When Is the Orlando Airport Closing?

If you are planning on traveling to Orlando this week, it may be time to update your travel plans.

We are currently monitoring Hurricane Milton and how it will affect upcoming vacation plans to Central Florida theme parks like Disney World and Universal Orlando. Disney World has already relaxed its hotel cancelation policies and has even announced that three hotels will be closing tomorrow, October 9th. The storm, which is now a Category Four hurricane, is expected to make landfall in Florida tomorrow. If you have a flight booked into or out of the Orlando International Airport (MCO), it is time to check the status of your flight, as the airport will soon cease operations.

 

Orange County, where MCO and parts of Disney World are located, is currently under a hurricane warning. 

Due to this, MCO announced that it “will cease commercial passenger operations at 8 AM Wednesday, October 9, at Orlando International Airport (MCO), and 10 PM Tuesday, October 8, at Orlando Executive Airport (ORL).”

Operational Update/4 – Hurricane Milton
On Wednesday, at 8 a.m., commercial operations will cease at our airport. We'll continue to monitor the hurricane's path and we'll post updates as they become available. Please continue to work with your airline in regards to your flight. pic.twitter.com/lM8qaL8s7v

— Orlando International Airport (@MCO) October 7, 2024

Although both MCO and ORL will be closed for flights, they will not closed for emergency/aid and relief flights and will remain open as necessary. According to their website, “Commercial operations will resume as soon as possible based on damage assessment.”

Although the airport will be open for emergency aid, it is important to note that MCO is not an authorized shelter. 

Also, according to their website, “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.”

If you have any travel this week after today, October 8th, MCO urges travelers to check with their airlines about flight plans. 

We will continue to monitor Hurricane Milton and other closures that could be announced for Disney World. As always, stay tuned to AllEars for all the latest updates. 

NEWS: Over 100 Flight Cancelations Hit Orlando Airport Ahead of Hurricane Milton