Hubbry Logo
Miami International AirportMiami International AirportMain
Open search
Miami International Airport
Community hub
Miami International Airport
logo
8 pages, 0 posts
0 subscribers
Be the first to start a discussion here.
Be the first to start a discussion here.
Miami International Airport
Miami International Airport
Miami International Airport
View on Wikipedia
from Wikipedia

Miami International Airport (IATA: MIA, ICAO: KMIA, FAA LID: MIA), also known as MIA and historically as Wilcox Field, is the primary international airport serving Miami and its surrounding metropolitan area, in the U.S. state of Florida. It hosts over 1,000 daily flights to 195 domestic and international destinations, including most countries in Central and South America and the Caribbean. The airport is in an unincorporated area in Miami-Dade County, Florida,[3] 8 miles (13 km) west-northwest of downtown Miami, in metropolitan Miami,[1] adjacent to the cities of Miami and Miami Springs, and the village of Virginia Gardens. Nearby cities include Hialeah, Doral, and the census-designated place of Fontainebleau.

Key Information

In 2021, Miami International Airport became the busiest international cargo airport in the U.S.[4][5][6] and the busiest U.S. gateway for international passengers, surpassing John F. Kennedy International Airport in New York City.[7][8] As of 2021, it is the 10th busiest airport in the U.S. with 17,500,096 passengers for the year. It is Florida's busiest airport by total aircraft operations and total cargo traffic.[9] The airport is American Airlines' third-largest hub and serves as its primary gateway to Latin America and the Caribbean. Miami also serves as a focus city for Avianca, Frontier Airlines, and LATAM, both for passengers and cargo operations.

In 2024, MIA Airport served nearly 56 million passengers and saw 3 million tons of cargo passing through MIA, recording three consecutive record years for passenger volume and five straight years of cargo volume.[10]

Miami International Airport covers 3,300 acres (1,300 ha).[1][11] It is South Florida's main airport for long-haul international flights and a hub for the Southeastern United States with passenger and cargo flights to cities throughout the Americas, Europe, Africa, and Asia. It is the largest gateway between the U.S. and Central, South America and the Caribbean and one of the largest airline hubs in the nation.

History

[edit]
See also: Miami Army Airfield
Pan American Airways Airport - Inauguration January 9, 1929
Crowds gather around Pan American Airways' new international passenger terminal, the first U.S. mainland port of entry for visitors arriving in the U.S. via air, during the terminal's opening on January 9, 1929.
Aerial view of Pan American Airport and Pan American Field, Miami, Florida 1929.
Aerial View of Pan American Field and Pan American Airport on NW 36th Street in Miami in 1929. The airport terminal with domed roof is located at center, flanked by two hangars to the east and one to the west. Only the west hangar, Pan Am Hangar 5, located at its original site off NW 36th Street, remains in existence.

In June 1928, Pan American Airways acquired 116 acres of land on NW 36th Street for the purpose of building a privately owned and operated international airport in Miami, Florida. The establishment of a commercial airport and of regularly scheduled international passenger airline service by Pan Am was a transformative event for the City of Miami. By September 1928, Pan Am had begun to operate regularly scheduled Air Mail service between Miami and Havana. On January 9, 1929, Pan American Airport, also known as Pan American Field, was officially dedicated at a ceremony attended by thousands of residents and celebrities such as Amelia Earhart, who saw in the new airport the promise of a bright new future in international aviation for Miami. It was the first mainland airport in the United States to have international port of entry facilities. The passenger terminal building, designed by Delano & Aldrich of New York City, was the most advanced and luxurious in the country. Three hangars, two on the east and one on the west, provided housing and maintenance facilities for Pan Am's fleet of Sikorsky amphibian and Fokker aircraft.

During the first few years of its operation, from late 1928 until late 1930, it was from this busy airport that Pan American Airways historically pioneered U.S. international passenger aviation, inaugurating regularly scheduled Air Mail and passenger airline service from the U.S. to the West Indies, Caribbean, and Central and South America. In the 1930s Pan American leased space at its airport to Eastern Air Lines. Eastern officially took up residence at the 36th Street Airport in August 1935.

In 1940, Intercontinent Corporation, owned by William Pawley, built an aircraft manufacturing plant on land acquired immediately east of Pan American Field. The City and County, eager to encourage the growth of an aircraft manufacturing industry in Miami, agreed to finance and build runways and ground facilities at the Intercontinent plant, including an east-west runway that extended from Le Jeune Road as far west as Pan American Field, where it intersected with Pan Am's east-west runway. National Airlines, which had been operating in Miami at Miami's city-owned Municipal Airport since 1937, moved to the 36th Street Airport in 1942. National used a terminal on LeJeune Road, across the street from the airport and would stop traffic on the road in order to taxi aircraft to and from its terminal. Miami Army Airfield opened in 1943 on 1400 acres of land acquired during World War II to the south of Pan American Field. The two airfields were listed in some directories as a single facility.[12]

Following World War II, the Dade County Port Authority embarked on a long-planned airport expansion in order to meet Miami's increasing commercial aviation needs. On December 31, 1945, a formal agreement between the County and Pan Am transferring ownership of the airport to the County was signed, becoming effective at 1:00 AM on January 1, 1946. Thus ended any distinct identity of Pan American Field. It also acquired Intercontinent's former holdings, which were leased to Eastern Air Lines, and changed the name of the newly expanded airport to Miami International Airport. Pan American's former NW 36th Street terminal building continued to serve as the hub for the new Miami International Airport. Between 1945 and 1950, the Port Authority cobbled together thousands more acres adjacent to and south of the airport, including the Army’s former air base; the Seaboard Air Line Railroad property; and additional parcels, with the intention of meeting Miami’s future aviation needs. The result was a County-owned, Miami International Airport based at NW 36th Street that by 1948 had grown to 2500 acres. The former domed-roofed Pan Am terminal building was extensively remodeled and enlarged, the words “Miami International Airport” now curving across its façade. The new airport was officially dedicated January 4, 1950. United States Air Force Reserve troop carrier and rescue squadrons also operated from the airport from 1949 through 1959, when the last unit relocated to nearby Homestead Air Force Base (now Homestead Air Reserve Base). In the late 1940s, Pan Am and Eastern also expanded their bases at MIA on NW 36th Street, which made the airport the world's largest commercial aircraft maintenance and overhaul facility at the time.[13]

20th Street Terminal in the 1950s

In the 1950s, a continuing boom in post-World War II passenger aviation stretched the county’s expanded airport to capacity. Scheduled airlines had outstripped ships, trains and buses to become the state’s as well as the nation’s largest carriers of interstate and international traffic. Delta had joined Pan Am, Eastern and National to become MIA's "Big Four" carriers and the airport also served a host of smaller scheduled and non-scheduled airlines. A new jet age loomed. Plans for an entirely new airport, to be built from scratch on land south and east of the existing facility were set in motion. On February 1, 1959, after years of planning and construction, Miami's brand-new Miami International Airport was formally inaugurated at 20th Street, on what was dubbed Wilcox Field in honor of Port Authority attorney J. Mark Wilcox who had been instrumental in bringing the project to completion. No longer needed, the former domed-roofed terminal building on NW 36th Street was torn down in November 1962. This part of MIA along NW 36th Street is known today as MIA's north field.

