OIA officials approve management firm to oversee Terminal C operations ahead of busy Spring Break

ORLANDO, Fla. — At their regular meeting Wednesday, the Greater Orlando Aviation Authority Board approved the hiring of a consulting firm to manage their new Terminal C program.

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The GOAA board oversees all operations at Orlando International Airport.

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The airport only recently debuted its $3 billion Terminal C project to the public. It offers 15 new gates for domestic and international flights and is expected to serve an additional 10 to 12 million travelers per year.

OIA officials say more than 50 million passengers traveled through the airport in 2022 for only the second time in a single year in its history.

After an “extensive application and vetting process,” GOAA staff made a shortlist of four firms. The board then chose the top-ranked firm on the list, Jacobs Project Management Co., as the winner of the contract for Executive Program Management and Oversight Services for Terminal C Programs.

“The Aviation Authority was looking for a national leader with extensive experience and technical expertise in managing aviation and intermodal capital programs,” GOAA CEO Kevin Thibault said. “We look forward to collaborating with Jacobs to manage Terminal C programs and related projects to enhance the experience and the quality expected of a world-class airport facility.”

VIDEO: Orlando International Airport debuts new $3 billion Terminal C Terminal C is expected to serve an additional 10 to 12 million travelers a year (Q McCray, WFTV.com/WFTV)

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The move comes just as OIA officials say they expect an extremely busy Spring Break travel season. It runs from Saturday, March 4 through Tuesday, April 18.

Over those 46 days, they expect more than 7 million travelers to pass through the airport. That’s projected to be an increase of more than 900,000 passengers from last year’s Spring Break travel season.

They’re projecting a 13-percent increase in departing passengers alone compared to 2022.

OIA also announced a number of key leadership positions approved by the board Wednesday to fill a recently-revised organizational structure.

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Current Senior Vice President of Marketing and Air Service Development Vicki Jaramillo will be promoted to Chief Development Officer, overseeing air service development, airline relations, cargo development, marketing and real estate. She’ll also direct GOAA’s efforts to raise the airport’s global profile.

Tawana Russell was named to be the airport’s new Vice President of Customer Experience. Currently serving as the Airport Manager for the Guest Experience at the Broward County Aviation Department, Russell will be responsible for coordinating all customer service programs airport-wide.

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