Orlando International Airport Advances Plans for Electric Air Taxi Infrastructure

Orlando International Airport (MCO) is moving forward with plans for a short-term landing zone dedicated to electric air taxis, marking a significant step in the development of new transportation modalities for Central Florida. Collaborating with both federal and state agencies, the Greater Orlando Aviation Authority is investigating the safe integration of these aircraft into the current air traffic system alongside conventional airlines.

The proposed vertipad, or vertistop, will be situated at the Atlantis surface parking lot near Terminal C and the Brightline train station. This facility aims to serve as a testing ground for eVTOL aircraft, which can vertically take off and land without the need for traditional runways. Initial demonstration flights could commence by the end of 2026, contingent upon Federal Aviation Administration approval, with aspirations to construct a full vertiport by 2030.