When it was dedicated in 1959, MIA's new 20th Street Terminal was the largest central airport terminal in the world, with five concourses (Concourses C-G) and a 270-room hotel. In 1961, the terminal was expanded with the addition of a sixth concourse (Concourse H) on the south side, which was the first concourse at the airport to include jetways. By 1965, the original five concourses were renovated with jetways added to them.[14]

The 20th Street Terminal was expanded in the 1970s. Parking garages were added just east of the terminal and Concourse B opened on the north side of the terminal in 1973 to accommodate the expansion of Eastern Air Lines.[15] In 1977, Concourse E's satellite terminal opened. The satellite was originally connected with shuttle buses, though a people mover was built to connect the satellite in 1980.[14]

Nonstop flights to Chicago and Newark started in late 1946, but nonstops didn't reach west beyond St. Louis and New Orleans until January 1962. Nonstop transatlantic flights to Europe began in 1970. In the late 1970s and early 1980s, Air Florida had a hub at MIA, with a nonstop flight to London, England which it acquired from National upon the latter's merger with Pan Am. Air Florida ceased operations in 1982 after the crash of Air Florida Flight 90.[16] British Airways flew a Concorde SST (supersonic transport) triweekly between Miami and London via Dulles International Airport in Washington, D.C., from 1984 to 1991.[17]

The terminal was further expanded in the 1980s. The original Concourses D and E were rebuilt early in the decade and Concourses B and F were expanded.[18] Pedestrian bridges with moving walkways were built in 1985 connecting the parking garages with the third level of the terminal. Within the next few years, the moving walkway system on the third level was expanded to run along the full length of the terminal.[19]

After former Apollo 8 astronaut Frank Borman became president of Eastern Air Lines in 1975, he moved Eastern's headquarters from Rockefeller Center in New York City to Building 16 in the northeast corner of MIA, Eastern's maintenance base. Eastern remained one of the largest employers in the Miami metropolitan area until ongoing labor union unrest, coupled with the airline's acquisition by Texas Air in 1986, ultimately forced the airline into bankruptcy in 1989.[16] Eastern operated out of Concourses B through D on the north side of the terminal, where American's Concourse D stands today.[20][21] Concourse E was the home for most international carriers, while Pan Am operated out of Concourses E and F.[20][22]

American Airlines hub

[edit]
American Airlines planes at Concourse D in April 2005

Amid Eastern's turmoil, American Airlines CEO Robert Crandall sought a new hub in order to utilize new aircraft which AA had on order. AA studies indicated that Delta Air Lines would provide strong competition on most routes from Eastern's hub at Hartsfield–Jackson Atlanta International Airport in Atlanta, but that MIA had many key routes only served by Eastern. American Airlines announced that it would establish a base at MIA in August 1988. Lorenzo considered selling Eastern's profitable Latin America routes to AA as part of a Chapter 11 reorganization of Eastern in early 1989 but backed out in a last-ditch effort to rebuild the MIA hub. The effort quickly proved futile, and American Airlines purchased the routes (including the route authority between Miami and London then held by Eastern sister company Continental Airlines) in a liquidation of Eastern which was completed in 1990.[16] Later in the 1990s, American transferred more employees and equipment to MIA from its failed domestic hubs at Nashville, Tennessee, and Raleigh–Durham, North Carolina. The hub grew from 34 daily departures in 1989 to 157 in 1990, 190 in 1992, and a peak of 301 in 1995, including long-haul flights to Europe and South America.[23] Today Miami is American's largest air freight hub and is the main connecting point in the airline's north–south international route network.

In December 1992, South African Airways launched flights to Johannesburg via Cape Town using a Boeing 747.[24][25] The company's codeshare agreement with American Airlines supported the route. The carrier later decided to codeshare with Delta Air Lines instead, which operated a hub in Atlanta. Consequently, South African replaced its Miami service with a flight to Atlanta in January 2000.[26][27]

Concourse A was built on the northeast side of the terminal in 1995, and Concourse H was rebuilt in 1997. Concourse J was built in August 2007 along with an expansion of the terminal on the south side.[18]

American began the development of the current North Terminal in the 1990s. Concourses B and C were demolished as part of the project with Concourse A becoming the eastern end of the expanded Concourse D. Although the terminal was originally scheduled to be completed in 2004, numerous delays arose in the construction process, and Miami-Dade County took over control of the project in 2005, at which time the project had a budget of $2.85 billion.[28] The terminal was ultimately completed in 2011 and included Skytrain, an automated people mover system, as well as a wing for American Eagle commuter flights.[29]

Other hub operations

[edit]

Pan Am was acquired by Delta Air Lines in 1991, but filed for bankruptcy shortly thereafter. Its remaining international routes from Miami to Europe and Latin America were sold to United Airlines for $135 million as part of Pan Am's emergency liquidation that December.[16] United's Latin American hub offered 24 daily departures in the summer of 1992, growing to 36 daily departures to 21 destinations in the summer of 1994, but returned to 24 daily departures in the summer of 1995 and never expanded further.[30] United ended flights from Miami to South America, and shut down its Miami crew base, in May 2004, reallocating most Miami resources to its main hub in O'Hare International Airport in Chicago.[31] United ceased all mainline service to Miami in 2005 with the introduction of its low-cost product Ted.[30]

Future

[edit]

MIA is projected to process 77 million passengers and 4 million tons of freight annually by 2040.[32] To meet such a demand, the Miami-Dade Board of County Commissioners approved a $5 billion improvement plan to take place over 15 years, concluding in 2035. The comprehensive plan includes concourse optimization, construction of two on-site luxury hotels, the demolition of Concourse G, and expansion of the airport's cargo capacity.[33]

In 2026, MIA will become a hub for soccer fans as the nearby Miami Freedom Park MLS stadium will be opening, connected to the airport via the MIA Mover; as well as being a main transportation point for fans for World Cup 2026 events in the Miami area and the seven games being hosted at Hard Rock Stadium, roughly 18 miles north of the airport.[34]

Facilities

[edit]
Apron and hangars at Miami International Airport in February 2022

Terminals

[edit]

Miami International Airport contains three terminals (North, Central, and South) and six concourses for a total of 131 gates.[35] With the exception of Concourse G, all concourses contain gates to access U.S. Customs and Border Protection facilities.

