Is Orlando and Daytona airport the same?

Despite its name, this small airport is not even in Orlando—it's in the town of Sanford, population 59,000, and is twice as far from Walt Disney World as Orlando International.

A small airport an hour away from Walt Disney World has trademarked its name to associate itself with the tourist powerhouse of Orlando—and it can cause confusion when theme park visitors book airfare.

Orlando Sanford International Airport (SFB) is actually closer to Daytona Beach (about 40 miles) than Walt Disney World (50 miles), but that hasn't stopped officials from filing a trademark with the U.S. Patent Office to cement the word "Orlando" into the airport's name so that it can get a piece of the estimated 68 million visits to Orlando annually.

Partly because of that name, online booking engines are returning results for the airport during searches for Orlando.

Frank Kruppenbacher, the chair of the board that oversees the main airport, Orlando International, is well aware of the confusion. "When you put in 'Orlando Airport,' to have that pop up and create massive confusion, there's a problem with that," he told a local news program.

Some customers who think they're flying to the main airport for Orlando, Orlando International (MCO), which is just 23 miles east of Disney and the only airport served by Disney's Magical Express coaches, actually wind up somewhere else—at SFB, in a quiet patch of Florida between Orlando and the Atlantic Coast, twice as far from the attractions.

Sanford Airport is easy to use but it hosts only 6% of the traffic that Orlando International does, with a corresponding limitation on taxis, amenities, operating capacity, and opening hours. If you drive by the curb at Arrivals on any given evening, at least a couple of people will be on mobile phones, trying to sort out ground transportation because of their error—I observed it myself after a family member recently made the same mistake.

And because no-frills carrier Allegiant uses SFB, many customers who think they've found a great airfare to Orlando leave the Sanford terminal to realize that they have to pony up another $75 for an hour-long Uber ride to Walt Disney World. If they have accidentally made rental car reservations for the wrong airport, that's forfeited, too.

For millions of tourists not familiar with Florida's geography, there's no way to realize during the ticket booking process that the word "Sanford" refers to the outlying town you'll be flying to, and not the name of some forgotten aviator or dignitary who was honored by having the main airport named for them.

MCO's board has also gone after the similarly renamed Orlando Melbourne International Airport on similar grounds, although there are apparently fewer reports of passenger confusion there.

SFB has seen its traffic grow steadily, year-on-year, since 2011. Competition with MCO has been cutthroat—many European vacation companies and Icelandair used to fly to Sanford, but switched after MCO slashed landing fees to attract them to the more popular airfield. The smaller airport has had to be creative to keep its operations healthy.

Tellingly, the organization that runs the airport is still called the Sanford Airport Authority, without "Orlando."

MCO vs. SFB: If you're flying into Orlando, be warned there are now multiple airports with "Orlando" in the name. Know which one you want.

Daytona Beach is a city on Florida’s Atlantic coast, and is known for it’s hard-packed sand, iconic 500 NASCAR race, boardwalk rides, shopping, and much more. Once you get off the plane, it’s only natural to want to get as close to the fun as you can without unnecessary delay. You may be wondering, “What’s the closest airport to Daytona Beach?” Central Florida has several airports, so you have a few different options. Below, we’ve included the four closest airports based off of the driving miles.

Daytona Beach International Airport

Located only 3.4 miles away in Daytona Beach, Daytona Beach International Airport is the closest airport to Daytona Beach, Florida. Serving American Airlines, Delta, and Sunwing.ca, this is a smaller airport than some others in the state. Directly adjacent to the Daytona International Speedway, it provides visitors with a great view of the racetrack. This airport has shorter distances throughout the entire property due to its size, allowing visitors to get to their desired destinations faster and more efficiently.

Orlando Sanford International Airport

The second airport closest to Daytona Beach, located about 45.9 miles away, is Orlando Sanford International Airport. When you fly into Orlando Sanford International, you’re surrounded by some of Florida’s most popular hotspots. Since 1971, their goal is to make air travel as comfortable and simple for passengers as possible. Flying out of a smaller airport like Orlando Sanford International, you can let go of some your travel fears like getting lost in a terminal.

Orlando International Airport

If you drive about 74 miles Southeast from Daytona Beach, you’ll arrive at Orlando International Airport. One of the largest airports in the state, this airport flies with JetBlue, Spirit, Frontier Airlines, Southwest, and Delta. Since it’s relatively close to Walt Disney World, you’ll find a large variety of tasty restaurants and fun souvenir shops to visit before leaving the airport. If you’re flying in from out of the country, Orlando International is most likely where you’ll arrive.

Melbourne International Airport

Melbourne International Airport is approximately 91 miles away from Daytona Beach. With a family-friendly atmosphere, Melbourne International Airport strives to deliver business and leisure travel service quickly and conveniently while accommodating 2 million travelers annually. If you’re looking for a place to spend a few hours before heading to Daytona, visit Port Canaveral, which is only 25 miles away!

Our Fleet Can Get You There

Our luxurious car service can take you to and from any location in the central Florida area, including the above-mentioned airports. Our fleet is full of options fit for any occasion. Here’s a quick look at the vehicles in our fleet:

SEDANS AND SUVS

• Mercedes-Benz S-Class
• Cadillac Escalade
• Chevy Suburban
• Cadillac XTS

SPRINTERS

• Turtle Top
• Executive-Style Mercedes-Benz Sprinter

EXECUTIVE BUSES

• 23-Passenger Executive Bus
• 37-Passenger Executive Bus
• 56-Passenger Executive Coach

Rely on Signature Transportation Group for Your Daytona Beach Adventures

Now that you have four different options for airports, choose the one that best suits you and your travels! If you need transportation to or from the closest airport to Daytona Beach or information about our 56-Passenger Executive Coach, feel free to contact us with any questions.

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