The Greater Orlando Aviation Authority (GOAA) has approved a plan to construct a new central rental car facility at the Orlando International Airport, a project with a hefty $1 billion price tag to alleviate the current parking squeeze. Starting Nov. 1, travelers renting cars at the airport will see their customer facility charge increase from $6 to $9 per day to fund the project, as per WFTV. The Greater Orlando Aviation Authority Board greenlit the fee hike on Aug. 21, anticipating the new Consolidated Rental Car facility (ConRAC) will relieve significant real estate within terminal parking garages.
But the ConRAC is just one slice of a grander scheme; Orlando's airport is on the brink of a multibillion-dollar splurge intended to modernize and breathe new life into its aging Terminals A and B. These renovations are expected to cost around $1.7 billion, as the Orlando Sentinel estimates, suggesting an investment on par with the greatest the airport has undertaken. To directly address customer critiques, the modifications include eliminating age-old carpeting in favor of terrazzo and erecting more intuitive wayfinding signage. New stores, restaurants, and digitally-equipped seating areas are also on the menu of changes set to enhance the airport’s functionality and appeal further, as reported by the Orlando Sentinel.
As for Terminal C, which is still under construction, it sports majestic architecture and is expected to set a heightened benchmark for traveler comfort and amenities. However, the reality remains that Terminals A and B are the workhorses, as they manage the lion's share of passenger traffic, which last year tallied up to 58 million, positioning the airport as the nation's seventh busiest.
The embrace of urgency, so often the handmaiden of innovation, has propelled the Orlando International Airport toward these bold endeavors. "We want to brighten it up, to change the look," said airport authority CEO Kevin Thibault, as per Orlando Sentinel. Not only does the modernization seek to overhaul the aesthetics and shore up infrastructure, but it also represents an imperative to keep pace with the continuing surge in air travel. A significant piece of the makeover includes a $652 million comprehensive refit of the baggage handling systems.