  • Concourse D contains 51 gates. The eastern section opened in 1995 as Concourse A, and the other parts opened in March 2013.[35]
  • Concourse E contains 18 gates. Opened throughout the early 1960s, the satellite terminal opened in 1974.[35]
  • Concourse F contains 19 gates. Opened in the 1970s.[35]
  • Concourse G contains 14 gates. Opened in the mid-1960s.[35]
  • Concourse H contains 13 gates. Opened in March 1998.[35]
  • Concourse J contains 15 gates. Opened in August 2007.[35]
Concourse J in the South Terminal is MIA's newest passenger facility and has one gate that can accommodate the Airbus A380.

American operates three Admirals Clubs and one Flagship Lounge across Concourses D & E.[36] Numerous other lounges exist across the airport as well, including an American Express Centurion Lounge located in Concourse D.[36][37][38] The North Terminal (Concourse D) is for the exclusive use of American Airlines. The Central Terminal (Concourses E, F, and G) has varied uses; Concourse E is mainly used by American and its Oneworld partner airlines along with some Caribbean and Latin American airlines, and E's satellite terminal has a gate that can accommodate an Airbus A380. Concourses F and G are used by non-AA domestic and Canadian carriers and flights. The South Terminal (Concourses H and J) is the main non-Oneworld international terminal. Concourse H is largely used by Delta and non-Oneworld international carriers that send narrowbody planes largely from Central and the northern parts of South America, and some widebody flights; and Concourse J is used by most non-Oneworld international carriers that send widebody planes and is the main terminal at MIA for non-Oneworld transcontinental flights. Concourse J also has one gate that can accommodate an A380.[39]

Ground transportation

[edit]
Main article: Miami Intermodal Center
Miami Intermodal Center, a hub for intercity transportation, including Tri-Rail and Miami-Dade Transit, in March 2015
MIA Mover transports landside passengers between the main terminal and the Miami Intermodal Center (MIC) in 2021.
Check-in counters at the South Terminal of the airport.
Concourse H of the airport.
Concourse J of the airport.
Concourse J of the airport.
Concourse J of the airport.
International baggage claim at the airport's South Terminal.
"Bésame Mucho" sign at the international arrivals of the South Terminal of the airport.

Miami International Airport offers the MIA Mover, a free people mover system to transfer passengers between MIA terminals and the Miami Intermodal Center (MIC) that opened to the public on September 9, 2011. The MIC provides direct access from the airport to ground transportation (shuttle/bus/rail) as well as the Rental Car Center. A Metrorail station opened at the MIC on July 28, 2012; a Tri-Rail station followed on April 5, 2015. Plans for Amtrak to operate a station at the MIC were cancelled when it was discovered that the platform built for the service was too short for Amtrak trains. The platform now sits empty and closed, with no trains stopping at it.[40]

The rental car center consolidates airport car rental operations at the MIC.[41]

Miami International Airport has direct public transit service to Miami-Dade Transit's Metrorail and Metrobus networks; Greyhound Bus Lines and to the Tri-Rail commuter rail system. Metrorail operates the Orange Line train from Miami International Airport to destinations such as Downtown, Brickell, Health District, Coconut Grove, Coral Gables, Dadeland, Hialeah, South Miami, and Wynwood. It takes approximately 15 minutes to get from the airport to Downtown.

Miami-Dade Transit operates an Airport Flyer bus that connects MIA directly to South Beach.[42]

MIA is served directly by Tri-Rail, Miami's commuter rail system. The station opened on April 5, 2015. Tri-Rail connects MIA to northern Miami-Dade, Broward, and Palm Beach counties. Tri-Rail directly serves points north such as Boca Raton, Deerfield Beach, Delray Beach, Fort Lauderdale, Hollywood, Pompano Beach and West Palm Beach.[43]

Cargo yard

[edit]

MIA has a number of air cargo facilities. The largest cargo complex is located on the west side of the airport, inside the triangle formed by Runways 12/30 and 9/27. Cargo carriers such as LATAM Cargo, Atlas Air, Amerijet International, and DHL operate from this area. The largest privately owned facility is the Centurion Cargo complex in the northeast corner of the airport, with over 51,000 m2 (550,000 sq ft) of warehouse space.[44] FedEx and UPS operate their own facilities in the northwest corner of the airport, off of 36th Street. In addition to its large passenger terminal in Concourse D, American Airlines operates a maintenance base to the east of Concourse D, centered around a semicircular hangar originally used by National Airlines which can accommodate three widebody aircraft.[45]

Airlines and destinations

[edit]

