Melbourne airport records second-highest passenger count in history in 2023, topping 740,000
Melbourne Orlando International Airport hosted 747,691 total passengers last year, including inbound and outbound flights.
That's the second-highest total since Melbourne's original airport debuted in 1928. MLB's all-time record: 755,723 total passengers in 1990.
"We didn't quite make it, unfortunately. I got the second-best prize, and that's the second-highest passenger total in our 95-year history," Greg Donovan, airport executive director, told the Melbourne Airport Authority on Wednesday morning.
The airport's 2023 total included 498,910 domestic passengers — a 13.1% yearly increase — and 231,472 international passengers.
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The totals reflect a growth trend that started two years ago when TUI Airways started flying in tourists from the United Kingdom aboard Boeing 787 Dreamliners amid the airport’s $72 million passenger terminal expansion project.
Accordingly, Melbourne’s total incoming and departing passengers rocketed up 88% from 372,287 in 2021 to 701,257 in 2022. The 2023 total represents a 6.6% year-over-year increase.
Melbourne's original airfield was developed from a 10-acre cattle pasture just west of today's Interstate 95 that was purchased on behalf of the city for $500, according to the book "Melbourne Orlando International Airport: A History from 1928 to 2022" by airport authority chair William Potter.
In 1990, American, Continental, Delta, Eastern and USAir flew out of Melbourne, per Potter's book.
"It was a different era. A lot of different airlines. A lot less competitiveness with MCO and other places," Donovan told board members, referring to far-larger Orlando International Airport.
By comparison, Orlando airport officials recently expected to accommodate nearly 3.9 million passengers just during the 23-day Christmas-New Year’s Day travel period from Dec. 16 to Jan. 7.
Donovan said 1990, 2022 and 2023 marked the lone years that Melbourne's total passengers crossed the 700,000 threshold.
"Additional capital improvement projects are slated for 2024, including the installation of an innovative in-line baggage system, new escalator, and enhanced security systems. These improvements are designed to enable MLB to continue to expand operational capacity and improve passenger experience," a Wednesday morning airport press release said.
"All improvements are being accomplished with transportation specific grants and airport generated revenue," the press release said.
In a service expansion, American Airlines will start offering seasonal weekend flights between Melbourne and Washington, D.C., on Feb. 17. Flights will continue through May 4.
Rick Neale is a Space Reporter at FLORIDA TODAY (for more of his stories, click here.) Contact Neale at 321-242-3638 or rneale@floridatoday.com. Twitter/X: @RickNeale1
This article originally appeared on Florida Today: Melbourne airport records second-busiest year for passengers in 2023
