Melbourne Orlando International Airport (IATA:MLB,ICAO:KMLB,FAALID:MLB) is a public airport 1.5 miles (2.4 km) northwest of downtownMelbourne, inBrevard County, Florida, United States, and 70 miles (113 km) southeast ofOrlando, located on centralFlorida'sSpace Coast. The airport is reached byNASA Boulevard (State Road 508). There is a VOR-DME located on the field. It is governed by a seven-member board which is appointed by the Melbourne City Council and the private sector. The airport budget is part of the Melbourne municipal budget; the airport receives no local tax dollars. The projected expenses for 2010 were $14.1million.[4] The executive director of the airport is Greg Donovan, A.A.E.[5]
Previously namedMelbourne International Airport, in 2015 the airport had been renamedOrlando Melbourne International Airport. However, due to a lawsuit claiming this name was misleading to passengers, the airport changed its name toMelbourne Orlando International Airport in May 2021.[6]
Returned to the city as a Surplus Property Airport after the War, Melbourne Airport was deeded to the city in 1947. It was a municipal airport until 1967 when the city created the Melbourne Airport Authority to plan, operate, maintain, and develop the airport,[citation needed] then called Melbourne Municipal Airport. The name was Cape Kennedy Regional Airport and city officials changed the name to Melbourne Regional Airport in 1973 to better reflect its role.
In 1960, Meadowlane Elementary School first opened at a Naval hospital on the airport grounds.[7] The school moved to West Melbourne in 1961. In 1969, a National DC-8 flew Los Angeles–Tampa–Melbourne–Miami. Houston and Los Angeles figured in NASA's space program, and Melbourne was close to the NASA Kennedy Space Center. In July 1974 a NationalBoeing 727 flew Miami–Melbourne–Tampa–New Orleans–Los Angeles–San Diego;[citation needed] NationalBoeing 727-200s flew direct Houston and New Orleans to Melbourne.[citation needed] In May 1979 National had one flight a day from Melbourne, a 727-200 to Tampa.[citation needed]
In the late 1960s and early 1970s,Eastern Airlines Boeing 727s,Douglas DC-9s and Lockheed Electras flew out of the airport. In June 1967 Eastern announced "The Space Corridor" from Melbourne to three centers in the space program:Huntsville, Alabama,St. Louis andSeattle. Eastern's "Space Corridor" was a Melbourne-Orlando-Huntsville-St. Louis-SeattleBoeing 727-100. In June 1967 Eastern flew nonstop Melbourne toAtlanta, Tampa andFt. Lauderdale and direct to New York City (JFK Airport), Washington, D.C. (Dulles Airport), Boston and Miami. In February 1976 Eastern flew a 727 direct Los Angeles to Melbourne via Atlanta; Eastern eventually dropped Melbourne upon the airlines closure in 1991.[citation needed]
In the early 1980s some ending scenes for the filmStranger Than Paradise were shot in the Melbourne area, including several plot scenes shot at the airport (as listed in the credits).[citation needed]People Express Airlines started nonstops toNewark,Baltimore,Columbus andBuffalo, New York in spring 1982 withBoeing 737 jets. They eventually scaled back to just nonstops to Newark and ended service to MLB in 1986. Delta Air Lines started nonstops to Atlanta in 1983 with DC-9s and upgraded to Boeing 737s andMD-80s. In 1999Spirit Airlines began commercial service to the airport.[8]
The Authority operated a recreational vehicle site, "Port O' Call". This was closed and the tenants evicted in 2003. The intent was to use the property for commercial development.[9][citation needed] The Melbourne Airport Authority operates Tropical Haven (formerly Trailer Haven), a 760-site manufactured home park.[10]
In 2015, there were an estimated 15,000 paid attendees to the annual air show over a two-day weekend.[13]
The airport's first scheduled international service was announced byPorter Airlines in September 2015 toToronto'sisland airport.[14] The airline discontinued service to the airport in 2019.
In 2015, the airport changed its name to "Orlando Melbourne International Airport." Airport and local tourism officials wanted to brand the airport as a less-congested alternative to Orlando's other two commercial airports,Orlando International Airport andOrlando Sanford International Airport. The airport also believed the name change would attract visitors who wanted to seeWalt Disney World, Cape Canaveral, and the area's beaches.[15] The airport is located approximately 70 miles (110 km) southeast of the City of Orlando.
