Metro Orlando Airport News

[shardoon]

2 hours ago, jrs2 said:

Ooooh, great find. 

They are fudging their numbers with General Aviation.  Tisk, tisk.

Wow.  I mean, with that logic, DAB is one of the busiest airports around because of all the  activity from Embry Riddle.

Charlotte does it too...... and that is an airport that Orlando is right behind. 

[jrs2]

On ‎2‎/‎7‎/‎2019 at 1:10 PM, shardoon said:

Charlotte does it too...... and that is an airport that Orlando is right behind. 

I knew it.  I just couldn't understand how Charlotte was busier than MCO.  Sure, they have business travelers and a hub(s), but how much tourism?

[spenser1058]

2 minutes ago, jrs2 said:

I knew it.  I just couldn't understand how Charlotte was busier than MCO.  Sure, they have business travelers and a hub(s), but how much tourism?

With all the high-falutin’ financial types in Charlotte, I suspect their general aviation puts Herndon (plus the private planes at MCO) to shame.

[shardoon]

On 2/12/2019 at 1:26 PM, spenser1058 said:

With all the high-falutin’ financial types in Charlotte, I suspect their general aviation puts Herndon (plus the private planes at MCO) to shame.

I am sure it does beat out ORL (although they do have quite high numbers) and MCO general aviation, but mixing these numbers into actual airport passenger terminal numbers is disingenuous. These passengers do not touch any part of the passenger terminals. 

[spenser1058]

33 minutes ago, shardoon said:

I am sure it does beat out ORL (although they do have quite high numbers) and MCO general aviation, but mixing these numbers into actual airport passenger terminal numbers is disingenuous. These passengers do not touch any part of the passenger terminals. 

I agree that it’s a shame there’s no apples to apples comparison. Maybe they’re just jealous of us!

[shardoon]

New direct flight to Israel

https://en.globes.co.il/en/article-el-al-to-launch-tel-aviv-orlando-flights-1001272902

[Camillo Sitte]

16 hours ago, shardoon said:

New direct flight to Israel

https://en.globes.co.il/en/article-el-al-to-launch-tel-aviv-orlando-flights-1001272902

Actually it's a nonstop. It's only one weekly flight during the summer, but better than nothing.

EL AL had been doing seasonal direct MCO- TLV flights for years via JFK.  They would also have the occasional on-again, off-again nonstop, but all flights ended in 2001. 

Edited February 19, 2019 by Camillo Sitte

[HankStrong]

Just for the curious, the difference between direct and non-stop flights is that direct will still have stops.  People use them interchangeably, but they aren't.

• Direct = with stops, however the flight number doesn't change and you won't be changing planes.
• Non-stop = as implied, it goes from one city to another without stopping.

Direct flights are still better than changing planes because you have gate or concourses involved and your luggage also changes planes extra times.

https://www.usatoday.com/story/travel/roadwarriorvoices/2015/08/08/the-difference-between-a-direct-and-nonstop-flight-and-why-you-should-care/83274864/

Edited February 19, 2019 by HankStrong

[jrs2]

On ‎2‎/‎18‎/‎2019 at 11:28 AM, shardoon said:

New direct flight to Israel

https://en.globes.co.il/en/article-el-al-to-launch-tel-aviv-orlando-flights-1001272902

"These new flights come on top of direct flights begun by El Al to Las Vegas and San Francisco. El Al will receive a €750,000 grant from the Ministry of Tourism for the Las Vegas route, but no grant will be forthcoming for the route to Orlando."

A.  Who's Ministry of Tourism, Isreal's, Nevada's, California's, the U.S.'?

B.  Euro's?  Is Isreal on the Euro?

[shardoon]

12 minutes ago, jrs2 said:

"These new flights come on top of direct flights begun by El Al to Las Vegas and San Francisco. El Al will receive a €750,000 grant from the Ministry of Tourism for the Las Vegas route, but no grant will be forthcoming for the route to Orlando."

A.  Who's Ministry of Tourism, Isreal's, Nevada's, California's, the U.S.'?

B.  Euro's?  Is Isreal on the Euro?

I thought it was interesting that the Las Vegas route had to be subsidized, but the Orlando route will not be. 

[smileguy]

VISIT FLORIDA does have a subsidy program. I wonder if the route didn't qualify. 

[Camillo Sitte]

1 hour ago, smileguy said:

VISIT FLORIDA does have a subsidy program. I wonder if the route didn't qualify. 

Visit Florida airline grants  specifically require that only routes that are "new, not restarted " and "must operate for at least three consecutive months" qualify.

As this EL AL route is both a restarted route and will only operate once a week for two consecutive months [Jul-Aug], it would seem to be disqualified on both counts.

Edited February 19, 2019 by Camillo Sitte

[spenser1058]

I’m sure the fact that Sheldon Adelson, one of the grand high poobahs of the GOP (The Donald’s  decision to move the US Embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem happened in no small part thanks to him) and also in Israel might have played a role. He is one of the Vegas casino titans.

 

 

 

 

 

 

[jrs2]

57 minutes ago, spenser1058 said:

I’m sure the fact that Sheldon Adelson, one of the grand high poobahs of the GOP (The Donald’s  decision to move the US Embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem happened in no small part thanks to him) and also in Israel might have played a role. He is one of the Vegas casino titans.

no kidding...

