Tui Airways flights have moved from Sanford International airport (SFB) north of the city to Melbourne Orlando International airport (MLB), which is further south near the coast.
The 44-mile drive from Sanford to International Drive, the main tourist strip, takes around 45 minutes according to Google Maps. The journey from Melbourne airport, by comparison, is around 70 miles and is estimated to take about an hour-and-a-quarter.
Melbourne is, however, close to several major Floridian tourist attractions, namely Cape Canaveral and the Kennedy Space Center.
The first Tui flight landed at the airport on Tuesday (22 March) after a deal between the operator and Melbourne airport was sealed in 2019 for two to three flights a day.
Following this, a $72 million upgrade was agreed, with the airport’s website showing renderings of a new departure area, four new security lanes and three new jet bridges – plus an arrivals and customs area.
A Tui spokesperson said: “Melbourne was ready for our first flight.”
Tui said the drive to Orlando from Melbourne airport would take “just over an hour”.
Melbourne saw only around 500,000 passengers in 2019. Its upgraded terminal has capacity for around two million.
The airport said: “This historic announcement provided MLB the catalyst it needed to undertake the terminal renovation and expansion project we see today.
“MLB anticipates 150,000 arriving international visitors in the first year with the opportunity for growth. The British are coming – and MLB is going to welcome them with an easy, seamless airport experience.”
