ORLANDO, Fla. — It appears President Donald Trump holds the key to bringing more international flights back to Orlando International Airport.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and U.S. Customs and Border Protection have both lifted their restrictions, which is something the tourism and travel industry have been pushing.
The change means a lot of people from places like the U.K. and Brazil could fly in and spend a lot of money in Central Florida.
Watch: IRS releases new income tax brackets for 2021; find out where you stand
When the coronavirus pandemic first cropped up, Central Florida’s tourism industry and Orlando International Airport were brought to a crippling halt.
The White House issued proclamations and the federal government restricted flights from countries including Brazil, the U.K. and other European countries to 15 airports across the U.S.
Orlando International wasn’t one of them.
Watch: Zeta expected to restrengthen into hurricane as it nears Louisiana
In July, leaders of more than 20 local businesses, including Walt Disney World and Universal Orlando, petitioned federal agencies to be added to the list of airports to receive these flights.
But last month, the CDC lifted its restrictions limiting the flights.
But OIA is still not getting flights from those countries.
Watch: Local law enforcement community mourns Ocala police chief killed in Marion County plane crash
The airport said while flights are no longer prevented from coming in, the White House proclamations keeping out most non-U.S. citizens from those countries are still in place, so the airlines haven’t been willing to add flights.
It’s something the airport and others in the travel industry have reached out to the White House about, and they’re hoping the president will see any flights coming in would mean a boost to the economy.
Cox Media Group