Passenger

[edit]
AirlinesDestinationsRefs
Aer Lingus Seasonal: Dublin[46] [47]
Aerolíneas Argentinas Buenos Aires–Ezeiza [48]
Aeroméxico Cancún,[49] Mexico City
Seasonal: Guadalajara,[50] Monterrey[50] 		[51]
Air Canada Toronto–Pearson,[52] Vancouver[53] [54]
Air Canada Rouge Montréal–Trudeau,[55] Toronto–Pearson[56] [54]
Air Europa Madrid [57]
Air France Paris–Charles de Gaulle, Pointe-à-Pitre [58]
Alaska Airlines Seattle/Tacoma
Seasonal: Portland (OR) 		[59]
American Airlines Antigua, Aruba, Atlanta, Austin, Baltimore, Barbados, Barcelona, Barranquilla, Belize City, Bermuda, Bogotá, Bonaire, Boston, Buenos Aires–Ezeiza, Cali, Camagüey, Cancún, Cartagena, Charleston (SC), Charlotte, Chicago–O'Hare, Cleveland, Curaçao, Dallas/Fort Worth, Denver, Detroit, Fort-de-France, Georgetown–Cheddi Jagan, Grand Cayman, Grenada, Guatemala City, Guayaquil, Hartford, Havana, Holguín, Houston–Intercontinental, Indianapolis, Jacksonville (FL), Kansas City, Kingston–Norman Manley, Knoxville, La Romana,[60] Las Vegas, Liberia (CR), Lima, London–Heathrow, Los Angeles, Louisville, Madrid, Managua, Medellín–JMC, Memphis, Mérida, Mexico City, Milan–Malpensa (resumes March 29, 2026),[61] Minneapolis/St. Paul, Montego Bay, Montréal–Trudeau, Nashville, Nassau, New Orleans, New York–JFK, New York–LaGuardia, Newark, Norfolk, Orlando, Panama City–Tocumen, Philadelphia, Phoenix–Sky Harbor, Pittsburgh, Pointe-à-Pitre, Port-au-Prince (suspended),[62] Port of Spain, Providenciales, Puerto Plata, Punta Cana, Quito, Raleigh/Durham, Richmond, Rio de Janeiro–Galeão, Roatán, St. Croix, St. Kitts, St. Louis, St. Lucia–Hewanorra, St. Maarten,[63] St. Thomas, St. Vincent–Argyle, San Antonio, San Diego, San Francisco, San José (CR), San Juan, San Pedro Sula, San Salvador, Santa Clara, Santiago de Chile, Santiago de Cuba, Santiago de los Caballeros, Santo Domingo–Las Américas, São Paulo–Guarulhos, Seattle/Tacoma, Tampa, Tegucigalpa/Comayagua, Toronto–Pearson, Tulum, Varadero, Washington–National, Wilmington (NC)
Seasonal: Birmingham (AL), Eagle/Vail, Montevideo, Omaha, Paris–Charles de Gaulle, Portland (OR), Rome–Fiumicino,[64] Salt Lake City, Savannah 		[65]
American Eagle Anguilla, Atlanta, Birmingham (AL), Cincinnati, Columbus–Glenn, Cozumel, Destin/Fort Walton Beach (begins December 19, 2025),[66] Dominica–Douglas-Charles, Fayetteville/Bentonville, Freeport, Gainesville, George Town, Governor’s Harbour,[67] Greensboro, Greenville/Spartanburg, Jacksonville (FL), Key West, Knoxville, Marsh Harbour, Monterrey, Nashville, Nassau, North Eleuthera, Ocho Rios,[68] Oklahoma City, Pensacola, Sarasota,[69] Savannah, South Bimini (begins February 14, 2026),[70] South Caicos,[71] Tallahassee, Tampa, Toronto–Pearson (begins December 3, 2025), Tortola, Tulsa
Seasonal: Albany, Asheville,[72] Baltimore, Buffalo, Cedar Rapids/Iowa City, Charleston (SC), Chattanooga, Cleveland, Columbia (SC), Des Moines, Grand Rapids, Harrisburg (resumes January 10, 2026),[73] Houston–Intercontinental, Huntsville, Indianapolis, Jackson (MS), Kansas City, Lexington, Little Rock, Madison, Milwaukee, New Orleans, Norfolk, Omaha, Raleigh/Durham, Rochester (NY), St. Louis, San Antonio, Springfield/Branson,[74] Syracuse, White Plains, Wichita, Wilmington (NC) 		[65]
Arajet Punta Cana,[75] Santo Domingo–Las Américas[76] [77]
Avianca Barranquilla, Bogotá, Medellín–JMC
Seasonal: Cali, Cartagena 		[78]
Avianca Costa Rica Guatemala City,[79] San José (CR)[80] [78]
Avianca Ecuador Guayaquil [81]
Avianca El Salvador Managua, San Salvador [78]
Bahamasair Nassau, San Salvador (Bahamas) [82]
Boliviana de Aviación Santa Cruz de la Sierra–Viru Viru [83]
British Airways London–Heathrow [84]
Caribbean Airlines Port of Spain [85]
Cayman Airways Cayman Brac, Grand Cayman [86]
Condor Frankfurt[87] [88]
Copa Airlines Panama City–Tocumen [89]
Delta Air Lines Atlanta, Austin,[90] Boston, Detroit, Havana, Los Angeles, Minneapolis/St. Paul, New York–JFK, New York–LaGuardia, Raleigh/Durham, Salt Lake City, Seattle/Tacoma,[91] Washington–National [92]
El Al Tel Aviv [93]
Emirates Bogotá,[94] Dubai–International [95]
Finnair Seasonal: Helsinki [96]
French Bee Paris–Orly [97]
Frontier Airlines Aguadilla,[98] Atlanta, Austin,[99] Baltimore, Boston,[100][better source needed] Charlotte,[101] Chicago–Midway, Cincinnati, Dallas/Fort Worth, Denver, Detroit,[102] Guatemala City, Hartford,[103] Houston–Intercontinental,[100][better source needed] New York–JFK,[104] New York–LaGuardia,[105] Philadelphia, Raleigh/Durham, San Juan, Washington–Dulles[99]
Seasonal: Cleveland, Punta Cana, San Pedro Sula (begins December 20, 2025),[106] San Salvador (begins December 19, 2025)[106] 		[107]
Gol Linhas Aéreas Belém,[108] Brasília, Fortaleza
Seasonal: Manaus 		[109]
Havana Air Havana, Holguín, Santa Clara [110]
Iberia Madrid [111]
Icelandair Seasonal: Reykjavík–Keflavík [112]
ITA Airways Rome–Fiumicino [113]
KLM Amsterdam [114]
LATAM Brasil São Paulo–Guarulhos
Seasonal: Fortaleza[115] 		[116]
LATAM Chile Bogotá, Buenos Aires–Ezeiza (begins December 1, 2025),[117] Cancún, Punta Cana, Santiago de Chile [116]
LATAM Colombia Bogotá [116]
LATAM Ecuador Quito [116]
LATAM Perú Lima [116]
Level Barcelona[118] [119]
LOT Polish Airlines Warsaw–Chopin [120]
Lufthansa Frankfurt
Seasonal: Munich 		[121]
Porter Airlines Ottawa (begins January 24, 2026)[122]
Seasonal: Toronto–Pearson 		[123]
Qatar Airways Doha [124]
RED Air La Romana [125]
Royal Air Maroc Casablanca [126]
Scandinavian Airlines Seasonal: Copenhagen, Stockholm–Arlanda [127]
Sky Airline Peru Lima [128]
Sky High Punta Cana, Santiago de los Caballeros, Santo Domingo–Las Américas [129]
Southwest Airlines Austin, Baltimore, Chicago–Midway, Dallas–Love, Denver, Houston–Hobby, Nashville, Orlando,[130] St. Louis
Seasonal: Columbus–Glenn,[131] Indianapolis, Kansas City, Long Island/Islip,[132] Milwaukee (begins February 14, 2026),[133] Omaha (begins March 7, 2026),[134] Pittsburgh[131] 		[135]
Spirit Airlines Atlanta, Boston, Charlotte, Chicago–O'Hare, Dallas/Fort Worth, Detroit, Houston–Intercontinental, Las Vegas, Nashville, New Orleans, New York–LaGuardia, Newark, Philadelphia, San Juan
Seasonal: Atlantic City[136] 		[137]
Sun Country Airlines Seasonal: Minneapolis/St. Paul [138]
Sunrise Airways Cap-Haïtien [139]
Surinam Airways Georgetown–Cheddi Jagan, Paramaribo
Seasonal: Curaçao 		[140]
Swiss International Air Lines Zurich [141]
TAP Air Portugal Lisbon [142]
Turkish Airlines Istanbul [143]
United Airlines Chicago–O'Hare, Denver, Houston–Intercontinental, Newark, San Francisco, Washington–Dulles [144]
Virgin Atlantic London–Heathrow [145]
Viva Mérida,[146] Monterrey[147] [148]
Volaris Guadalajara, Mexico City [149]
Volaris Costa Rica San José (CR) [150]
Volaris El Salvador San José (CR),[151] San Pedro Sula, San Salvador [152]
WestJet Calgary (resumes February 2, 2026)
World Atlantic Airlines Curaçao, Havana, Holguin

