ORLANDO, FL. – At Wednesday’s virtual meeting, the Greater Orlando Aviation Authority (GOAA) Board
learned more about how the airport is dealing with the fiscal fallout and what the way forward may look like.
Orlando International Airport (MCO) is facing financial and operational challenges due to the effects of
COVID-19 on the aviation industry.
Aviation Authority CEO Phil Brown presented updates on the airport’s status along with plans to reduce the
scope of capital improvement projects and offer relief to airport partners. Like many of the nation’s major
airports, passenger traffic at Orlando International has decreased by more than 90 percent over the past
few months, negatively impacting MCO’s main revenue sources: airlines, rental cars, concessionaires and
parking.
“We are in a very challenging situation. It is our responsibility to balance the interest of airlines,
concessions and other business partners with the need for fiscal responsibility and solvency,” Brown said.
“It comes down to the management of cash for the sustainability of Orlando International Airport and the
preservation of a vital asset for the community’s development and future.”
Budget Adjustments and Reductions
Striking that balance will include two key elements: promoting health and safety protocols to restore
passenger confidence and engaging in prudent business practices to reduce expenses and rebuild
revenue. On the financial front, the Aviation Authority previously implemented several actions, including a
reduction of the FY2020 budget by $18.4M; $28.6M in deferred Renewal and Replacement projects; and
offered the airlines, concessions and rental car companies to defer certain months’ fees for 30 days.
On Wednesday, the Board considered a number of additional measures:
A total $372M in proposed reductions to the Capital Improvement Program
Significant revisions to the scope of the South Terminal Complex construction
o Reduction from 19 gates to 15 gates
o Budget reduced by $226M
o South Terminal currently at 60% completion
A choice by In-Terminal Concessionaires for either a limited deferral or a waiver of Minimum Annual
Concession Fees (MACF) for three months, contingent on a number of conditions including with
complying with CDC and other sanitation guidelines.
Rental car companies will be granted a waiver of the Annual Privilege Fee for the months of May,
June and July, 2020, in exchange for releasing the Authority of certain obligations.
Airlines were offered to defer specific fees for an additional 60 days.
Federal Funding
Orlando International Airport received $170 million in CARES Act funding from the Federal Government. The grant money covers less than one-third of the MCO’s operating budget and can be used for operating expenses, debt service and capital expenditures, with additional conditions. The Board’s direction will help supplement a shortfall in Passenger Facility Charges (PFC) and Customer Facility Charges (CFC), which are user-generated fees based on passenger traffic at the airport and have been significantly reduced by the coronavirus pandemic.
Passenger Traffic Projections
Projections indicate passenger traffic won’t return to pre-COVID levels until sometime between 2022 and 2025. At MCO, where passenger numbers surpassed the 50 million mark in February, levels are expected to drop to nearly 27 million in 2020 and just over 25 million in 2021.
The information herein is provided as of the dates specified. Due to the outbreak and continuation of COVID-19 subsequent to the date of such information, the information contained herein may differ materially from the current operational and financial data.
2022 Charlotte Douglas International Airport Report of Achievement
Giving back to the community is central to what Charlotte Douglas International Airport and its operator, the City of Charlotte Aviation Department, is about, and last year was no different.
Throughout 2022, while recovering from the COVID-19 pandemic, we continued our efforts to have a positive impact on the Charlotte community. Of particular note, we spent the year sharing stories of how Connections Don't Just Happen at the Terminal - from creating homeownership and employment opportunities to supporting economic growth through small-business development and offering outreach programs to help residents understand the Airport better.
This whitepaper highlights the construction projects, initiatives, programs and events that validate Charlotte Douglas as a premier airport.
Download the whitepaper: 2022 Charlotte Douglas International Airport Report of Achievement.