ANYONE WAS HURT AT ORLANDO INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT TONIGHT. CREWS ARE BEGINNING TO WORK ON A MULTI-YEAR, MULTI-MILLION DOLLAR OVERHAUL OF THE GATE LINK SYSTEM, BRINGING NEW CARS AND UPGRADED TRUCKS. LET’S GIVE YOU A LIVE LOOK FROM OUR TOWER CAMERA POINTED AT MCO WESH TWO. DAVID JONES EXPLAINS HOW TRAVELERS MAY BE IMPACTED. THIS IS A $253 MILLION MODERNIZATION PROJECT THAT’S GOING TO START ON AIRSIDE TWO GATES, 100 THROUGH 129. THOSE GATES SERVE PRIMARILY SOUTHWEST CUSTOMERS. THEY’LL BE THE FIRST TRAMS TO BE REPLACED, FOLLOWED BY GATES 70 TO 99. WHILE CONSTRUCTION IS ONGOING, ONLY A SINGLE TRAM WILL OPERATE FOR EACH AREA. PASSENGERS MOVING BETWEEN GATES AND THE TERMINALS DURING THE HOURS OF 11 P.M. TO 4 A.M., WHEN BOTH TRAMS WILL GO OFFLINE, WILL NEED TO USE SHUTTLE BUSSES. WE WILL HAVE LOTS OF AMBASSADORS STRATEGICALLY PLACED THROUGHOUT THE TERMINAL. FIRST, TO GIVE PASSENGERS ANY ANY HELP, ANY DIRECTIONS, ANY INSTRUCTIONS THAT THEY MAY NEED. YEAH, IT WAS VERY PRACTICAL TRAVELERS WE SPOKE WITH SAY THE TRAMS ARE ALREADY EFFICIENT, SUPER EASY TO GET, AT LEAST WITH THE KIDS AND EVERYTHING AND A LOT OF LUGGAGE. SO SUPER EASY AND PRACTICAL TO DO. THE AIRPORT SAYS THE TRAMS HAVE REACHED THEIR LIFESPAN, SO THEY NEED TO BE REPLACED, JUST LIKE A SIMILAR PROJECT IN 2017 TO REPLACE TRAMS SERVING GATES ONE THROUGH 59. MCO LEADERS WANT PEOPLE TO BE AWARE OF THE PROJECT AND ITS IMPACTS HERE, AND THEY’RE ADDING STAFF TO DIRECT TRAVELERS AND ANSWER QUESTIONS. THE EFFORTS HERE BEING TO KEEP THE DISRUPTIONS TO A MINIMAL FOR TRAVELERS HERE AT MCO, THE PROJECT IS EXPECTED TO BE WRAPPED UP IN FALL OF 2027, COVERING ORANG
Orlando International Airport begins $253 million tram modernization project
Updated: 8:05 AM EST Dec 8, 2025
Orlando International Airport has started a $253 million modernization project to replace trams at airside 2, impacting gates 100 through 129, which primarily serve Southwest Airlines customers.These gates will be the first to have their trams replaced, followed by gates 70 to 99. During construction, only one tram will operate for each gate area, and passengers moving between gates and terminals from 11 p.m. to 4 a.m., when both trams are offline, will need to use shuttle buses.Marquez Griffin, senior vice president of operations at MCO, said, “We will have lot of ambassadors strategically placed throughout the terminal. First to give passengers any help, any instructions and directions that they may need.”Travelers have expressed satisfaction with the current tram system. One traveler said, “It was very practical.” Another added, “Super easy to get, at least with the kids and a lot of luggage, so super easy and practical to do.”The airport stated that the trams have reached their lifespan and need replacement, similar to a project in 2017 that replaced trams serving gates one through 59. MCO leaders want people to be aware of the project and its impacts, and they are adding staff to direct travelers and answer questions.Efforts are underway to keep disruptions to travelers at MCO to a minimum, with the project expected to be wrapped up by fall 2027.
ORLANDO, Fla. —
Orlando International Airport has started a $253 million modernization project to replace trams at airside 2, impacting gates 100 through 129, which primarily serve Southwest Airlines customers.
These gates will be the first to have their trams replaced, followed by gates 70 to 99.
During construction, only one tram will operate for each gate area, and passengers moving between gates and terminals from 11 p.m. to 4 a.m., when both trams are offline, will need to use shuttle buses.
Marquez Griffin, senior vice president of operations at MCO, said, “We will have lot of ambassadors strategically placed throughout the terminal. First to give passengers any help, any instructions and directions that they may need.”
Travelers have expressed satisfaction with the current tram system.
One traveler said, “It was very practical.” Another added, “Super easy to get, at least with the kids and a lot of luggage, so super easy and practical to do.”
The airport stated that the trams have reached their lifespan and need replacement, similar to a project in 2017 that replaced trams serving gates one through 59. MCO leaders want people to be aware of the project and its impacts, and they are adding staff to direct travelers and answer questions.
Efforts are underway to keep disruptions to travelers at MCO to a minimum, with the project expected to be wrapped up by fall 2027.