Orlando airport braces for heavy holiday travel as study ranks it high for flight cancellations, delays

Orlando International Airport expects more than 1.9 million passengers this holiday season, a surge of people for a facility that weathered a higher rate of flight cancellations and delays than almost all other airports nationwide during last year's winter travel season.

During the 2023 holiday season — from Nov. 17 to 28 and Dec. 14 to Jan 3 — Orlando's major airport had the second-highest rate of canceled and delayed flights among the United States' 50 busiest airports, according to the study by travel guide LocalsInsider.

The airport had 4,117 canceled flights and another 58 flights delayed, representing about 25% of total flights at the airport during the holidays. Last Thanksgiving Day alone, 1,340 flights were canceled or delayed.

Four of the top 10 airports with the highest rates of holiday flight cancellations and delays were in Florida.

Weather is a major factor in the cancellation or delays of flights leaving OIA and other Florida airports, said Angela Starke, spokeswoman for the Greater Orlando Airport Authority, which runs the facility.

"Orlando International (MCO) crews are not allowed on the ground when lightning is within 5 miles," Starke wrote in an email to the Sentinel. "Each airline has a similar rule though the mileage may vary. Inclement weather or lightning-related delays can develop from conditions at MCO as well as the originating airport."

Florida had the highest lightning density in the United States in 2023, she said.

Thunderstorms and heavy rainfall can force flights to stay grounded until conditions improve, leading to delays and cancellations at Florida airports that exceed others with similar travel volumes and passengers served, she added.

Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport topped the worst list in Localsinsider's "America's Worst & Best Airports for Holiday Travel" with nearly 30% of its flights delayed or canceled, representing over 2,600 flights during the holiday season last year

Southwest Florida International Airport in Fort Myers was fourth in the study, with just over 23% of its flights delayed or cancelled.

Tampa International Airport was sixth, with just under 23% of its flights delayed or cancelled, according to the study.

Kevin Thibault, CEO of the airport authority, said Monday that airport officials expect more than 1.9 million passengers in the 12-day holiday period this year from November 22 to December 3. That is not as many last year's more than 2 million but would top the 1.75 million who went through the airport during 2022 winter holidays.

"With our experience from the past two holiday seasons, Orlando International Airport is prepared for the robust influx of guests expected this Thanksgiving," he said. "Our airport staff, security partners and vendors are energized by the challenge of this year's expected holiday surge."

The other airports in the Top 10 list for cancellations and delays were: