The U.S. Department of Transportation awarded Orlando International Airport a $61.9 million federal grant for expansions and improvements, bolstering its capacity as a major international gateway.

Orlando International Airport will receive a $61.9 million dollar federal grant for facility improvements, the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) announced on Friday.

As listed in the grant documents, the funds will be allocated to expand the airport’s existing Terminal C apron and add an additional 138,481 square yards to accommodate increased use of the Terminal facilities. Orlando International, one of the nation’s busiest airports, serves as an international gateway to locations including Disney World and St. Augustine.

“These grants help airports across the Nation sustain and improve critical infrastructure to advance the safest, most efficient airport system in the world,” said FAA Associate Administrator for Airports, Shannetta R. Griffin, P.E. in a prepared statement.

Broken down, $49 million will be used for the Terminal C Phase 1 Expansion project, which includes construction of four additional Multiple Aircraft Ramp System gates capable of serving either four wide body or eight narrow body aircraft. The remaining $20 million will be earmarked to fund a portion of the 450-foot, enclosed Pedestrian Connector Bridge, which will provide direct access between the Train Station and Terminal C.

“We are grateful to the administration, U.S. DOT and the Federal Aviation Administration for making this investment in the Central Florida region,” said Carson Good, Greater Orlando Aviation Authority Chairman.

In total, the DOT’s Federal Aviation Administration is awarding $148.3 million for 73 airport-related infrastructure projects in 28 states and Guam, funded through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law Airport Infrastructure Grants program. In 2022, Orlando international received a $50 million grant under the program.

Orlando International in 2023 recorded a 15 percent increase in overall traffic, bringing the total number of passengers to a 57.7 million for the year, one of its busiest on record. International traffic also rebounded to pre-pandemic levels with 26.7 percent growth and 7 million travelers, while domestic traffic topped 50.7 million passengers, serving as a 13.6 percent increase.