded 15,000,000 annual passengers for the first time (16,497,262)
Virgin Atlantic started chartered service from England

1987 American Airlines became a signatory airline
Comair started scheduled service
Parking garages under construction
Received approval for a U.S. Department of Agriculture station

1986 American Trans Air started scheduled service
Approved issue of $86 million revenue bonds for initiation of Phase II of airport expansion
Reached 1990 passenger projection of 12 million passengers per year

1985 Bahamasair started scheduled service
British Airways started scheduled service
One million passengers used the airport in one month (March) for the first time
Passenger traffic exceeded 10,000,000 annual passengers for the first time (10,034,065)

1984 Continental Airlines became a signatory airline
Icelandair started the first scheduled international service from Orlando
International concourse opened, complete with U.S. Customes and Immigration Services

1983 Construction began on International Concourse

1982 Airport property annexed into City of Orlando
Development of Orlando Tradeport launched
United Airlines became a signatory airline

1981 American Airlines started scheduled service
Continental Airlines started scheduled service
North terminal building opened

1980 Northwest became a signatory airline
Trans World became a signatory airline
US Airways became a signatory airline

1979 Designated a large hub airport by the FAA (at least 1% of the total U.S. passenger traffic)
Northwest started scheduled service

1978 Construction began on new (north) terminal
Delta Air Lines became a signatory airline
Granted Foreign Trade Zone (FTZ) status
Orlando named fastest growing airport in the U.S.
Passenger traffic exceeded 5,000,000 annual passengers for the first time (5,182,264)
Trans World started scheduled service
United Airlines started scheduled service
USAir started scheduled service

1976 Granted international airport status
Renamed Orlando International Airport

1975 Deed received by City for surplus land for airport facility use
Greater Orlando Aviation Authority (GOAA) created by special legislative act

1974 McCoy Air Force base (MCO) closed

1970 Delta Air Lines started scheduled service
Eastern Airlines started scheduled service
National Airlines started scheduled service
Southern started scheduled service