[AndyPok1]

On 2/19/2019 at 2:13 PM, spenser1058 said:

I’m sure the fact that Sheldon Adelson, one of the grand high poobahs of the GOP (The Donald’s  decision to move the US Embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem happened in no small part thanks to him) and also in Israel might have played a role. He is one of the Vegas casino titans.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Not to get overly political, but I wouldn't call him a titan.  He owns the Venetian and Palazzo, which obviously, massive hotels, are largely standalone and highly dependent on convention traffic.  I despise him because he close to single-handedly responsible for the lack of regulated online poker in America because he thinks it will dampen his in person casino business (fun fact, studies have shown that's false)

[spenser1058]

OIA expansion is the #2 biggest current airport project in the US (LAX is #1):

https://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/transportation/os-ne-orlando-airport-construction-ranking-20190304-story,amp.html

From the Sentinel 

[jrs2]

23 hours ago, spenser1058 said:

OIA expansion is the #2 biggest current airport project in the US (LAX is #1):

https://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/transportation/os-ne-orlando-airport-construction-ranking-20190304-story,amp.html

From the Sentinel 

good article.

for those that have not been by there lately, that photo does not do the breadth of the construction justice.  the concrete structures u/c are at least 7-9 stories tall in height.  

Also, at the North Terminal, on the B side oldest section where Airsides 1 & 3 are, GOAA moved the Disney Store and OPD.  They cleared out those spaces and they are in the midst of expanding the security gate area to the south of the current area.  It's impressive.  I'm not sure if they are doing the same thing on the other side of Chili's Too to the north towards A.  They would have to clear out Universal if they were.

[shardoon]

4 hours ago, jrs2 said:

good article.

for those that have not been by there lately, that photo does not do the breadth of the construction justice.  the concrete structures u/c are at least 7-9 stories tall in height.  

Also, at the North Terminal, on the B side oldest section where Airsides 1 & 3 are, GOAA moved the Disney Store and OPD.  They cleared out those spaces and they are in the midst of expanding the security gate area to the south of the current area.  It's impressive.  I'm not sure if they are doing the same thing on the other side of Chili's Too to the north towards A.  They would have to clear out Universal if they were.

That's a good move. They redid the check in to increase capacity, but that security checkpoint as constructed would always limit volume due to the bottle neck nature of the North Terminal design. Remember, this setup was designed in the mid to late 70s, in an era where only a fraction of the public flew, and eons before the low cost carriers became ubiquitous.

[codypet]

We also had a private security team, that didn't slow everything to a complete crawl like the TSA does now.

[jrs2]

That article...was it in the Brightline thread?  It was talking about the failure rate of "big" projects like rail systems and Airbus' A380 which has been discontinued.

How many airports had to alter their gate gantry systems to accommodate the A380 and now Airbus is scrapping the project.  And, Boeing retired the 747.  So, aside from the 777and comparable Airbus jets, is there even going to be a new jumbo jet or are they going by way of the Dodo?

I mean, this won't have much of an effect on MCO...it's just funny how a brand makes a giant jet and the entire industry responds to it with $$$ investment and then that brand dumps that giant jet.

[Camillo Sitte]

16 hours ago, jrs2 said:

 And, Boeing retired the 747.

So, aside from the 777and comparable Airbus jets, is there even going to be a new jumbo jet or are they going by way of the Dodo?

Nope - not yet anyway.

The 747-8 line is still open, still building unfulfilled orders, and is open for new orders.

It is true though that while the 748F line [cargo freighters] will be taking and fulfilling orders for years to come, the 748i line [passenger version] will be lucky to see many more commercial passenger orders.

But even as airlines continue to retire their 747-400s, which will still be around with British Airways and a few others until ~2026, Lufthansa, Korean Air, and Air China, etc. will still be flying their 747-8i passenger planes for the next ~20 years.

As for new jumbo jets, Boeing is investing several billion dollars to develop the new 777x line [bigger than the 777] for which they have already taken nearly 400 orders.

Edited March 7, 2019 by Camillo Sitte

[shardoon]

Those duel Jetway bridges still have a lot of use for the large wide body jets such as the A330, A340,  A350, 777, and 787.  Of course still great for the older 747 and 767s.  

Edited March 7, 2019 by shardoon

[spenser1058]

Should Brevard be considered part of Orlando? A GOAA lawsuit challenging Orlando Melbourne International Airport’s name may help decide.

I see the point but, heck, I’d love to see Brevard’s 500,000+ people added to our MSA numbers. I’m guessing Sanford’s getting by scot-free sine they’re part of the Orlando MSA already.

https://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/os-ne-orlando-melbourne-airport-name-suit-20190320-story,amp.html

From the Sentinel 

[sethM]

I flew out of MCO last Friday, going through security for gates 1-59. I have to say, this was the first time ever that I've didn't encounter a line at the pre-check area (at MCO). It's usually a 5-10 minute wait, but nothing. 

 

It looks like they still had a bit on construction on the security area going on, but whatever they changed for the precheck section is certainly working. 

[jrs2]

The redone security area on the original west side A & B section is making progress.  One notable thing is that the CLEAR card lanes, just to the right of TSA Pre, have opened ala direct access to the front of the security lines.  A few weeks back those sections were still under reconstruction.  So, also, when you deplane and exit the AGT station, you go right and then left and then out right through where the Disney Store and OPD etc used to be; they used all of that freed up space.  A very nice improvement over the cluster@ that was there before.  They still haven't activated all of the cancer machines yet.  And, they are still working on the A-side section where The Universal Store and/or Duty Free stores are at or were at.

I say bravo for a very much needed improvement.  What's funny though is that the TSA Pre area has I think two lanes and they are both packed with travelers.  CLEAR barely has anyone there.  Hot tip:  get a CLEAR card.  (no, I do not own stock in the company)

Edited March 20, 2019 by jrs2