Miami Airport secures clearance for capital improvement programme

June 5, 2019: United States’ major gateway Miami International Airport (MIA) won the approval from Miami-Dade County Board of County Commissioners, for up to $5 billion in airport-wide modernisation projects over the next five to 15 years, to accommodate more passenger as well cargo volume.

The airport informed through a statement that Miami-Dade County Board of County Commissioners have adopted a new capital improvement programme to pave the way for future growth in passenger and cargo traffic at MIA - projected to reach 77 million travelers and more than four million tonnes of freight by the year 2040.

The key features of the programme include a redevelopment of Central Terminal concourses E and F; an expanded South Terminal (concourses H and J); renovated Concourse D gates to accommodate additional wide- and narrow-body aircraft, as well as larger regional jets.

In addition to this, the airport has planned to expand aircraft parking positions and warehouses for cargo operations.

“MIA is Miami-Dade County’s leading economic engine and busiest gateway, generating nearly $31 billion in business revenue and welcoming 96 percent of all visitors to our community,” said Mayor Carlos A Gimenez, Miami-Dade County.

“I appreciate the support and leadership of Mayor Gimenez, chairwoman Audrey Edmonson, and the Board of County Commissioners, as we turn the page to this next chapter in the transformation of MIA,” said Lester Sola, director and CEO, MIA.

“Because of the programme’s phased structure, we look forward to delivering to our passengers and business partners new and improved airport facilities.”

The multi-billion-dollar programme is the latest in a string of historic milestones for MIA, which celebrated its 90th anniversary last September.

The airport continues to maintain its ranking as the busiest US airport for international freight as well, setting a new record of 2.3 million total tonnes of freight in 2018 - up 60,000 tonnes from its 2017 total.

In 2018, MIA surpassed 45 million annual passengers for the first time ever - an increase of nearly one million over the previous year.