Some recent airline operational changes have been implemented, and future flights to Walt Disney World Resort could be at risk.
For millions of travelers each year, Orlando International Airport (MCO) is the gateway to a realm of theme park wonder. Located in central Florida, MCO is the main entry point for those heading to Walt Disney World Resort, Universal Orlando Resort, and a host of other exciting attractions.
In 2022 alone, MCO handled an impressive 50.2 million passengers, highlighting its role as a major travel hub.
While some visitors choose to drive, most opt to fly into MCO to kickstart their vacation. Previously, Disney’s Magical Express offered a seamless, complimentary shuttle service from the airport to Disney resorts, adding a magical touch to the arrival process. However, this service was discontinued in January 2022.
Today, visitors arriving at MCO have several transportation options. Mears Connect, a shuttle service affiliated with Disney, remains a convenient choice. Additionally, ridesharing services like Uber and Lyft provide flexibility, and traditional taxis are readily available.
Though the Magical Express is no longer available, Disney’s presence is still felt within the airport. Each terminal features lively Disney gift shops brimming with themed merchandise, and vibrant billboards showcasing beloved Disney characters and attractions stoke the excitement for what’s to come.
Navigating transportation options might seem like a small detail, but it is crucial to the overall guest experience. MCO’s diverse choices ensure a smooth transition from the airport to the magical adventures awaiting at the resorts. Once guests reach their accommodations, the true enchantment of their Disney experience begins.
While flying into and out of Disney should be the least of one’s worries when vacationing in the most magical place on earth, unfortunately, flight delays and cancelations often plague the Orlando International Airport.
In Orlando, there are storms nearly every day during the summer months, as well as tons of rainfall throughout the year, which can, at times, cause flight interruptions — especially if a hurricane or tropical storm is rolling through.
This summer alone has seen thousands of flight cancelations, with so many more delays.
Now, getting on a cheap flight to and from Orlando might become even more difficult, but it won’t be due to the weather.
Spirit Airline Faces Mass Furlough
Spirit Airlines flies into Orlando International Airport many times a day. As a known budget airline, it is a popular choice for many guests who are looking to save on their already costly Disney vacation.
Now, the airline has furloughed a ton of their staff, meaning their flight schedule is gearing up to shrink as maintenance issues are to be looked at.
Spirit Airlines, which has been implementing various measures to recover financially this year, issued furlough notices to 186 pilots over the Labor Day weekend. This figure is significantly lower than the airline’s earlier projections, according to the pilots’ union and The Sun Sentinel.
The Spirit contingent of the Air Line Pilots Association (ALPA) confirmed the furloughs in a statement on Sunday. Earlier this year, the airline announced it might need to furlough up to 260 pilots due to a suspected manufacturing defect in Pratt & Whitney aircraft engines, which necessitated grounding several jets and deferring new Airbus aircraft deliveries.
The furloughs were set to begin on September 1, and the airline proceeded with the plan as scheduled, according to the union. The company had not yet confirmed the exact number of furloughs reported by ALPA when contacted on Monday.
Ryan Muller, chairman of the ALPA Master Executive Council at Spirit, noted that the need for furloughs was reduced thanks to voluntary actions by pilots. “Pilots accepting voluntary leaves, combined with attrition, have significantly lowered the initial furlough and downgrade projections,” Muller said. He added that many of those furloughed chose voluntary furloughs, thereby protecting the careers of more junior pilots.
Muller also mentioned that “several airlines” with ALPA-affiliated pilots have offered preferential interviews or other benefits to Spirit’s furloughed pilots. “While they are not currently flying at Spirit, they remain part of our union,” Muller stated. “We are committed to supporting all our pilots and look forward to their return to flying, whether at Spirit or another carrier.”
Spirit Airlines has been significantly impacted by issues with Geared Turbofan (GTF) aircraft engines manufactured by Pratt & Whitney. As a result, the airline, which is the busiest at Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport, has had to ground numerous planes this year and anticipates further groundings in 2025.
While Pratt & Whitney is compensating Spirit for business losses, the grounded aircraft have hindered the airline’s growth and led to overstaffing. To mitigate these challenges, Spirit has reached an agreement with Airbus to postpone deliveries of new aircraft and has implemented a transformation plan to redefine low-fare travel.
Despite strong summer demand, Spirit reported a net loss in its second quarter of 2024 due to increased competition and pricing pressures. The airline is now offering new ticketing bundles, “Go Big,” “Go Savvy,” and “Go Comfy,” which provide passengers with more flexibility in choosing onboard services.
Other customer-friendly changes include the elimination of fees for changing or canceling reservations, an increase in checked bag allowance, and an extension of future travel voucher expiration dates. Additionally, Spirit has revamped its route system to focus on more profitable destinations.
These changes are part of Spirit’s efforts to adapt to the evolving airline industry and offer passengers a more competitive and customer-centric experience.
Inside the Magic spoke with Spirit Airlines, who noted that these furloughs are not meant to affect any flight changes, including Disney vacations, when it comes to ongoing scheduled flights.
What airline do you usually use when you fly into Walt Disney World Resort?
