For millions of travelers making their way to Central Florida to experience attractions including Walt Disney World and the Universal Orlando Resort, the Orlando International Airport (MCO) is their gateway to the area.

Now, the massive international travel hub is in the midst of a BIG transformation and expansion that will add new facilities for travelers traveling through the complex.

MCO’s current ongoing projects include:

Parking Enhancements

Current parking enhancements at the airport include a new $13.9 million Parking Guidance System that will provide real-time information on approximately 11,000 spaces located throughout MCO’s four parking garages, as well as the addition of 8,000 new spaces.

Terminal C Expansion

Originally put on hold due to the pandemic, the Spring of 2026 will see the addition of four new gates to Terminal C, each of which will include MARS (Multiple Aircraft Ramp System) gates with a total of 8 aircraft positions, and Common Use equipment for use by any airline.

Concession Master Plan

As part of an ongoing plan to “seamlessly connect Central Florida and the world through exceptional experiences, collaboration, and creativity, while advancing the goal of making MCO a hub for transportation, commerce, and entertainment”, MCO will see the phased opening of a litany of restaurants and eating establishments between 2026 and 2028.

Phase 1 restaurants include:

• 4Rivers Southern Smokehouse
• Black Bean Deli
• Bobby’s Burgers by Bobby Flay
• BrewDog + Peet’s Coffee
• Cabrita
• Eola Wine Company
• Green Leaf’s
• Hinkley’s Fancy Meats
• Intercept Wine Bar
• Jam-Eng
• Kelly’s Homemade Ice Cream
• Otto’s High Dive
• Maxine’s on Shine
• MOD Pizza
• Old Jailhouse
• Seito Sushi
• Smoke & Donuts BBQ
• SoDough Detroit Pizza
• Stasio’s Italian Deli
• Starbucks
• The Halal Guys
• The Milkhouse
• Tobu
• Villa Pizza
• Zaza

Phase 2 restaurants include:

• Bahia Bowls
• Bricks & Bowls
• Cava
• Chick-fil-A
• Citrus Market featuring Winery and Tasting Room powered by Brewlando
• Crisp & Green
• Einstein Bros. Bagels
• Freddy’s Frozen Custard & Steakburgers
• Just Love Coffee Cafe
• McDonald’s
• Naya Middle Eastern Counter & Grill
• Panda Express
• Piggza
• Plum Market
• Raising Cane’s
• Sambazon
• Shake Shack
• Starbucks
• Velvet Taco

Rental Car Lobby

Opening in the spring of 2026, this $114 million Rental Car Lobby will include new counters, seating, restrooms, and concession build-out space, as well as expansion of an existing pedestrian bridge.

Gate Link Replacement

This $253 million upgrade to the airport’s iconic automated Gate Link tram system will “replace aging infrastructure with state-of-the-art technology to deliver a smoother, faster, and more reliable passenger experience.” Scheduled to be completed in 2027, the project is set to replace the automated Gate Link tram system to Gates 70-129 and Airside 2 and Airside 4.

In addition, several projects further down the line are already in the planning or early construction phases. These include:

Baggage Handling

Currently, the airport’s Baggage Handling System is undergoing a major renovation as part of the Airport’s Capital Improvement Plan (CIP), estimated to cost $652 million. As a complement to ongoing renovations to Terminals A and B, the revamped system will allow MCO to “better cater to its wide cross-section of tourists and conference attendees, most of whom produce an unusual baggage mix.”

Advanced Air Mobility

MCO is striving to serve as a “technology incubator” for research and development (R&D) work on advanced air mobility (AAM) technologies. These include the electrification of propulsion systems, improved battery life, and the “development of systems to enable the automation of flights,” which will “shape the future of aviation and enable the emergence of electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) aircraft.”

These experimental aircraft require a smaller footprint for takeoff and landing, and will potentially be used for “air taxi” operations, that may one day “enable intercity and intracity travel, allow emergency and public services in areas that are not served or are currently underserved, and, more broadly, contribute to the evolution of the transportation system by enabling the transfer of passengers and goods by air within a 250-mile range from a takeoff/landing pad.”

North Terminal Renovations

The Greater Orlando Aviation Authority (GOAA) is “committed to enhancing the look and feel of Orlando International Airport (MCO) into the next decade” through an interior renovation of Levels 2 & 3 at Terminals A & B. This $351 million project will see new flooring, new wall finishes, and new ceilings with lighting improvements.

In addition, the existing restrooms at all four Airsides of the A & B Terminals will also be refurbished to “meet the new elevated standard set in Terminal C.” The Airside Restroom Renovation is scheduled to be completed in 2029, the Airside 1 & 3 Interior Refurbishment is planned to be completed by 2030, as is the Terminal A & B Interior Renovation for Landside, Levels 2 & 3.

Gate Expansion – Airside 2

This $374 million project will see the addition of at least seven new gates and the creation of dual-use ramp space between Airsides 2 and 4. According to GOAA, these projects will allow MCO to accommodate more passengers and more airlines, and add “flexibility to enhance the ramp area and increase the number of aircraft overnight parking spaces available, meaning airlines can offer more early morning flight operations and service for our passengers.”

Further Parking Improvements

Finally, a $1.2 billion parking and rental car expansion program scheduled to see completion by 2030 will:

• Make customer service areas bigger, better, and easier to use.
• Add Premium Reserved and Valet parking spots for faster, more convenient parking.
• Improve behind-the-scenes baggage screening to help bags move more quickly and reliably.
• Create more space for rental car pick-up and drop-off inside the airport’s parking garages.
• Upgrade rental car service areas so vehicles can be cleaned, fueled, and ready for customers more efficiently.
• Offer a more seamless rental car return process that allows travelers to drop off both their car and checked luggage in one easy step.

MCO is in the midst of a massive transformation, which is changing the face of the airport for millions of travelers over the next several years. Stay tuned to DFB for more on these ongoing projects.

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When was the last time you flew through MCO? Let us know in the comments below.