Florida Construction News staff writer
Orlando Airport’s $2.8 billion Terminal C is now open, wrapping up a five-year construction project.
“This day has been a long time coming but we’re finally here,” said Kevin Thibault, CEO of the Greater Orlando Aviation Authority. “Terminal C is open and what a benefit it is to the community.
“This state-of-the-art terminal is leading the way to a truly intermodal future for all of Central Florida, where passengers will be able to take a plane, a train or an automobile from one location. Today, the vision has become reality.”
The massive construction project was designed for certification as one of the first LEEDv4 airport campuses in the U.S. with a $2.8 billion expansion that adds 15 new gates capable of accommodating up to 20 aircraft expanding the airport’s passenger capacity by 10 to 12 million travelers per year. The project has been under construction for nearly five years following decades of planning.
In addition to anchor airline JetBlue, the 1.2 million-sq. ft. terminal will also host Aer Lingus, Azul, British Airways, Caribbean Airlines, Emirates, GOL, Icelandair, Lufthansa and Norse.
Passenger amenities include more than 1,000 directional and flight information video display screens, automated TSA screening lanes, and facial recognition for arriving and departing international passengers.
The idea is to create an inspiring first impression of Orlando and the region for arriving passengers, according to Thibault.
MCO’s Intermodal Terminal Facility, located adjacent to Terminal C, is designed to handle up to four rail systems, including the airport’s Terminal Link, creating what the airport calls “the first fully integrated, multimodal airport terminal in the US for rail, air and ground transportation.”
