Meet The Winners: Orlando International Airport

While the conversations began at regional events, they’re far from over. In our Routes Revisited series, the voices of our award winners, exhibitors and Routes 360 members, highlight their achievements, insights and ambitions for the future. These conversations offer space for reflection and renewed perspective, sustaining the dialogue as we build momentum towards Routes World 2026.

After being named Overall Winner at the Routes Americas 2026 Awards in Rio de Janeiro and taking top honors in the Over 20 Million Passengers category, Orlando International Airport (MCO) reflected on what the recognition means for the team and the partnerships that helped drive its success.

MCO handled 57.7 million passengers in 2025, 13% above its pre-pandemic 2019 total. During the year, the airport secured 45 new and expanded routes, including services to five new international destinations: Hamilton, Lima, Paris, Munich and Madrid.

MCO also became the first airport in Florida to announce nonstop charter service to Tokyo Narita, achieving a longstanding goal of direct Asia connectivity. The airport now serves more than 170 nonstop destinations worldwide, which includes more than 116 U.S. cities and over 50 international destinations across 30 different countries.

MCO’s involvement extends well beyond securing new air service. The airport works closely with airline partners throughout the lifecycle of a route, from pre-launch planning to ongoing performance development. Its air service development team supports new services through a range of promotional and retention initiatives, including social media campaigns, travel agent training programs, familiarization trips for tour operators, corporate outreach events and consumer marketing activities. The goal is to build awareness, stimulate demand and support the long-term success of new routes.

The air service development team maintains close relationships with airline partners through regular engagement and ongoing monitoring of route performance. Airlines are also connected with a broad network of local stakeholders, including destination marketing organizations, economic development agencies, chambers of commerce, universities and major employers. This collaborative approach helps support route development efforts, strengthen market awareness and drive long-term demand.

These strategic partnerships are designed to drive passenger traffic, enhance airline brand visibility, and create new revenue-generating opportunities. Additionally, MCO actively celebrates and amplifies significant airline achievements, from inaugural flight ceremonies and special aircraft liveries to milestone anniversaries and other noteworthy occasions, reinforcing the collaborative partnership at every opportunity.

“It is an honor, and a reflection of our commitment to global air service development, to receive this esteemed award at Routes Americas,” said Lance Lyttle, CEO of the Greater Orlando Aviation Authority, which operates MCO. “By collaborating with our tourism partners and other key stakeholders, we are able to launch new routes, strengthen economies and connect people, cultures and possibilities.”

Next on the horizon for MCO is a focus on expanding its Latin American network. Juliana Pena, assistant vice president, air service, said: “There are key South American destinations that we are looking to establish a nonstop route to, such as Argentina, which is a huge market for Orlando. There are other markets in Latin America that are key for not only the population that we have in central Florida, but also for trade and tourism. We have our mind thoroughly set and our targets prepared.”

Having been crowned the overall winner of the Routes Americas Awards, Darren L’Appanna, air service & business development manager at MCO, said: “It’s been absolutely amazing to be recognised in the Routes Awards. The past year has been incredibly difficult for everyone in this industry, but we have done what we can to support our airline partners and we know that our airline partners appreciate all that we try to do for them.

L’Appanna added: “We go above and beyond in our marketing, from sports marketing, to all types of different marketing efforts, as well as going on sales trips and acting like their sales teams when we can. Therefore to be recognised and win the Overall Winner is amazing, it makes us definitely feel that we’re doing the right thing.”