The Greater Orlando Aviation Authority (GOAA) will cease commercial passenger operations at 8 a.m. Wednesday, October 9, at Orlando International Airport (MCO), and 10 p.m. Tuesday, October 8, at Orlando Executive airport (ORL). Crews are increasing their activity with storm preparations as Hurricane Milton barrels toward Central Florida.
While these airports will cease commercial operations, they are not closed to emergency/aid and relief flights and will remain open as necessary. Commercial operations will resume as soon as possible based on damage assessment.
Hurricane preparations throughout the facility, including sandbagging doors and tying down all boarding bridges, are being finalized. Communications with city, county, state and federal emergency management officials and the National Weather Service in Melbourne are ongoing.
GOAA wants to alert the public that MCO is not an authorized shelter. The airport cannot accommodate local residents during severe weather events. We continue to ask passengers to check with their airlines about their flight plans.
The Emergency Operations Center (EOC) is at Level 2, with Level 1 activation at 7 a.m. Wednesday. Staff will continue to monitor Hurricane Milton and make changes as necessary.
The latest forecast from the National Hurricane Center:
