Miami International Airport plans $400mn cargo facility
When complete, it will increase the airport’s cargo capacity by at least 50% or up to two million tonnes annually
The vertically integrated cargo community (VICC) phase 1 rendering
The Miami-Dade Board of County Commissioners has approved a minimum of $400 million in private investment to construct a four-story cargo facility at Miami International Airport (MIA) that will be the first of its kind in the Western Hemisphere.
When completed, it will increase the airport’s total cargo capacity by at least 50 percent or potentially up to two million tonnes annually, says an official release from Miami Airport.
"Scheduled for completion in 2029, the new facility will bring MIA’s total capacity to a minimum of 4.5 million tonnes of cargo and potentially five million tonnes, future-proofing America’s busiest international freight airport until the year 2041 and 11 years ahead of projections. Without this construction, MIA would begin to reach capacity at three million tonnes of cargo annually. The airport is on pace for more than 2.9 million tons of cargo this year."
Daniella Levine Cava, Mayor, Miami-Dade County says: "This is great news for our community and our economy. MIA is our largest economic engine, generating thousands of jobs for our residents and significant income for many of our leading industries, from tourism to small businesses. MIA continues to increase its ranks among U.S. airports and worldwide regarding cargo volume. With the construction of this unprecedented, state-of-the-art air cargo facility now on track, sky is the limit for where MIA can lead the air cargo industry globally after consecutive record-breaking years in cargo growth since 2020."
The vertically integrated cargo community (VICC) at MIA, a nearly 800,000 square foot facility on 11 acres of airport land, will have a massive local economic impact as well: 8,500 new temporary jobs earning a total of $500 million in wages during five years of design and construction; 2,500 new permanent jobs earning $100 million post-construction; and a minimum of $512 million in rent and business revenue to Miami-Dade County’s Aviation Department over the 40 years of the agreement, the release added.
Ralph Cutié, Director and CEO, MIA says: "The VICC is one of the many historic investments being made at MIA to modernise and transform every facet of our operations, including everything from maintenance upgrades and renovations in our terminal to the construction of a new parking garage, four-star hotel, and expanded concourses. In total, nearly $9 billion in capital improvements and upgrades are scheduled for completion over the next ten years, to elevate MIA’s position among the premier airports in the world.”
In addition to its impact on job creation and local business revenue, the VICC will be a sustainable, environmentally friendly facility with a silver Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certification and a silver certification from Global Infrastructure Basel under SuRe standards for sustainability and resiliency, the release added.
