Imagine a city where the skies buzz with electric flying cars, whisking passengers from the airport to downtown in minutes, bypassing the gridlock below.
This futuristic scene, reminiscent of the classic animated series The Jetsons, could become a reality in Orlando, Florida, as early as 2028.
Orlando International Airport is taking bold steps toward integrating advanced air mobility into its infrastructure, aiming to position the city as a pioneer in the era of flying vehicles.
Drawing from multiple mainstream sources, here’s how Orlando is gearing up to make this sci-fi dream a tangible reality.
The Greater Orlando Aviation Authority, which oversees Orlando International Airport, has set an ambitious timeline to establish a “vertiport”—a landing and takeoff pad for electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) aircraft—by 2028.
According to a report from the Orlando Sentinel on February 21, 2025, the authority is actively seeking partners to develop and operate this facility, with an invitation for proposals expected to launch in March 2025.
The vertiport could be situated either in the East Airfield region on the northeast side of the airport or on the south side near the train station, offering flexibility as the project evolves.
The New York Post echoed this development in a February 22, 2025, article, noting that these flying cars, capable of carrying up to six passengers,
will be powered by electricity and designed for vertical takeoffs and landings—much like the sleek, compact vehicles envisioned in The Jetsons.
Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer, a member of the Aviation Authority, emphasized the city’s broader vision, telling ArcaMax Publishing,
“We envision the airport to be a multimodal hub of the future,” integrating flying cars with existing rail systems like SunRail and Brightline.
While the prospect of flying cars zipping across Orlando’s skyline is thrilling, city officials and experts caution that this transformation will unfold gradually.
Mayor Dyer told the Orlando Sentinel that the initial phase will likely involve a four- to six-passenger vehicle operating from the airport, with plans to eventually establish “corridors” connecting the airport to destinations like downtown Orlando or Tampa.
“You can’t just have a vertiport at the airport,” Dyer explained. “You have to have places for the vehicles to go.”
This phased approach aligns with regulatory realities. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) plays a critical role in shaping the timeline, as detailed in the Yahoo News coverage from February 21, 2025.
The FAA’s recent October 2024 ruling on qualifications and training for advanced air mobility (AAM) pilots marks a significant step forward, but further guidelines on routes and air traffic integration are still in progress.
“A lot of the timing hinges on the development of rules and regulations by the FAA,” Dyer noted, signaling that Orlando’s Jetsons-like future depends on federal cooperation.
