ORLANDO, Fla. – Passengers at Orlando International Airport took to social media Sunday night, saying there was a major issue in retrieving their bags at Terminal C, a nearly $3 billion project that was recently completed.
Some outraged passengers said they had to wait for hours to get their luggage. Others said they left the airport without their bags.
OIA officials said Monday that a power outage caused the issue. The cause of the outage is under investigation.
“We had a section of the power grid in that part of the airport that had a ground fault. That triggered the breakers to shut off,” said Kevin Thibault, chief executive officer of the Greater Orlando Aviation Authority. “Construction workers are still here and they’re doing their punch lists. So we’re charging them today to find out what was the issue.”
This weekend marked the official start of the spring break travel period at the airport, with more than 7 million passengers expected at OIA through April 18, an increase of 13% since last year.
Thibault addressed the power outage at a news conference held to discuss a new pedestrian bridge to Terminal C.
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“This wall of glass behind me will go away to become part of what makes this truly a multi-modal facility. This will become a short pedestrian bridge,” he said. A walkway that connects this train station to Terminal C, providing for seamless connectivity of planes, trains and automobiles.”
Thibault said it’s vital that airport enhancement efforts keep pace with traffic at OIA.
“With demand for air travel surging back, funding to improve the passenger experience has taken on even greater urgency,” he said. “These grants will enable airports like Orlando International to make it faster and more convenient for passengers, while at the same time creating good paying jobs and supporting our local economy.”
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