Orlando Airport Reveals HUGE Change Coming in 2028

Some big changes are coming to Orlando International Airport (MCO)!

As one of the most-visited airports in America — thanks to its nearby world-class tourist attractions — it’s no shock that MCO is constantly working on improvements to provide an elevated passenger experience. In its quest to get better, the airport will also be launching some major advanced services later this decade.

Per reports, MCO is developing advanced air mobility services — including electric air taxis. They are set to debut by 2028.

The Federal Aviation Administration partnered with airport traffic controllers to test electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) aircraft for safety purposes alongside traditional air traffic, and simulations went well.

The simulations focused on the East Airfield’s and the Brightline station’s ventriport locations. According to Senior Vice President of Planning and Environmental at the Greater Orlando Aviation Authority, Bradley Friel, “What that effort did was validate those two locations and showed that operations from those two vertiports could be integrated safely into the national airspace system.”

Using data from  March 25, 2023 — a busy travel day — the simulation yielded that “operating up to 22 eVTOL aircraft would result in zero air traffic or wake turbulence conflicts.”

In August, Orange County Mayor Jerry Demings said of the momentum swinging in favor of this development, “The age of The Jetsons will be upon all of us.” Feasibility studies are still ongoing as vertiport site locations are identified.

What comes next is the development of a framework for integrating “eVTOL aircraft into commercial airspace”. The airport must work with the FAA, the Florida Department of Transportation, and the city of Orlando to address infrastructure needs. Planning will include vertiport designs and tackle electrical capacity needs.

Vertiport operators and technology firms are in the process of submitting proposals, and FAA certification is expected in the second half of 2026.

These air taxis are anticipated to generate extra revenue and create new jobs, all while enabling “passengers to connect seamlessly with other transportation options, including commercial flights and Brightline rail service. However, demand for shorter flights within Florida may be limited due to the state’s existing ground transportation infrastructure”, according to the Orlando Business Journal. “The service likely would be used by business travelers and urban commuters.”

This change would mark just the latest chapter of MCO’s evolution. Terminal C was expanded to accommodate more aircraft, amenities, and travelers in recent years, and even received some new moving walkways in May 2025.

The terminal is also in the process of a bathroom renovation that is to be completed by 2027. It also opened a new pedestrian bridge that has bi-directional walkways that connect Terminal C, Garage C, the Train Station, and the airport’s Terminal Link.

Additionally, MCO was affected by several TSA changes in 2025, including no longer having to enforce a shoe-removal policy, the enforcement Real ID presentation during the screening process, enforcing stricter lithium-ion battery restrictions, and the installation of automatic screening and family lanes.

A lot is happening at the Orlando International Airport, and we’ll continue to keep you posted on the latest developments as they unfold!

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