ORLANDO, Fla. — Orlando International Airport has opened a new wing at Terminal C, adding five gates and relocating Virgin Atlantic’s operations as part of a broader effort to increase passenger capacity and improve the travel experience.
By Orlando Advocate Staff
Airport officials say the expansion will help accommodate future growth while easing congestion in the airport’s older terminals. The project also prepares the airport for planned renovations to Terminals A and B.
The new gates, numbered 250 through 254, are:: designed to serve either multiple narrow-body aircraft or wide-body international jets, giving airport officials greater flexibility in assigning airlines and managing passenger traffic.
According to the Greater Orlando Aviation Authority, nearly 58 million passengers traveled through Orlando International Airport in 2025. Officials estimate the expanded Terminal C facilities will increase annual capacity by as many as 10 to 12 million passengers while helping distribute travelers more evenly throughout the airport.
Virgin Atlantic has officially moved its Orlando operations from Terminal A into Terminal C. Airport leaders say the relocation will improve international arrivals and departures while placing the airline in the airport’s newest terminal.
“This expansion represents another step in Orlando’s continued growth as one of the nation’s busiest travel destinations,” said Greater Orlando Aviation Authority CEO Lance Lyttle during a ribbon-cutting ceremony.
The approximately $462 million project received support from the Federal Aviation Administration and the Florida Department of Transportation. Airport officials said the added capacity will allow extensive renovations to begin in the older terminals, including expanded restrooms, upgraded lighting and refreshed passenger areas.
Terminal C opened in 2022 and remains one of the few airport terminals in the United States
connected to an intercity passenger rail station.
Orlando Advocate Analysis
This story is about more than airport construction. Additional capacity at Orlando International Airport can affect tourism, convention business, employment opportunities, and the broader Central Florida economy. As passenger traffic continues to grow, airport infrastructure will remain an important issue for residents, businesses and visitors alike.
- Kevin Seraaj
- Kevin Seraaj
- Kevin Seraaj
- Kevin Seraaj
