MCO Lays Groundwork to Expand Air Cargo Activity

Orlando International Airport (MCO) is advancing efforts to expand air cargo activity as part of a broader strategy to diversify its operational profile beyond leisure travel, airport officials said this week.

The initiative was outlined during a meeting of the MCO Air Cargo Association, hosted by the Greater Orlando Aviation Authority (GOAA), which brought together cargo airlines, freight forwarders, ground handlers, logistics firms, construction and engineering companies, and local and federal stakeholders.

Airport leadership said the engagement is intended to identify barriers and opportunities that could make MCO more competitive for cargo operators as global supply chains continue to evolve.

“We want to understand what the air cargo industry needs in order to grow at Orlando,” said Tod D. Willman, assistant vice president of cargo development for GOAA. “As our international passenger network expands, so does our opportunity to support additional cargo activity and position MCO as more than a leisure-focused airport.”

MCO’s cargo strategy is supported by recent growth in international passenger service, which provides additional widebody belly capacity to markets in Europe, South America and the Middle East. Airport officials said MCO now supports 60 international origin-and-destination markets, strengthening its potential role in global cargo flows.

The airport’s location also offers proximity to Central Florida’s aerospace, life sciences, simulation and advanced manufacturing sectors, along with access to regional interstate highways and less airfield congestion compared to other major Florida airports.

Diego Vergara Casado, business development manager for Cargo Network Services, a subsidiary of the International Air Transport Association, presented data on global air cargo trends, noting that while air cargo represents less than 1% of global trade by volume, it accounts for nearly 25% by value due to the movement of high-value and time-sensitive goods.

GOAA officials said cargo expansion aligns with the authority’s long-term vision, adopted in October 2025, which includes the development of at least one new cargo processing facility. The plan is structured around four pillars: customer experience, community, infrastructure and people.

Airport leadership said continued industry engagement will help inform future capital planning and position MCO to capture new cargo opportunities as demand grows.