Cargo

[edit]
AirlinesDestinationsRefs
21 Air Bogotá, Panama City–Tocumen
ABX Air Bogotá, Cincinnati, Georgetown–Cheddi Jagan, Panama City–Tocumen, Port of Spain [153]
AerCaribe Bogotá
Air ACT New York–JFK
Air Canada Cargo Atlanta, Bogotá, Lima, Quito, Toronto–Pearson
Aloha Air Cargo Barbados, Georgetown–Cheddi Jagan, Lima, Santo Domingo–Las Américas
Amazon Air Austin, Baltimore, Chicago/Rockford, Cincinnati, Fort Worth/Alliance, Houston–Intercontinental, Ontario
Amerijet International Antigua, Aruba, Barbados, Belize City, Cancún, El Paso, Georgetown–Cheddi Jagan, Grenada, Kingston–Norman Manley, Managua, Medellín–JMC, Mexico City–AIFA, Ontario, Panama City–Tocumen, Paramaribo, Port-au-Prince, Port of Spain, St. Kitts, St. Lucia–Hewanorra, St. Maarten, St. Vincent–Argyle, San Juan, San Pedro Sula, San Salvador, Santiago de los Caballeros, Santo Domingo–Las Américas, Toledo
Seasonal: Memphis 		[154]
Atlas Air Amsterdam, Anchorage, Austin, Baltimore, Bogotá, Buenos Aires–Ezeiza, Campinas, Charleston (SC), Chicago/Rockford, Cincinnati, Huntsville, Guadalajara, Liège, Lima, Manaus, Memphis, Mexico City–AIFA, New York–JFK, Quito, San Juan, Santiago de Chile, São Paulo–Guarulhos, Seoul–Incheon, Zaragoza [154][155]
Avianca Cargo Amsterdam, Asuncion, Barranquilla, Bogotá, Buenos Aires–Ezeiza, Cali, Curitiba, Lima, Manaus, Medellín–JMC, Panama City–Tocumen, Quito, San José (CR), San Salvador, Santo Domingo–Las Américas [154]
Avianca Cargo México Bogotá, Guatemala City, Medellín–JMC, Mérida, Mexico City–AIFA, San José (CR) [154]
Cargojet Airways Bogotá, Campinas, Cincinnati, Guatemala City, Hamilton (ON), Lima, Panama City–Tocumen, San José (CR), San Pedro Sula, Santo Domingo–Las Américas
Cargolux Houston–Intercontinental, Luxembourg, Quito [154]
Cathay Pacific Cargo Anchorage, Atlanta, Houston–Intercontinental [154]
China Airlines Cargo Anchorage, Los Angeles, Seattle/Tacoma, Taipei–Taoyuan [154]
DHL Aviation Anchorage, Atlanta, Bogotá, Brussels, Buenos Aires–Ezeiza, Campinas, Cincinnati, Greensboro, Guatemala City, Nashville, Orlando, Panama City–Tocumen, San José (CR), San Pedro Sula, Santiago de Chile, Seoul–Incheon [154]
Emirates SkyCargo Dubai–Al Maktoum, Quito
Ethiopian Airlines Cargo Addis Ababa, Bogotá, Brussels, Lagos, Liège, Zaragoza [154]
FedEx Express Atlanta, Bogotá, Buenos Aires–Ezeiza, Guatemala City, Indianapolis, Los Angeles, Medellín–JMC, Memphis, Newark, Quito, San Pedro Sula, Santiago de Chile, San Juan [154]

[156]

FedEx Feeder Freeport, Guatemala City, Kingston–Norman Manley, Mérida, Nassau, San Pedro Sula, San Salvador [154]
IBC Airways Cap–Haïtien, Freeport, Grand Cayman, Havana, Kingston–Norman Manley, Montego Bay, Nassau, Port-au-Prince, Providenciales, Santiago de los Caballeros, Varadero [154]
Kalitta Air Anchorage, Buenos Aires–Ezeiza, Campinas, Cincinnati, Houston–Intercontinental, Manaus
KLM Cargo
operated by Martinair 		Amsterdam, Bogotá, Campinas, Guatemala City, Lima, Santiago de Chile [154]
Korean Air Cargo Anchorage, Campinas, Lima, New York–JFK, Seoul–Incheon [154]
LATAM Cargo Brasil Asunción, Belo Horizonte–Confins, Cabo Frio, Campinas, Curitiba, Manaus, Panama City–Tocumen, Porto Alegre, Recife, Rio de Janeiro–Galeão, Salvador da Bahia, São José dos Campos, São Paulo–Guarulhos, Vitória
LATAM Cargo Chile Amsterdam, Bogotá, Buenos Aires–Ezeiza, Campinas, Ciudad del Este, Guatemala City, Lima, Montevideo, Santiago de Chile
LATAM Cargo Colombia Asunción, Barranquilla, Bogotá, Cali, Campinas, Florianópolis, Guatemala City, Huntsville, Lima, Manaus, Panama City–Tocumen, Quito, Santiago de Chile, Zaragoza
Mas Air Guadalajara, Los Angeles, Mexico City–AIFA, Panama City–Tocumen [154]
National Airlines Anchorage
Northern Air Cargo Barbados, Georgetown–Cheddi Jagan, Kingston–Norman Manley, Lima, Paramaribo, Port of Spain, San Juan
Qatar Airways Cargo Doha, Liège, Quito
Silk Way West Airlines Luxembourg, Quito
Sky High Cargo Havana
Sky Lease Cargo Bogotá, Seattle/Tacoma
Transportes Aéreos Bolivianos Santa Cruz de la Sierra–Viru Viru [154]
Turkish Cargo Bogotá, Houston–Intercontinental, Istanbul, Maastricht/Aachen, Madrid, São Paulo–Guarulhos [154]
UPS Airlines Atlanta, Bogotá, Campinas, Cedar Rapids/Iowa City, Chicago–O'Hare, Dallas/Fort Worth, Fort Lauderdale, Guatemala City, Guayaquil, Jacksonville (FL), Knoxville, Louisville, Managua, Memphis, Ontario, Orlando, Panama City–Tocumen, Peoria, Philadelphia, Quito, San Antonio, San José (CR), Santo Domingo–Las Américas, Springfield/Branson, West Palm Beach
Seasonal: Tampa 		[154]
Western Global Airlines Bogotá, Ciudad del Este, Montevideo, Santiago de Chile
WestJet Cargo Toronto–Pearson [157]
XCargo Kingston–Norman Manley

