Orlando airport busier than expected for holiday travel season

OIA busiest in country for departures

ORLANDO, Fla. – While the holiday travel season isn’t anything like it was before COVID-19 struck, officials at Orlando International Airport said they’ve seen more flights than expected in recent weeks.

According to the Greater Orlando Aviation Authority, OIA is starting the new year as the busiest airport in the country for departures.

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More than 60,000 passengers departed OIA on both Saturday and Sunday and for the eight-day period from Dec. 27, 2020 to Sunday, OIA had the most departing passengers in the nation, a news release said.

Date2019-20 actual number of departuresDate2020-21 projected number of departures2020-21 actual number of departures
Dec. 27, 201980,355Dec. 27, 202044,57151,876
Dec. 28, 201985,161Dec. 28, 202041,54043,092
Dec. 29, 201980,727Dec. 29, 202036,91038,715
Dec. 30, 201980,174Dec. 30, 202036,42647,478
Dec. 31, 201966,857Dec. 31, 202026,00738,456
Jan. 1, 202073,625Jan. 1, 202128,38542,063
Jan. 2, 202079,009Jan. 2, 202142,64360,680
Jan. 3, 202082,063Jan. 3, 202144,97160,855

The 21-day holiday travel period officially ends on Thursday.

Officials said travelers likely feel safe coming through OIA because of enhanced cleaning protocols and audio and visual reminders to social distance and follow other Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidelines to stop the spread of the deadly respiratory illness.

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