ORLANDO JETPORT AT McCOY
One of Delta's DC8s parked along the MCO concourse in the late 1960s or early 1970s. Note the low-rise concourse and one of the two former barns in the background.
Recognizing that Orlando Municipal Airport (now Orlando Herndon Airport) was ill-suited to handle the new generation of jetliners, the city of Orlando began searching for alternative airport
sites in the early 1960s. A deal was reached with the U.S. Air Force to lease a portion of McCoy Air Force Base for civilian operations. McCoy had two 12,000-foot runways, and the USAF agreed
to let the airlines - Eastern, Delta and National - use one of them.
For the first year, the airlines operated out of a converted trailer on Air Force property - a small structure that housed a single ticket counter shared by all three airlines. Passengers checked
in inside the buildings, then had to return to their cars and wait until an agent called them to their flights.
An aerial view of MCO in 1974 shows the terminal's location at the northeast corner of the air force base. The present-day terminal would be constructed in the forested area at center right. Note the
original 'X' pattern of McCoy AFB's runways - the crosswind strips were later abandoned.
In 1964 authorities were able to secure land for a semi-permanent terminal in the northeast corner of the base. Two former missile storage barns were leased from the USAF and joined together to form
a single passenger terminal. The building was not very impressive from an architectural standard; the drafty interior left no questions as to the facility's former use. With five parking positions (expanded to ten in 1969
with the addition of a passenger pier), it was certainly large enough to meet Orlando's aviation needs. Southern Airways was awarded a number of new routes to Orlando in 1968 and became the airport's fourth
air carrier.
A view of MCO's main entrance in the late 1960s. There's no question as to the terminal's former role as a missile barn. Note the Delta DC8 parked on the apron beyond. As part of the 1975 renovation, the area in the
foreground became a baggage claim area, and the main entrance was moved to the north side of the facility. Courtesy of Juan Garcia
The landside of the MCO terminal as it looked around 1970. Certainly not a showplace terminal.
The opening of Walt Disney World in 1971 sent passenger traffic to Orlando through the roof. A new local-service carrier, Air Florida, was created in 1972 and began service to Orlando using leftover
Lockheed Electras. Both Eastern and Delta began widebody L1011 flights to MCO in an effort to keep up with the passenger demand; however, the terminal was in dire need of expansion and renovation. Airport officials
began acquiring more Air Force land for a new facility and approved a bond issue to finance interim improvements to the existing terminal.
A Southern DC9 calls at the old MCO in April 1973. The low-roofed passenger concourse is visible in the background.
Photo by Bob Garrard
When completed in 1975, the terminal building was almost unrecognizable. Although the two missile barns still made up the core of the building, the interior was completely refurbished. Acoustical panels, carpeting and
ornamental lights were added to the main hall to spruce up its appearance and cut down on echoing. A 'space frame'-style canopy was added along the outside of the building, offering shelter for passengers getting in and
out of cars and giving the building a more uniform appearance. Although the long, low boarding concourse was retained, it was completely renovated inside, with new wall treatments, ceiling panels and carpeting. The project
also included new universal signage throughout the terminal.
The main hall of the MCO terminal before and after the 1975 renovations. Carpet, acoustical panels and new lights have altered its appearance dramatically.
The interior of the passenger concourse after its remodeling. Ceiling panels and carpeting have been added.
The new canopy along the terminal's landside frontage. Above four photos from Airport Services Management magazine
A postcard showing MCO's curbfront in the late 1970s.
Courtesy of Jim Kruggel
An ALIA Jordanian Airlines 747 rests on MCO's military apron in the late 1970s. The old terminal is at left, the site of today's terminal is at right.
Courtesy of Jim Kruggel
As part of the renovation project, two new wings were added to the passenger concourse for a total of 15 gates. Two additions were also built on each side of the terminal for baggage claim. Each addition had two
automated baggage belts. Eastern used the east hall, while Delta, National and Southern used the west hall. Baggage claim was relocated from a site in the main terminal, which was converted to operations and concessions space.
The new east baggage claim hall, used exclusively by Eastern Airlines. Note the sign on the wall naming Eastern as the official airline of Walt Disney World. Eastern was Orlando's biggest carrier for years, until it was eclipsed by Delta in the
late 1980s.
A two-gate temporary concourse - essentially a cinderblock hallway poking onto the apron - was added to the west end of the terminal. This extension blocked baggage carts from accessing the west baggage claim hall; an opening was placed in the center of the concourse to allow carts
to pass through. Passengers had to stop and let the carts drive literally through the middle of the departure concourse.
A detailed map of the MCO terminal area in 1975, showing the new concourse added for Southern.
After Deregulation was passed in 1978, Orlando became one of the most sought-after destinations in the nation. Within a year of Deregulation, eight carriers - United, Braniff, TWA, Piedmont, American, Continental, Allegheny and Northwest Orient - had begun service. Southern's temporary
concourse was extended to add three more aircraft positions.
Officials broke ground on the new terminal in 1978; the existing building was bursting at the seams with Disney-generated traffic.
An aerial view of the MCO terminal area taken in the late 1970s, showing the new concourse added after Deregulation (top center). Note that jetbridges have been added to the Delta, Eastern and National gates on the original concourse. Until I saw
this photo, I didn't think Orlando had jetway boarding at the 1964 terminal. Photo courtesy of Juan Garcia
Two pictures of MCO's main lobby taken in June 1981, just before the new terminal was completed. It's obvious the building is undersized - just look at the crowds. The building still appears to be quite modern and
functional, however. Photos by Tom Moore
A diagram of Orlando's terminal from 1981. In its final layout, the building consisted of the two original missile barns (the ticket lobbies flanking the entrance to the main concourse), two baggage claim halls (on either side of the
ticketing areas) and two concourses (the main pier, used by Delta, Pan Am, Eastern, Ozark, Air Florida and TWA, and the newer west pier, used by United, Braniff, Republic, USAir, American and Northwest.)
The new terminal was opened in late 1981 - due to all the new-entrant airlines, it was doubled in size while it was under construction. The old terminal was closed and its two concourses demolished shortly thereafter. The main building - the two
missile barns - remained in use for years as the Orlando Tradeport, a very successful cargo complex. Other cargo buildings were erected on the former terminal site.
Two views of the former MCO taken in 2001-2002. The first picture (Courtesy of Tom Moore) shows the old terminal curbside, now the main entrance of the Tradeport. The building still appears to be quite modern - it's not difficult to visualize
cars and buses dropping off passengers under the canopy. The second picture is a satellite photo of the site. The two barns are visible, as are the numerous new buildings built where the concourses used to stand.
In May 2006, the old Orlando terminal was finally demolished after more than two decades as a cargo and storage facility. It's unclear what will be built on the site, although the area has been reserved for further air cargo and freight facilities.
The old MCO terminal comes down in May 2006. The space frame canopy was left standing while the missile barns were demolished in the background. The old concourses were torn down shortly after the building closed in 1981.
Photos by Rob Springall
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