If you ever travel out of Orlando Sanford International Airport, expect to see some changes.

Officials at the Sanford airport are planning a major expansion.

Bonnie Butler is traveling to Illinois to help her son who just had surgery. She lives in Merritt Island. But instead of going to Orlando International Airport, which is closer to her, Bonnie drove about an hour to fly out of the airport in Sanford.

“Definitely, it’s so much easier to get in and out of Sanford,” said Butler.

In the last five years, traffic through the Sanford airport has more than doubled, in large part due to expanded flights by their biggest carrier – Allegiant Air.

Airport officials say they must expand the airport to keep up with the growth.

“Our logo here is simpler, faster, better, we’re SFB.  And in keeping with that, we want to make sure we maintain that convenience for our passengers,” said Orlando Sanford International Airport President & CEO, Diane Crews.

 

Right now, passengers flying in and out of the Sanford airport go up escalators in the same place.  But the expansion will open everything up, and separate arrivals and departures to ease congestion at the airport.

The expansion will add four new gates, three baggage carousels and combine the domestic and international screening areas into one security area.

Airport officials are only about a third of the way through the planning process.  Construction should begin in May 2017 and be complete by 2020.

Bonnie Butler says the increased traffic in Sanford won’t stop her from making the drive to Sanford.

“It still will be a convenient airport and easy to access in or out of the airport,” said Butler. “I’m glad to see they are growing a little bit, because as Florida grows, the airport needs to grow also.”

An artist's rendering of the proposed Terminal B changes. (Orlando Sanford International Airport)

An artist's rendering of the proposed Terminal B changes. (Orlando Sanford International Airport)

An artist's rendering of the proposed Terminal B changes. (Orlando Sanford International Airport)

RELATED STORIES