ORLANDO, Fla. – Travelers returning home after Christmas packed Orlando International Airport on Thursday, with many facing flight delays and cancellations amid record holiday travel.
Just before noon on Friday (the day after Christmas), FlightAware reported more than 300 flight delays and over 40 cancellations at MCO. The disruptions left many passengers anxiously checking their flight status as they navigated the busy airport.
“The delays,” said traveler Danielle Bell, describing her biggest concern.
For a family of four attempting to return to Los Angeles, the unexpected changes were frustrating. Their original 9:30 a.m. flight was canceled, forcing them to rebook for a later departure.
“We were supposed to fly out this morning, but our plane got canceled,” they said. “Now we’re flying out at 5pm.”
Despite the challenges, some travelers reported smoother experiences. Bell said she checked in as soon as she received her notification and was hopeful her flight would remain on schedule.
AAA predicts this year’s holiday travel season will break records, estimating 122.4 million Americans will travel at least 50 miles from home between December 20 and New Year’s Day. Orlando ranks as the top domestic destination.
One Texas family said they arrived several hours early to avoid problems.
“It’s going pretty smoothly for us—no big delays,” said traveler Jessica Taylor.
Airport officials expecting heavy traffic at MCO, advising passengers to arrive at least three hours before departure, and add additional time as the airport undergoes a gate link replacement construction project, which could add extra time for travelers