The main airport serving Central Florida is the Orlando International Airport, commonly referred by its IATA code MCO. The code MCO actually stands for McCoy Air Force Base, the site’s former identity before it was converted into a civilian airport in the 1970s. In 2026, MCO is the busiest airport in Florida and one of the largest in the world by land area. It is located about 6 miles southeast of Downtown Orlando and roughly 20 miles from the Walt Disney World Resort. The airport recently completed a massive expansion with the opening of Terminal C, a state-of-the-art facility that handles many international and JetBlue flights. Travelers should be careful not to confuse it with Orlando Sanford International Airport (SFB), which is located about 30 miles north and primarily serves low-cost carriers like Allegiant, or Orlando Executive Airport (ORL), which is used for private aviation. MCO is the primary gateway for the millions of tourists visiting Florida's theme parks each year.