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The busiest holiday travel days at Orlando International Airport

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
1Mon. Jan. 2, 2023162,354
2Thu, December 29162,118
3Fri, December 30161,581
4Fri, December 23161,218
5Mon, December 26160,811
6Tue, December 27158,579
7Thu, December 22158,430
8Sat, December 17158,089
9Wed, December 28157,154
10Sat, December 31155,206
11Fri, December 16154,611
12Wed, December 21154,449
13Sat, December 24154,434
14Sun, December 18150,389
15Mon, December 19148,312
16Tue, January 3145,657
17Sun, January 1143,314
18Tue, December 20141,676
19Sun, December 25136,092

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.

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