An Airline Just Swapped Orlando’s Biggest Airport for a Smaller One

BermudAir has completed its move from Orlando International Airport to Orlando Sanford International, ending almost three years at MCO. The carrier now flies from Sanford to Hamilton, Bermuda, with the first flight at its new base greeted by a traditional water cannon salute.

The airline announced the switch in June, describing Sanford as a more convenient and efficient gateway for Bermuda, the Caribbean and Central America. The move reflects a familiar trade-off for smaller carriers: lower costs and easier operations at a secondary airport in exchange for losing the traffic of the area’s largest hub.

A second route follows soon. BermudAir plans to begin service from Orlando Sanford to Belize on December 21, extending its reach beyond Bermuda. Sanford has increasingly become a home for leisure-focused and low-cost operators in central Florida.

Travelers who booked Orlando flights with the airline should double-check which airport their itinerary uses, since the two are roughly 35 miles apart. The shift also matters for Bermuda-bound visitors, who now have to plan ground transport to Sanford rather than MCO.

Sources: AirlineGeeks, BermudAir