In November 2019, British tour operator and airlineTUI Airways announced that, from 2022, they would switch their Orlando operations from their current base atSanford to Melbourne. This announcement will see a total of 17 weekly flights to/from eight British airports[17] and is to bring their operations nearer toPort Canaveral where TUI'sMarella Cruises will sail from in coming years. As a package tour operator, this brings passengers closer to their cruises, although it has angered many TUI passengers who fly with the company to visit Orlando withWalt Disney World andUniversal Orlando Resort due to the extended airport transfer time.[18]
In July 2021, the airport announced a $61million renovation and expansion, in part to prepare for the arrival ofTUI Airways' operations from theUnited Kingdom.[19]
The airport covers 2,420 acres (979 ha) and has threeasphaltrunways: 09R/27L is 10,181 × 150 ft (3,103 × 46 m), 09L/27R is 6,000 × 150 ft (1,829 × 46 m) and 05/23 is 3,001 × 75 ft (915 × 23 m).[1] The main terminal building is named the Edward L. Foster Air Terminal.
A newEmbraer Business Jet Assembly Facility, intended to employ 200 workers, is under construction.[10] Production facilities are for thePhenom 100 and300 as well as theLegacy 450 and500.[22]
In 2010, two companies (AAR Corporation and MidAirUSA) announced plans for facilities at the airport. The companies intended to respectively employ 225 and 300 people.[23][24] MidAirUSA went bankrupt in 2015; Aeromod International took over the MidAirUSA hangar in 2016.
The airport is served by the Melbourne Airport Authority Police Department for law enforcement services, and by the Melbourne Fire Department for fire and rescue services.
Destinations from Orlando Melbourne International Airport Blue = Future destination Red = Year-round destination Green = Seasonal destination Pink = Destination being terminated
Destinations from Orlando Melbourne International Airport Blue = Future destination Red = Year-round destination Green = Seasonal destination Pink = Destination being terminated
According to the airport website, Melbourne Orlando International carried a record 747,691 passengers in 2023, the highest since 1990.[29] Most of the passenger traffic out of MLB is from three airlines:Delta Air Lines,TUI Airways, andPSA Airlines (underAmerican Airlines).[1]
F.I.T. Aviation Flight School is owned byFlorida Institute of Technology for the College of Aeronautics. It offers flight training for fixed wing aircraft for the FAA Private Pilot Certification, Instrument Rating, Commercial Pilot Certification, and Multi-Engine and Advanced Aircraft Training. In 1999, to match a grant for a new engineering building, Florida Tech sold nearly a third of its training fleet.
On March 17, 1958, anEastern Air LinesMartin 4-0-4 (flight # unknown) on final approach to MLB struck an unmarked pile of gravel at the approach end of the runway. During the landing roll, the landing gear leg collapsed and the aircraft caught fire and burned. All ten occupants (three crew, seven passengers) evacuated safely.[32]
On March 3, 2001, aCessna 182 Skylane operating for theCivil Air Patrol lost directional control and nosed over at the Melbourne Airport. The probable cause of the accident was found to be the pilot's failure to maintain directional control of the airplane during the landing roll of thetouch-and-go landing, resulting in the on-ground collision with a ditch and subsequent separation of the nose gear wheel and fork assembly and nose over of the airplane.[33]
On September 30, 2001, aPiper Warrior lost control during the landing rollout at the Melbourne Airport. The pilot reported a gust of wind blew him off the runway, and he attempted ago-around when he was unable to correct. The probable cause of the accident was found to be the pilot's failure to maintain directional control of the aircraft during the landing rollout while landing in gusty crosswind conditions.[34]
On March 28, 2002, aCessna 152 ran off the runway during landing at the Melbourne Airport. The probable cause of the accident was found to be the students pilot's failure to perform ago-around after a bounced landing condition that resulted in the on-ground collision with a ditch.[35]
On January 10, 2003, anexperimentalShaw Atlantica 235FG collided with the ground shortly after liftoff from the Melbourne Airport. According to the pilot, the purpose of the airplane operation was to complete high speed taxi maneuvers as part of the aircraft certification requirement; no flight was intended. The probable cause of the accident was found to be the pilot's inadvertent liftoff and his failure to maintain airspeed, which resulted in astall.[38]
On January 24, 2003, anexperimental MaverickTwinjet 1500 collided with trees at the Melbourne Airport. The probable cause of the accident was found to be the pilot's failure to obtain sufficient altitude to clear obstacles at the approach end of the airport, which resulted in an in-flight collision with trees. The sole occupant, the pilot, was killed.[39]
