It’s Cheaper To Remodel
Just a few minor modifications to
the Orlando International Airport (MCO) terminal to add passenger
capacity could forestall the need to build the new South Terminal,
according to the Orlando Business Journal. But the modifications
won't come cheap -- costing as much as $400 million, the Greater
Orlando Aviation Authority was told last week.
Many of the alterations are needed, and officials note it still
would be a bargain, compared to the cost of a new terminal. To
build it now would cost closer to $2 billion, rather than the $1
billion cited in previous estimates.
"The most important thing is not to jump into debt we don't
need," says Jeanne Van Meter, a board member of the aviation
authority, which oversees the Orlando airport.
Going the least-expensive route is important, in order to "keep
costs down and still provide a seamless travel experience -- run a
first-class facility at a low price to fulfill our obligations to
the airlines and the community," said Aviation authority Chairman
Jeffery Fuqua.
The authority says that a new terminal would be needed soon, as
the state's busiest airport is projected to reach 40 million
passengers annually within a few years. This year it expects to
reach 36 million.
Based on current yearly growth rates of 3 percent, Orlando
International should reach the 40 million mark in 2010, at least a
year ahead of previous estimates, according to SchenkelShultz Inc.,
the Orlando consultant hired to do the capacity study.
Tom Chandler, a consultant with SchenkelShultz, told the Greater
Orlando Aviation Authority that facility enhancements in certain
areas and advances in technology could stretch the maximum capacity
to at least 45 million passengers, a level that is projected to be
reached in 2015.
"We need to do work on several [things] regardless of the
conversation of extending capacity in order to maintain the level
of service," Chandler says.
The airport service areas that will need attention the soonest
include passenger security checkpoints, ticketing lines,
entering/exiting weaves, terminal ramps, baggage claim and baggage
handling. Improvements in these areas will cost between $375
million-$400 million.
With the enhancements called for in the study, there's no need
to worry about building a new terminal until 2012, says Steve
Gardner, the aviation authority's executive director.
Because Orlando International already has undertaken many of the
infrastructure projects needed to start the proposed South
Terminal, airport officials say construction would take only about
three years, instead of six or seven if it hadn't done them.
Fuqua points out the 2015 timeline could end up extending even
further, if, for some reason, Orlando International doesn't grow as
fast as the 2.9 percent rate projected between 2011 and 2015. "All
this hangs on 3 percent growth, but we're exceeding the national
level of 1.5-2 percent and it's a distinct possibility we could
fall back, stretching those numbers out," he says.
Fuqua adds MCO might grow even faster than projected because of
the vitality of the Central Florida market, which, despite the
housing downturn, is steadily growing.
That vitality has helped ramp up international service this
year, as a number of airlines -- including Lufthansa, Aer Lingus,
Copa, Delta and British Airways -- have announced new or expanded
service on international routes.
This is important... because the South Terminal is slated to
become the airport's international terminal.