Statistics

[edit]

Top destinations

[edit]
Miami skyline seen from the airport..
Planes in Concourse J of the airport.
Busiest domestic routes to and from MIA (January 2024 – December 2024)[158]
Rank City Passengers Carriers
1 Georgia (U.S. state) Atlanta, Georgia 1,019,000 American, Delta, Frontier, Southwest, Spirit
2 New York (state) New York–LaGuardia, New York 879,000 American, Delta, Frontier, Spirit
3 New York (state) New York–JFK, New York 827,000 American, Delta, JetBlue
4 Texas Dallas/Fort Worth, Texas 806,000 American, Frontier, Spirit
5 Illinois Chicago–O'Hare, Illinois 646,000 American, Spirit, United
6 New Jersey Newark, New Jersey 623,000 American, Frontier, JetBlue, Spirit, United
7 California Los Angeles, California 607,000 American, Delta, JetBlue
8 North Carolina Charlotte, North Carolina 581,000 American, Spirit
9 Massachusetts Boston, Massachusetts 561,000 American, Delta, Frontier, JetBlue, Spirit
10 Washington, D.C. Washington–National, D.C. 546,000 American, Delta
Busiest international routes from MIA (January 2024 – December 2024)[158]
Rank Airport Passengers Carriers
1 United Kingdom London–Heathrow, United Kingdom 1,033,267 American, British Airways, Virgin Atlantic
2 Colombia Bogotá, Colombia 1,000,685 American, Avianca, Emirates, LATAM Chile, LATAM Colombia
3 Peru Lima, Peru 878,700 American, LATAM Peru, Sky Airline Peru
4 Panama Panama City–Tocumen, Panama 826,891 American, Copa Airlines
5 Brazil São Paulo–Guarulhos, Brazil 822,911 American, LATAM Brasil
6 Mexico Mexico City, Mexico 802,071 Aeroméxico, American, Volaris
7 Spain Madrid, Spain 788,562 Air Europa, American, Iberia
8 Cuba Havana, Cuba 735,991 American, Delta
9 Argentina Buenos Aires–Ezeiza, Argentina 644,543 Aerolíneas Argentinas, American
10 Colombia Medellín–JMC, Colombia 567,111 American, Avianca, LATAM Colombia

Airline market share

[edit]
Carrier shares (December 2022 - November 2023)
  1. American, 15,902,000 (57.3%)
  2. Delta, 3,031,000 (10.9%)
  3. Spirit, 2,164,000 (7.77%)
  4. Southwest, 1,592,000 (5.72%)
  5. United, 1,586,000 (5.59%)
  6. Other, 3,568,000 (12.8%)
Top airlines at MIA
(December 2022 – November 2023)[158]
Rank Airline Passengers Percent of market share
1 American Airlines 15,902,000 57.26%
2 Delta Air Lines 3,031,000 10.89%
3 Spirit Airlines 2,164,000 7.77%
4 Southwest Airlines 1,592,000 5.72%
5 United Airlines 1,586,000 5.59%
6 Other 3,568,000 12.82%

Annual traffic

[edit]
Annual passenger traffic (enplaned + deplaned) at MIA, 2000 through present[159]
Year Passengers Year Passengers Year Passengers
2000 33,621,273 2010 Increase 35,698,025 2020 Decrease 18,663,858
2001 Decrease 31,668,450 2011 Increase 38,314,389 2021 Increase 37,302,456
2002 Decrease 30,060,241 2012 Increase 39,467,444 2022 Increase 50,684,396
2003 Decrease 29,595,618 2013 Increase 40,562,948 2023 Increase 52,340,934
2004 Increase 30,165,197 2014 Increase 40,941,879 2024 Increase 55,926,566
2005 Increase 31,008,453 2015 Increase 44,350,247
2006 Increase 32,553,974 2016 Increase 44,584,603
2007 Increase 33,740,416 2017 Decrease 44,071,313
2008 Increase 34,063,531 2018 Increase 45,044,312
2009 Decrease 33,886,025 2019 Increase 45,924,466