On April 12, 2003, aCessna 172 Skyhawk collided with a parked airplane while taxiing at the Melbourne Airport. The probable cause of the accident was found to be the student pilot's improper throttle setting during the braking test, resulting in a collision with a parked airplane.[40]
On June 18, 2003, aCessna 172 Skyhawk bounced off the runway on landing and flipped over while landing at the Melbourne Orlando International Airport. The probable cause of the accident was found to be the pilot's improper flare and inadequate recovery from a bounced landing.[41]
On October 21, 2003, aCessna 172 Skyhawk was damaged during a hard landing at the Melbourne Orlando International Airport. The probable cause of the accident was found to be the pilot's inadvertent full retraction of theflaps, while recovering from a bounced landing, resulting in an inadvertent stall, uncontrolled descent, and subsequent impact with terrain.[42]
On March 23, 2006, aCessna 340 crashed while on approach to the Melbourne Orlando International Airport. The probable cause of the accident was found to be the pilot's failure to maintain adequate airspeed to avoid astall during the final approach to land. All three occupants perished.[43]
On November 21, 2006, anexperimentalLiberty XL-2 impacted the runway during landing at the Melbourne Orlando International Airport. The probable cause of the accident was found to be thestudent pilot's failure to relinquish control of the airplane when instructed by the certified flight instructor resulting in airspeed not being maintained and an inadvertentstall just above the runway.[44]
On February 26, 2007, a Robinson R22 was damaged during takeoff from the Melbourne Orlando International Airport. The instructor gave some control to the student during takeoff, but the helicopter spun 2 to 2.5 times above the ground before impacting the surface. The probable cause of the accident was found to be the flight instructor's inadequate remedial action following a loss of control in flight.[45]
On February 6, 2009, aPiper Warrior II was damaged during a hard landing at the Melbourne Orlando International Airport. The probable cause of the accident was found to be the student pilot's inadequate crosswind landing technique and the certified flight instructor's delayed remedial action, which resulted in a hard landing.[46][47]
On February 29, 2012, aCirrus SR22 crashed while landing at the Melbourne Orlando International Airport. The probable cause of the accident was found to be the pilot's abrupt maneuver in response to a perceived traffic conflict, which resulted in an accelerated stall and a loss of airplane control at low altitude. Contributing to the accident was the air traffic controller's incomplete instructions, which resulted in improper sequencing of traffic landing on the same runway. All three occupants died.[48][49]
On May 22, 2012, twoPiper Warriors collided while taxiing at the Melbourne Orlando International Airport. One airplane taxiing into the back of the other, which was holding short of the runway. The probable cause was the second pilot’s failure to set the parking brake and to maintain a proper visual lookout, which resulted in an on-ground collision with another airplane.[50][51]
On April 4, 2014, aPiper Warrior II operating for the Florida Institute of Technology experienced an engine fire after landing at the Melbourne Orlando International Airport. After the engine quit on a runway exit, the flight instructor onboard attempted to restart it multiple times when smoke began billowing from the engine compartment. The cause of the accident was found to be the flight instructor's overpriming of the engine during multiple unsuccessful engine start attempts on an active runway.[52]
On May 27, 2015, aCessna 337 struck buildings and antennas while taxiing at the Melbourne Orlando International Airport. The pilot's loss of directional control was due to alcohol ingestion.[53][54]
On February 25, 2017, aSocata TB20 was damaged during landing at the Melbourne Orlando International Airport. The pilot reported noticed a problem with his electrical system and began an emergency landing gear extension. After unsuccessful attempts, the pilot performed a gear-up landing.[55]
On November 16, 2017, aPiper Arrow II crashed while landing at the Melbourne Orlando International Airport. The pilot was landing at a faster-than-normal speed and said the plane did not settle into a normal roundout, before it veered left and exited the runway. The probable cause of the accident was found to be the pilot's loss of directional control during the landing roll on the wet runway.[56]
On December 26, 2024, aBeechcraft Duchess crashed while approaching Melbourne. The pilot reported he was low on fuel and was trying to restart an engine. The aircraft struck a powerline and crashed.[57]
On April 18, 2025, aTUI AirwaysBoeing 787-9, after aborting takeoff, suffered a right gear collapse, causing the plane to veer off the taxiway. The plane, carrying 350 passengers on a flight toBirmingham, was cancelled. No injuries were reported.[58][59][60]
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