While many airports are often constrained when it comes to space for expansion, some have more than enough land to plan other business opportunities. Orlando International Airport and Orlando Executive Airport together have more than 1,000 acres of available land that could be quite lucrative if used correctly. From retail opportunities to attracting companies in the pharmaceutical industry, many ideas were discussed recently by the stakeholders.
1,300 acres of land available
There's plenty of land available at Orlando's airports, and the Greater Orlando Aviation Authority is now thinking of capitalizing on additional business opportunities. According to a report by the Orlando Business Journal, several business ideas were discussed at a recent meeting between Greater Orlando Aviation Authority's CEO Kevin Thibault, Aviation Authority Board Chairman Tim Weisheyer, and Board Member Carson Good.
Orlando International Airport (MCO) is offering a significant land area for additional use. In fact, ideas were discussed to not just use the East Airfield but potentially also utilize areas near the runways.
Photo: Orlando International Airport
Something like vertiport research and development fits quite well with the area, but other avenues are also being considered. Companies that could benefit from closer proximity to an airfield, such as semiconductors, pharmaceuticals, and defense, could be attracted.
Certain goods could benefit from having quick access to airport facilities to be transported by air and avoid delays of land transport. Good uses the example of something similar at Boston Logan International Airport, where there is a strong presence of pharmaceutical goods. The Orlando Business Journal quotes him as saying,
"Some pharmaceuticals have short lifespans once they are compounded and they don't need to be driving in traffic where an accident or something like that happens."
Thibault is also on the board of Space Florida and could consider somehow making the airport part of that industry. He feels that it's a good idea to be in tune with what's going on and to keep an eye out for opportunities, such as a company wanting to move its headquarters or a significant portion of its operations.
Development at Orlando Executive Airport
There are plenty of opportunities awaiting at Orlando Executive Airport as well. It recently entered into an agreement with a third fixed-based operator called Sky Harbour Group Corp., which is based in New York. It is investing $40 million to construct on 20 acres of land at the airport close to downtown.
Related The Top 5 Weirdest Airports In The USA
One of the airports on this list has a runway built over graves.
6
Retail development is also a possibility, given that the authority owns several shopping center properties. But Weisheyer feels a balanced mix of retail and airport business plans would work best. He commented,
"We don't want to build everything inward to the airport with walls facing highway 50, but at the same time, we don't want to go down the road of only serving the retail needs of Highway 50 and ignore the real opportunities that exist inside the airport."
Photo: Orlando International Airport
Indeed, it looks like the authorities will carefully examine the best course of action in the coming years to extract the maximum out of the land opportunities that exist at the airports in Orlando.