Accidents and incidents

[edit]
The aftermath of RED Air Flight 203 in June 2022
  • On January 22, 1952, an Aerodex Lockheed Model 18 Lodestar on a test flight crashed after takeoff due to engine failure; all 5 occupants were killed.[160]
  • On August 4, 1952, a Curtiss C-46 Commando on a ferry flight crashed on approach to MIA because of the failure of the elevator control system; all 4 occupants died.[161]
  • On March 25, 1958, Braniff International Airways Flight 971, a Douglas DC-7 crashed 5 km (3.1 mi) WNW of MIA after attempting to return to the airport because of an engine fire crashing into an open marsh; 9 passengers out of 24 on board were killed.[162]
  • On October 2, 1959, a Vickers Viscount of Cubana de Aviación was hijacked on a flight from Havana to Antonio Maceo Airport, Santiago by three men demanding to be taken to the United States. The aircraft landed at Miami International Airport.[163]
  • On February 12, 1963, Northwest Airlines Flight 705, a Boeing 720, crashed into the Everglades while en route from Miami to Portland, Oregon, via Chicago O'Hare, Spokane, and Seattle. All 43 passengers and crew died.
  • On February 13, 1965, an Aerolíneas de El Salvador (AESA) Curtiss C-46 Commando, a cargo flight, had an engine failure shortly after takeoff and crashed into an automobile junkyard, killing both occupants.[164]
  • On March 5, 1965, a Fruehaf Inc. Lockheed Model 18 Lodestar nosed down after takeoff due to elevator trim tab problems, and both occupants were killed.[165]
  • On June 23, 1969, a Dominicana de Aviación Aviation Traders Carvair, a modified DC-4, en route to Santo Domingo was circling back to Miami International Airport with an engine fire when it crashed into buildings 1 mile (1.6 km) short of Runway 27. All 4 crewmembers aboard the Carvair and 6 on the ground were killed.[166]
  • On April 14, 1970, an Ecuatoriana de Aviacion Douglas DC-7, a cargo flight, crashed after takeoff from MIA beyond the runway and slid 890 feet (270 m) before striking a concrete abutment; both occupants were killed.[167]
  • On December 29, 1972, Eastern Air Lines Flight 401, a Lockheed L-1011, crashed into the Everglades. The plane had left JFK International Airport in New York City bound for Miami. There were 101 fatalities out of the 176 passengers and crew on board.[168] (This accident is the subject of the movie The Ghost of Flight 401.)
  • On June 21, 1973, a Warnaco Inc. Douglas DC-7, a cargo flight, crashed into the Everglades six minutes after takeoff in heavy rain, wind, and lightning. All three occupants died.[169]
  • On December 15, 1973, a Lockheed L-1049 Super Constellation operated by Aircraft Pool Leasing Corp, a cargo flight, crashed 1.3 miles (2.1 km) E of MIA because of over-rotation of the aircraft causing a stall, crashing into a parking lot and several homes; all three occupants were killed, along with six on the ground.[170]
  • On September 27, 1975, a Canadair CL-44 operated by Aerotransportes Entre Rios (AER), crashed after takeoff because of an external makeshift flight control lock on the right elevator, 4 crew and 2 passengers of the 10 on board died.[171]
  • On January 15, 1977, a Douglas DC-3, registered as N73KW of Air Sunshine crashed shortly after take-off on a domestic scheduled passenger flight to Key West International Airport, Florida. All 33 people on board survived.[172]
  • On January 6, 1990, a Grecoair Lockheed JetStar crashed after aborting takeoff and exiting the runway, One occupant of the two on board died.[173]
  • On May 11, 1996, ValuJet Airlines Flight 592, a McDonnell Douglas DC-9 crashed into the Everglades 10 minutes after taking off from MIA while en route to Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport after a fire broke out in the cargo hold, killing all 110 occupants onboard.
  • On August 7, 1997, Fine Air Flight 101, a Douglas DC-8 cargo plane, crashed onto NW 72nd Avenue less than a mile (1.6 km) from the airport. All four occupants on board and one person on the ground were killed.
  • On November 20, 2000, American Airlines Flight 1291, an Airbus A300 en route to Port-au-Prince, Haiti, returned to Miami following a cabin depressurization. During the evacuation one of the emergency exit doors explosively opened, killing a flight attendant.[174]
  • On July 1, 2002, two America West Airlines pilots operating Flight 556 to Phoenix–Sky Harbor were ordered back to the gate by air traffic control before takeoff after security agents notified supervisors that the men smelled of alcohol and became belligerent when they were told they were not allowed to take an open cup of coffee through the security checkpoint. Breathalyzer tests conducted after their removal from the aircraft revealed that both men had blood alcohol content in excess of the legal limit for operating a vehicle in Florida, and they were arrested by police. Investigators found that the men had been drinking at a local bar until 4:40 am, roughly six hours before the flight was scheduled to depart. They were fired by the airline the next day, later stripped of their pilot certificates, and convicted in 2005 of operating an aircraft while drunk.[175][176]
  • On December 7, 2005, passenger Rigoberto Alpizar was killed by federal air marshals after frantically exiting an American Airlines flight to Orlando during boarding with a backpack strapped to his chest. The air marshals, who said they had heard Alpizar declare he had a bomb, confronted him in the jetway and shot him after he ignored their commands to stop moving and reached into the backpack. This was the first case of federal air marshals opening fire on a suspect after the September 11 attacks.[177]
  • On September 15, 2015, Qatar Airways Flight 778 to Doha overran Runway 9 during takeoff and collided with the approach lights for Runway 27. The collision, which went unnoticed during the 13.5-hour flight, tore an 18-inch (46 cm) hole in the pressure vessel of the Boeing 777-300ER aircraft just behind the rear cargo door. The crew had been confused by a printout from an onboard computer and erroneously began takeoff on Runway 9 at the intersection of Taxiway T1 rather than at the end of the runway, which trimmed roughly 1,370 m (4,490 ft) from the length of the runway available for takeoff.[178][179]
  • On June 21, 2022, RED Air Flight 203, a McDonnell Douglas MD-82 on a flight from Las Américas International Airport with 130 passengers and 10 crew, skidded off Runway 9 on landing and collided with a small glideslope equipment building, starting a fire in the right wing which was rapidly extinguished by firefighters. There were no fatalities, while 4 passengers sustained minor injuries. Crew and passengers reported the aircraft "shaking violently" after a seemingly routine landing, and skid marks on the runway showed that the left main landing gear had shimmied heavily before turning 90° outboard and collapsing. Airline records indicated that the left main landing gear shimmy damper had a history of hydraulic fluid leaks but had passed recent maintenance checks. The accident was attributed to ineffective shimmy dampening of the left main landing gear, but the reason for the poor dampening could not be verified, as damage from the crash "precluded evaluation of whether the damper was properly serviced."[180]
  • On January 18, 2024, Atlas Air Flight 095, a cargo Boeing 747-87UF registered as N859GT, en route to San Juan, experienced an engine fire shortly after takeoff from Miami International Airport. The aircraft safely returned to the airport and made an emergency landing within 15 minutes of takeoff.[181]

See also

[edit]

References

[edit]
[edit]
Revisions and contributorsEdit on WikipediaRead on Wikipedia

Miami International Airport

View on Grokipedia
from Grokipedia
Miami International Airport (MIA) is a major international airport located approximately eight miles northwest of downtown Miami in , spanning 3,230 acres and serving as the primary U.S. gateway to . Owned and operated by the Miami-Dade County government through its Aviation Department, MIA was established in 1928 when Pan American Airways relocated its operations from to Miami, marking the beginning of its evolution from a modest airfield known as Pan American Field into one of the world's busiest hubs. In 2024, MIA handled 55,926,566 total passengers, ranking it as the 10th busiest airport in the United States and 27th worldwide, with 25,164,335 international passengers placing it second in the U.S. and 34th globally for that category. The airport also leads in operations, processing 3,008,715 U.S. tons of total (third in the U.S. and sixth worldwide) and 2,533,849 U.S. tons of international (first in the U.S. and fifth worldwide). As of February 2026, MIA offers nonstop flights from approximately 198-200 airports in 189 cities across 63 countries, including about 87 domestic U.S. airports. American Airlines operates the most nonstop routes to MIA, followed by carriers like Delta, United, and others. Major domestic origins include Atlanta (ATL), New York (LGA/JFK/EWR), Chicago (ORD), Dallas-Fort Worth (DFW), Los Angeles (LAX), and Boston (BOS). Key international origins include Bogotá (BOG), Panama City (PTY), London (LHR), São Paulo (GRU), Mexico City (MEX), and Toronto (YYZ), with maintaining its third-largest hub there to facilitate extensive connectivity to the . Beyond its operational scale, MIA generates an annual economic impact of $181.4 billion and supports 843,000 jobs in the region, underscoring its role as a vital economic engine for . The airport features modern infrastructure, including three terminals (North, Central, and South) connected by an elevated Skytrain , and ongoing expansions to enhance capacity for growing international traffic. As of February 2026, MIA continues to rank among the top global airports for both passenger volume and freight throughput, reflecting its strategic importance in international .

