Florida Real Estate, Tourism and Immigration News

Southwest handles about 21% of the traffic at Orlando International Airport, helping show its status as not just an international gateway to the world but a major hub for domestic traffic – especially as Southwest is the largest domestic carrier in the nation.

Southwest said that they had over 27 million passengers between July 1st and September 30th this year – a massive number but it is still an increase of 9.5% over last years near 25 million passengers in the same third quarter last year.

Not only were there an increase in passengers but the planes were fuller on average too in the same quarter, up to over 76% up from last years 74%.

Thi is another sign showing the airport as well as the areas hugh level of growth.

With 973,000 visitors from the UK to Orlando last year it is no wonder that British Airways want to increase the number of flights to Central Florida. The number of Brits visiting the area made up about a third of all international visitors.

Orlando International Airport is one of the major hubs for flights in the state and is currently spending millions of dollars on refurbishment and expansion to cope with the influx of visitors.

Beginning on March 30th the airline will add three flights a week to its already impressive number taking its total of 10 nonstop a week – this will mean twice daily flights Wednesdays, Saturdays and Sundays and a once daily flight the other days.

Of course this is coupled with Virgin Atlantics number of routes to Orlando from Gatwick and Manchester.

This is of course in addition to the new Frankfurt route by Lufthansa as well as Aer Lingus’s direct flights to Dublin starting at the end of October.

This is definately exciting developments as it feeds the huge demand for access to Central Florida!