ORLANDO, Fla. – Orlando International Airport anticipates over 155,000 passengers on Labor Day, marking it as one of the busiest days of the holiday travel period. However, overall passenger traffic is expected to decrease compared to last year.
From Thursday to Tuesday, MCO forecasts 841,577 arriving and departing passengers, nearly 50,000 fewer than the roughly 891,000 travelers recorded during the same timeframe in 2025, representing a decline of about 5.5%. This drop occurs despite AAA naming Orlando the second-most popular domestic destination for Labor Day travel.
A significant factor behind the decline is the closure of Spirit Airlines in May, which previously accounted for about 10% of MCO’s passengers.
Interestingly, the lower number of travelers has not led to reduced flight prices. According to AAA, round-trip fares to popular destinations like Orlando have risen nearly 20% from last year, averaging around $790.
Traveler Amanda Buehring, visiting from northern Wisconsin with her family, noted the increased costs associated with the holiday weekend. She mentioned that while they aimed to avoid higher prices by arriving on Thursday, the overall expenses for family vacations have become challenging. “You want people to come here, but to be able to afford it for regular people, it’s kind of hard to actually plan a full vacation with your family,” she said.
Despite the anticipated drop in passenger traffic, airport officials recommend that travelers arrive at least two hours before their scheduled departure.
