Press

ORLANDO, FL. – For only the second time in its history, Orlando International Airport (MCO) recorded more than 50 million annual passengers in 2022. The dramatic growth over the past two years highlights the importance of continuing the construction of Terminal C and related projects. In order to more comprehensively manage the Terminal C program, the Greater Orlando Aviation Authority (GOAA) Board approved hiring a consulting firm to provide program management oversight.

Following an extensive application and vetting process, GOAA staff shortlisted the top four firms and the Board approved the number one ranked firm, Jacobs Project Management Co., as the winner of the contract for Executive Program Management and Oversight (PMO) Services.

“The Aviation Authority was looking for a national leader with extensive experience and technical expertise in managing aviation and intermodal capital programs,” said Kevin Thibault, Greater Orlando Aviation Authority Chief Executive Officer. “We look forward to collaborating with Jacobs to manage Terminal C programs and related projects to enhance the experience and the quality expected of a world-class airport facility.”

Jacobs Project Management will be responsible for overseeing the resumption of Terminal C construction projects deferred due to the pandemic; operations coordination; and design, contracts and stakeholder management.

New Emergency Equipment

To maintain an optimal level of emergency service on the airfield, the Board approved the purchase of two new vehicles for MCO’s Aircraft Rescue and Fire Fighting (ARFF) department. The pair of Rosenbauer Panther 6X6 vehicles are currently in production and have a purchase price of $2,001,341. Delivery of the new equipment is expected in FY2024.

The new vehicles will enable ARFF to meet or exceed Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) standards for response time and required number of emergency vehicles on the airfield. Per the FAA standard, MCO is required to have three ARFF vehicles in-service at all times, however, due to the size of MCO’s airfield, the FAA increased the requirement to four. Currently, MCO operates four in-service vehicles with
one in reserve.

One of the new vehicles will replace a current vehicle that is nearing the end of its FAA-mandated frontline service life in 2024. The second will be an additional vehicle to raise the number of frontline in-service vehicles to five with two in reserve.

Additionally, increasing the fleet will allow for greater flexibility in strategically locating the vehicles across the airfield and more training opportunities with less wear and tear on the equipment.

Emergency capabilities of the new trucks include capacity for over 3,000 gallons of water, over 400 gallons of foam and over 500 pounds of dry chemical agent for fire suppression through a roof and bumper turret system as well as undertruck nozzles and handlines. Each vehicle has the ability to disperse agent while moving, be operated by a single operator and has an internal foam testing system so that foam doesn’t need to be dispersed for testing purposes, which is environmentally and fiscally responsible

Leadership Positions Announced

As GOAA continues to evolve as an organization, key leadership positions in the recently revised organizational structure needed filling. Today, the Board approved a number of executive level roles.

Current Senior Vice President of Marketing & Air Service Development Vicki Jaramillo will be promoted to Chief Development Officer. She will provide oversight of Air Service Development, Airline Relations, Cargo Development, Marketing and Real Estate and direct the Authority’s efforts to raise MCO’s global profile. Ms. Jaramillo has been employed with GOAA since January 1994 and has over 30 years of experience in marketing and air service development.

Brad Friel was named as the Senior Vice President of Multi-Modal Planning & Environmental. He will provide strategic analysis and recommendations to the CEO, including review and economic analysis of major projects. Mr. Friel currently serves as the Vice President of Planning & Development and has been employed with GOAA since February 2001.

The role of Vice President of Strategic Communication will be filled by Angela Starke. She will oversee the development of effective and strategic communication plans, including press materials, social media posts, key messages, speeches and presentations, to help build consensus on key GOAA initiatives. Ms. Starke currently serves as the Assistant Vice President of Public Affairs.

Tawana Russell was approved to fill the position of Vice President of Customer Experience. She will be responsible for the planning, development, direction, implementation and evaluation of all airport-wide customer service initiatives and programs. Ms. Russell currently serves as the Airport Manager – Guest Experience with the Broward County Aviation Department.

Busy Spring Break Expected

Projections for the upcoming Spring Break travel season show Orlando International Airport is expecting to surpass 2022 by nearly 900,000 passengers. During the period from Saturday, March 4, 2023 through Tuesday, April 18, 2023, MCO is estimating a total of 7,274,281 passengers will utilize the airport over the 46-day span. GOAA is forecasting a 13% increase in departing passengers compared to the actual 2022 Spring Break season departing passenger numbers.

The Greater Orlando Aviation Authority is proud to operate Orlando International Airport (MCO) and Orlando Executive Airport (ORL), two of Florida’s premier air travel gateways. MCO is a world-class global connector, serving more than 50 million annual passengers in 2022. The recently-opened Terminal C is a next level facility that will add 10-12 million annual passengers of capacity and elevate the customer experience. ORL is conveniently located just miles from downtown Orlando and provides vital general aviation access to the heart of the region.