Formerly known as Orlando Melbourne International Airport, Melbourne Orlando International Airport is the gateway to a beautiful city of Florida, situated minutes from immaculate beaches of the South Coast. Melbourne Orlando is abode to a neighborhood of aviation and aerospace titans giving it global recognition. As a top cruise port in the world, closest to cruises, and located in the most innovative city, Melbourne Orlando International Airport is the entrance to Florida’s next-generation short drives to great adventures. Located 1.5 miles northwest of downtown Melbourne, Florida, this airport lies on Central Florida’s Space Coast and is the epicenter for aerospace, defense, and manufacturers.
MLB lies 110km southeast of Orlando International Airport. Internationally recognized companies of Northrop Grumman, Embraer Executive Jets, L3 Harris, Collins Aerospace, STS Mod Center, Southeast Aerospace, etc are next door to MLB while MLB hosts the new global headquarter of Aerion Supersonic specializing in the world’s first supersonic business jet-the AS2.
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Perfect sunshine, sand, and surfing are what Florida is well-known for. The beaches of Florida draw millions of tourists every year. Beyond the beach is located the land of MLB. From this airport, all of the best of Florida is less than an hour’s drive away. For example, Cocoa Beach is just 2 hours away. Similarly, Disney World is not too far. Soft ocean breeze combined with freshly cut grasses bring the magic alive, a port that takes people to their dream destinations, awakens all senses, is MLB.
MLB takes people to the land of exotic vacations- where surfers carve their names on soft sea waves. It is a wonderful airport in the Orlando area where visitors can take off and land for their holidays and vacation travel. It is often said that Orlando Holidays are beautiful with MLB. MLB transport 62 million regional visitors every year with annual visitors spending of 3 billion dollars.
Traveling to MLB lands travelers right in the center of Florida’s Space Coast. It’s an exotic location for people wandering to satisfy their pent-up desire for a getaway from day-to-day hassles. They are provided with a combination of respite, pristine beaches, uncrowned attractions, and frequent rocket launches from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center. Melbourne Orlando International Airport is a calm and uncongested airport that executes safety procedures and initiatives to add up to the quality of services at every step of passenger experience at this airport.
Melbourne Orlando International Airport was previously called Orlando Melbourne International Airport. It was renamed in May 2021 due to allegations regarding the name being misleading to passengers. It was first operated in 1928 as Melbourne International Airport.
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As a coastal gateway to Central Florida, the Melbourne Orlando International Airport targets leisure as well as business passengers’ satisfaction by creating tourist attractions in its own right, sharing the goal of providing a world-class customer experience.
Facilities at Melbourne Orlando International Airport
- Runway
The airport in Brevard County, MLB has three asphalt runways that cover a distance of 2420 acres. It has installed high to medium intensity runway edge lights, uses an instrumental approach to provide short-range guidance to the airplanes, and 1400 foot medium intensity approach lighting system. The asphalt surfaced runways are in excellent condition.
- Terminal
The main terminal known as Edward L. Foster Air Terminal includes the Airport Museum. The airport museum helps travelers explore the airport’s history, lays out how it acted like a prisoner of war center during World War II. It also contains aviation artwork. The terminal opens two hours prior to the first flight schedule and closes 1 hour after the arrival of the last flight.
- The Florida Institute of Technology FIT is near Melbourne Orlando International Airport and it is extended about 100 acres.
- New Embraer Business Jet Assembly facilities are being constructed.
- Airport operations
The airport is open to the public, has NOTAM (Notification to Airmen) facilities, lighted wind indicator, fire and rescue operation along with international operations. The airport has hanger and tie down, airframe and powerplant services.
- Control Tower
Passenger facilities
- Baggage reclaim area:
MLB uses state-of-the-art computed tomography (CT) scanner in its security checkpoint where travelers have no need to remove electronic food or travel-size liquids from their carry-on bags. This technology induces few touchpoints on the number of passenger bags that need to be manually inspected during the pandemic. Using a sophisticated algorithm, CT combines security along with convenience for travelers’ experience. MLB moves along with its terminal expansion project which caters to an increase in passenger traffic. Further, plans are underway to install advanced technology like touchless protocols reflecting its throughput capabilities.
