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Orlando Melbourne International Nears Completion on Terminal Expansion And Upgrade as it Readies for Tourism, Business Travel Growth

BY DAVID WARD

Above: Orlando Melbourne International Airport’s Terminal Upgrade Project also includes airfield improvements that enable the airport to accommodate wide-body international and domestic flights.

Looking to improve the experience of business travelers as well as attract new international leisure traffic, Orlando Melbourne International Airport (MLB) is nearing completion of a $72 million terminal expansion and improvement project that will add 86,000 square feet of new space, along with plenty of new amenities, to the airport.

Greg Donovan, MLB executive director, says the original terminal was built in 1989, and in recent years it became apparent the terminal was in need of a major upgrade to accommodate and attract future growth.

Unlike many warm weather airports that primarily rely on tourism, MLB had a 50-50 split between business and leisure traffic before the pandemic, Donovan says, adding its location in the heart of Florida’s Space Coast has led many aerospace and aviation companies to establish operations on airport property.

“The strong business market comes from our airport’s daily campus of 20,000, made up mostly of employees at major aerospace, defense and aircraft manufacturing companies,” he says. “In fact, we are the home to Northrop Grumman’s campus responsible for the design and engineering of the next generation B-21 Raider bomber, Embraer’s North American headquarters for the production and delivery of the world’s most successful business jet, L3Harris Technologies’ world headquarters, plus companies like Collins Aerospace, STS Mod Center, and more.”

Right: Among the new features of the new MLB terminal is a welcome center for both domestic and international travelers.

These large corporate tenants mean that MLB generates nearly 80 percent of its revenues from land leases, helping the airport keep per-enplanement costs for carriers down, Donavan says.

But it was an opportunity to attract more international vacation travelers to MLB that triggered the decision to go ahead with the terminal expansion and upgrade at the airport.

“In November 2019, TUI [Airways] announced its plans to make MLB its exclusive gateway to Central Florida for all its U.K. customers,” Donovan says. Upon completion, the terminal renovation and expansion will be able to accommodate the projected 150,000 new international visitors in 2022 from the U.K. alone on two to three daily transatlantic Boeing 787 Dreamliner flights.

“This expansion will also provide the operational capability and flexibility we need to accommodate growth from existing airlines, including our newest partner Allegiant Airlines that recently began new service to three cities,” he says.

When its formally welcomes it first TUI flights on March 7, the renovated and expanded MLB terminal will feature three new common-use jet bridges paired with major apron upgrades that will allow the airport to accommodate large wide-body international and domestic operations.

“Our existing U.S. Customs Federal Inspection Station was also renovated just a few years ago and is getting another round

Left: The MLB expansion includes adding a new four-lane security checkpoint as well as expansion of the departure area to include new restaurant and retail options.

of improvements,” Donovan adds. The terminal improvements also include a larger baggage claim area, and a new international welcome center with bathrooms, rental car facilities and access to ground transportation immediately outside of customs.

Other improvements include a new fourlane security checkpoint, the expansion of a large departure area that will have new restaurant and retail options, a new VIP lounge, renovated common-use ticketing counters, new furniture and other amenities.

The upgraded and expanded terminal will feature plenty of glass windows to both bring in natural light and provide views of the airport’s coastal surroundings. Looking to highlight its role in supporting the area’s strong aerospace/aviation businesses, Donavan says the airport is also reviewing more than 30 proposals from local and national artists to install Space Coast -themed murals on the exterior wall of the welcome center and a two-story interior wall leading up to the departure area from the security checkpoint.

Expanded Concessions

Throughout the construction phase of the new project, MLB worked with its concessions partner Metz Culinary Management on a plan that more than

Below, Top: The $72 million MLB terminal expansion features expanded hold room space and new furniture.

Bottom: Hold rooms feature windows to bring in natural light and a design that is both modern and airy. doubles the amount of retail and food and beverage space, including a new full-service restaurant, grab-and-go food option, a news and gifts store, and a duty-free store, all grouped together and immediately available after the security checkpoint.

Passengers will also be able to purchase access to a VIP lounge with additional bar, food and amenities.

Rick Sell, vice president of operations for Metz Culinary Management, says the company is making a significant capital investment in the terminal transformation project to offer visitors a taste of all that central Florida has to offer.

“In our Taproom we will be featuring fantastic local brewers and beer including Playalinda Brewing Company, Hell ‘n Blazes Brewing Company, Florida Beer Co. and Intercoastal Brewing Company,” Sell says. “On the retail side we are working with local vendors such as Heaven Sent Local Gourmet Popcorn & Sweets, ER Body Care and the Grimaldi Candy Company to bring unique local and Florida based products to our guests.”

Sell adds the company’s bar and duty free teams are also working with the Steel Tie Spirits Company out of West Palm Beach and St. Augustine Distillery out of St. Augustine to offer local spirits to international travelers.

Metz Culinary Management adjusted some of its plans as a result of the pandemic, augmenting the traditional dine-in service with kiosk and mobile ordering options along with its separate restaurant graband-go and Butcher Block – Food-to-Go options.

Even with the uncertainty about when the pandemic will end, Sell says MLB’s deal with the TUI Group should ensure a solid future for Metz Culinary Management at the airport.

“This exciting addition to the international terminal along with existing air carriers adding service signals a strong future for all of us at MLB, Melbourne and the surrounding areas, he says. “We will continue to evaluate the number of locations and offerings we have at the airport to ensure that our concessions program meets the needs and demands of the MLB traveler.”

Donavan says the terminal expansion project is being funded through a combination of grants from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT), airport-generated cash flow and reserves, and $15 million of issued debt to be paid back by passenger-generated revenues.

As for the future, he says the expansion will enable the airport to play a much bigger role as a coastal gateway to Central Florida, as MLB looks to provide a stress-free, convenient and uncongested alternative to other airports in the region.

“Our existing domestic airlines have already returned to pre-pandemic levels, plus the recent arrival of Allegiant is going to play a major role in continued growth,” he says. “The additional of TUI combined with the incredible pent-up demand for international travel will solidify the anticipated record year in 2022.”