b'TERMINALSMCO 9Orlando Intl Prepares to WowCustomers With New Terminal C BY JODI RICHARDS September. Officials expect internationalhandling system that uses individual bagComplicated Preludeoperations to begin on Sept. 19, 2022,totes with radio frequency identificationThis is a project that has been decades and domestic operations to commencetags for 100% tracking. Moreover,in the making, says Thibault, noting that one week later. Opening after Labor DayTerminal C will be the first multimodalthe first planning study for the South will allow MCO and its airlines to makeairport in the U.S. with fully integrated rail,Terminal Complex was completed in 1990. the move outside of the busy holidayair and ground transportation.Since then, the airport surpassed pre-set weekend, Thibault explains.It is built to improve travel efficiency,capacity triggers in its master plan and The airport has been reboundinguphold passenger safety, excite thegradually performed infrastructure work to steadily since the historic traffic lowsimagination and enhance the customerprepare the site for construction. Enabling caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. Inexperience, says Thibault.projects included filling in ponds and March, traffic climbed more than 65%,Technology is a key component torerouting a master drainage system. with the airport serving 4.6 million morethe overall customer experience. MCOThe aftermath of the 9/11 terrorist passengers than it did during the sameis integrating common-use processingattacks caused the project to halt, but it period in 2021.systems to enhance operationalregained momentum from 2004 to 2008 Terminal Cs 15 gates willefficiencies. Specific common-useas passenger traffic returned. Then, the accommodate up to 20 aircraft andelements will be ticketing counters,economy entered a recession, stalling the support an additional capacity of 10 to 12self-service check-in kiosks, airlineproject once again. The third start, around million annual passengers. It will featureworkstations and gates. Airside, a virtual2015, was the charm, Ruohomaki relates. 100% automated passenger screening,ramp control system displays aircraftIt was a full-court press to get the design 100% facial recognition for internationaloperations on video walls, providingdone because we needed more capacity, arrivals and departures, large-screencontrollers with full, unobstructed visibilityhe explains. The airports 93-gate North interactive digital media and a baggageof airfield traffic.Terminal that was constructed in the 80s AirportImprovement.comJuly | August 2022'