Orlando International’s international growth is testament to open skies success, as Emirates enters

Orlando International Airport is capping off a couple of years of impressive growth in Sep-2015 with the highly anticipated launch by Emirates of new service from Dubai, opening up strategic access for the airport's passengers to the Middle East and Asia.

The airport during the last year has also welcomed new service to Brazil, Peru, Mexico, Denmark and Ireland. The service additions reflect the unique ability of Orlando International, a non-hub for the large three US global airlines, to attract international service in the post consolidation era of US aviation.

As American, Delta and United ratchet up their anti-Gulf rhetoric, Orlando International is stressing the importance of open skies in its ability to secure new international service. And, ironically, Delta aims to capitalise on the US open skies agreement with Brazil when it launches new Brazilian service from Orlando International in late 2015 as it continues to shake the foundations of the US' open skies regime with opposition to the UAE and Qatar open skies agreements.