Orlando International Airport plans temporary landing area for electric air taxis

Orlando International Airport (MCO) is moving forward with plans to establish a temporary landing area for electric air taxis, marking a step toward introducing this new transportation mode to Central Florida, according to wogx.com and FOX 35 Orlando.

The Greater Orlando Aviation Authority is collaborating with federal and state partners to ensure these electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) aircraft can operate safely alongside traditional commercial flights, FOX 35 Orlando reported.

The proposed temporary facility, described as a vertipad or vertistop, would be located at the Atlantis surface parking lot near Terminal C and the Brightline train station at the airport, wogx.com detailed. Unlike conventional airplanes, eVTOLs can take off and land vertically without a traditional runway.

This temporary landing area is intended for aircraft demonstrations, operational testing, and FAA certification support, with demonstration flights potentially beginning by the end of 2026 pending FAA approval. The long-term goal is to develop a full-scale vertiport at the airport by 2030, wogx.com said.

Future plans envision passenger trips connecting airports, theme parks, and other Central Florida destinations along the Interstate 4 corridor, but the initial phase will not offer commercial passenger service, FOX 35 Orlando noted.

Proposed operating procedures would require aircraft operators to obtain advance airport approval before using the vertipad, ensuring safe integration with existing airport operations, according to wogx.com.