- Shuttle buses, taxis, limousines
- Complimentary free Wi-Fi
- Restaurants (Runway Grille)
- Parking facilities
- Ground transportation
- Wheelchair assistance
- Lost and Found area
- Aris at Airport, Dunkin
- Check-in areas for passenger processing
- Security improvements
The airport can clear 500 travelers in an hour through custom lines. The solid IT infrastructure is applied for considerable growth at MLB as it is the hotspot for the major aviation, aerospace and defense corporation.
Melbourne Orlando International Airport focuses on the tourism development of the region, offering travelers’ relaxation at Space Coast, high-end airport fly-in the hotel. It offers a comfortable and concierge air service option for locals as well as international business and leisure passengers.
Expansion at Melbourne-Orlando International Airport
In July 2021, a major expansion planning for the addition of 86000 sq. feet to the airport, with the capacity to accommodate 15000 passengers a year, worth $61 million is set up to shore up MLB’s growth sky-high. The UK-based company TUI, which is one of the world’s largest holiday companies, is the backbone of this major expansion project. Since the 1980s, the airport hasn’t seen renovation and expansion like this. With a capacity to cater to up to four Dreamliners (wide-body, international, transatlantic), the airport is about to receive 12600 beach and 9000 cruise passengers from the UK, making it much busier than today. Concierge services, public and private transportation services, amenities, and family-friendly features will be included in the terminal upgrades. Air service growth at Melbourne International Airport has led to a major terminal project to connect the passengers with exotic places and experiences.
In November 2019, TUI airways announced to base Orlando operation at Melbourne from 2022 instead of Sanford. A total of 17 flights in a week will bring operations closer to Port Canaveral according to the announcement.
The TUI UK’s announcement of MLB as its new gateway to Florida has sparked award-winning airport’s reputation and investment opportunities. As a part of the airport expansion project, the development of unique fly-in hotels and rooftop bars are getting over qualms which will let travelers and aviation enthusiasts enjoy the scenic views of the airport including Space Coast, Melbourne beach the West, and also the Atlantic ocean. Melbourne Orlando International Airport continues to elevate its operations and is acknowledged for its approaches and departure facilities. Many airlines pursue MLB for holiday travelers (while scheduling continues upward trends into holidays at Central Florida).
Airlines Operating at MLB
The airlines such as Allegiant Air, American Eagle, Delta Airlines, Elite Airways, TUI airways operate and are about to operate at MLB. The busiest routes from MLB are Atlanta and Georgia served by Delta, North Carolina, and Philadelphia served by American Airlines.
Allegiant Airlines will serve Pittsburgh, Nashville, and Concord twice a week from November 2021. Similarly, Elite Airways will offer twice-weekly nonstop service to White Plans, Portland, New York. The TUI’s new flight to MLB is set to commence in March 2022, throughout the UK cities including Birmingham, Bristol, Don Caster, Glasgow, London-Gatwick, Manchester, and New Castle.
From Melbourne Orlando, you can fly to the domestic cities of Atlanta, Charlotte, and Washington.
In 2020, the airport served 103,600 aircraft operations of which 93% were general aviation.
Aviation Services of Melbourne Orlando International Airport
The aviation services at MLB include:
- Aircraft maintenance- STS Mod Center, Heck Air Aircraft Maintenance and Southeast Aerospace
- General Aviation Services- Sheltair and Melbourne Area Pilot Association
- FBOS- Atlantic Jet Center, FIT aviation
- Into-plane fueling- Menzies Aviation
Achievements of MLB
ML is not an ordinary airport as it was awarded Florida’s 2019 ‘Commercial Service Airport of the Year) by FDOT. It also won ‘Most scenic Airport in North America’ by Privatefly.com
Operational Efficiency of Melbourne Orlando International Airport
MLB strives to achieve efficiency in terms of reliability of services at the airport, the pursuit of convenience for travelers, and time savings through seamless check-on counters and customs line and price value for services provided.
The main differentiating factor for MLB is the baggage reclaim area where the CT scanner is equipped. Adequate facilities and infrastructures are underway to provide a seamless passenger experience. Setting common standards on safety, efficiency, and services, the airport is on the continuous move to achieve a finely tuned balance between different components of operations.
As a service industry, MLB continues to wow the travelers as Florida’s new generation gateway and varieties of passenger’s services with an excellent value for money.
