The Christmas/New Year 2022-2023 travel season at Orlando International Airport is projected to rival the busiest holiday seasons prior to the pandemic, the airport announed this past week.
In total,2,924,474 passengers will move through the arport over the course of the 19-day travel holiday period. This mark a 17% increase over the same time frame in 2021-2022 when 2.5 million passengers passed through Orlando International.
The busiest travel day this holiday season is predicted to be Monday, January 2, 2023, when more than 162,000 travelers will arrive and depart the airport. The least busy is expected to be Christmas Day with just over 136,000 passengers. Of the 19 days, 15 show a double-digit percentage increase over last year with only Christmas Day, Dec. 25 showing a 1 percent decrease.
In 2021 Orlanndo International Airport ranked 7th in the world serving more than 45 million passengers annually.
Here’s a look at the 19 days ranked by how many passengers will be coming through the airport.
| Christmas / New Year’s Estimated Combined Arrivals and Departure | ||
| 1 | Mon. Jan. 2, 2023 | 162,354 |
| 2 | Thu, December 29 | 162,118 |
| 3 | Fri, December 30 | 161,581 |
| 4 | Fri, December 23 | 161,218 |
| 5 | Mon, December 26 | 160,811 |
| 6 | Tue, December 27 | 158,579 |
| 7 | Thu, December 22 | 158,430 |
| 8 | Sat, December 17 | 158,089 |
| 9 | Wed, December 28 | 157,154 |
| 10 | Sat, December 31 | 155,206 |
| 11 | Fri, December 16 | 154,611 |
| 12 | Wed, December 21 | 154,449 |
| 13 | Sat, December 24 | 154,434 |
| 14 | Sun, December 18 | 150,389 |
| 15 | Mon, December 19 | 148,312 |
| 16 | Tue, January 3 | 145,657 |
| 17 | Sun, January 1 | 143,314 |
| 18 | Tue, December 20 | 141,676 |
| 19 | Sun, December 25 | 136,092 |
To help navigate the crowds, the airport released the following holiday travel tips;
- Arrive at least three hours before your flight to allow for added parking, ticketing and security screening times.
- Parking could be a challenge. Consider being dropped off and picked up on the curb. When picking up arriving passengers use the airport’s cell phone waiting lots. Travelers should call for pick-up once they have retrieved all of their bags.
- Be prepared for extended waiting periods at any stage along your journey.
- Weapons are prohibited in carry-on bags. Firearms are allowed in checked baggage but must be unloaded and secured in a hard case.
- Do not wrap presents going through security. They may be subject to inspection.
- After going through screening, do not forget to retrieve your personal items. Every holiday season thousands of watches and other items are left at TSA checkpoints.
- Consider signing up for the complimentary MCO Reserve checkpoint reservation program, which allows travelers to select a screening time to avoid possible lines at the security checkpoints.
- Take advantage of digital tools for travel assistance. MCO’s website orlandoairports.net, the MCO app and the TSA website offer updated information and tips for optimizing the holiday travel experience.