History

Early development

Miami International Airport originated in 1928 when Pan American Airways acquired a 116-acre tract along Northwest 36th Street to establish Pan American Field, serving as the airline's base for pioneering international flights to . The airfield opened on September 15, 1928, with the departure of a amphibian aircraft on the first scheduled service to , carrying mail and two passengers; this facility supported both landplane and early operations through its initial infrastructure. Featuring a $50,000 passenger terminal designed by Delano and Aldrich, two hard-surfaced runways, and two hangars, Pan American Field quickly became a hub for transcontinental , handling 8,600 passengers and 20 tons of cargo by 1930. In the early 1930s, as additional carriers like National Airlines began operations, the site was renamed 36th Street Airport to reflect its growing multi-airline role. Expansions included a $250,000 upgrade in 1940. During , the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers constructed the adjacent Miami Army Airfield in 1943 on 1,400 acres to the south, which trained over 114,000 pilots at its peak and included extensive infrastructure for . Following the war's end in , the City of established a to oversee ; by 1947, it acquired Pan American Field and the former military airfield, merging them into a unified complex that was officially named Miami International Airport (MIA). The 's 1951 annexation of significant acreage west of expanded the airport to 2,878 acres, enhancing capacity and preparing for surging passenger volumes amid the boom. Postwar growth spurred further rapid expansions, positioning MIA as the world's largest aircraft overhaul facility by 1949. The airport embraced the with National Airlines inaugurating scheduled passenger jet service on December 10, 1958, using a leased 707 aircraft. A pivotal development occurred on February 1, 1959, with the opening of a new centralized terminal complex at Northwest 20th Street and LeJeune Road, incorporating the first dedicated international arrivals building; this state-of-the-art facility, complete with five concourses and a two-level roadway, processed 4.2 million passengers in alone.

Major hub establishments

In the late , Miami International Airport (MIA) solidified its status as a key aviation hub through the transition of major carriers. Eastern , which had operated a primary hub at MIA since focusing on Latin American routes, faced severe financial difficulties culminating in its Chapter 11 bankruptcy filing on March 9, 1989. Following the bankruptcy, acquired many of Eastern's lucrative Latin and South American routes, enabling it to establish its own major hub at MIA in September 1989. This shift prompted immediate operational changes, including the reallocation of gates from Eastern's former spaces in the Central Terminal to ' preferred locations and subsequent expansions to accommodate growing traffic. Other airlines also pursued hub operations at MIA during this period, enhancing its international connectivity. In 1991, following Pan American World Airways' bankruptcy, acquired Pan Am's remaining Latin American routes and briefly established a hub at MIA in the early 1990s, operating from Concourse F before scaling back in the mid-1990s due to competitive pressures. Concurrently, MIA emerged as a vital focus point for Latin American carriers, with airlines like increasing operations to leverage the airport's strategic position for U.S.-bound flights from and beyond. To support these hub developments, MIA underwent targeted infrastructure adaptations. The eastern section, which opened in 1995 as Concourse A and was later incorporated into Concourse D dedicated primarily to international flights and , was part of a broader expansion to handle surging transborder traffic. Later, in 2007, the $1.1 billion South Terminal, including Concourse J, was completed to serve low-cost and international carriers, adding 16 and improving capacity for regional operations without disrupting main hub activities. These hub establishments transformed MIA into the preeminent U.S. gateway to , driving substantial economic growth. By the 2010s, the 's operations generated an annual economic impact of approximately $32 billion for the region, supporting over 280,000 jobs and handling more international freight to Latin destinations than any other U.S. . This role solidified Miami's position as a critical bridge for trade, , and connectivity across the .

Recent expansions and future plans

In 2019, Miami International Airport initiated a comprehensive $9 billion transformation program, known as the Future-Ready Modernization in Action (M.I.A.) plan, aimed at upgrading facilities to handle surging passenger and cargo demands. This initiative includes the completion of the North Terminal's expansion and renovation by 2027, which will feature upgraded security systems, new boarding areas, and enhanced passenger flow. As part of the South Terminal's $600 million expansion into Concourse K, with on June 24, 2025, and completion by 2029, the outdated Concourse G is undergoing demolition to make way for six new gates, improved baggage handling, and better connectivity. To support ongoing infrastructure needs, the airport broke ground in February 2024 on a $136 million expansion of the Flamingo parking garage, adding 2,240 spaces and set for completion by late 2025, which will alleviate congestion amid rising traffic. In September 2025, Miami-Dade County finalized a land acquisition deal to repossess two county-owned hangars from their tenant, enabling their demolition and providing additional space for future projects like expansions and support facilities. Looking ahead, the modernization efforts are designed to boost the airport's capacity to 77 million annual passengers and 4 million tons of cargo by 2040, incorporating sustainable features such as energy-efficient systems and expanded green spaces. Key components include the development of new on-site hotels, like a $350 million Westin property, to enhance traveler amenities, and a three-level expansion at Gate D60 adding 19 regional jet gates with new concessions and boarding areas. These developments have contributed to recent accolades, including Miami International Airport being named 's most-improved mega airport for in the 2025 Airport Satisfaction Study, reflecting gains in areas like terminal facilities and staff efficiency. The airport also achieved a record 55.9 million passengers in 2024, a 7% increase from the prior year, underscoring the effectiveness of these investments in sustaining growth.

Facilities and infrastructure

Passenger terminals and concourses

Miami International Airport features three main passenger terminals—North, Central, and —organized around six concourses (D, E, F, G, H, and J) with a total of 131 gates to accommodate domestic and international flights. The terminals are connected on the third level via moving walkways, facilitating efficient passenger movement between them, while the MIA Mover automated provides access from the Central Terminal to the Rental Car Center. Each terminal handles specific operations and passenger flows, with the North Terminal primarily serving international arrivals and departures, the Central Terminal focusing on a mix of domestic and international services, and the Terminal dedicated to low-cost carriers and regional flights. The North Terminal, encompassing Concourse D, spans 3.8 million square feet and includes 51 gates, making it the largest and busiest area for international operations. It is predominantly used by and its partners for international flights to , , and beyond, with facilities including a Federal Inspection Station processing up to 2,000 passengers per hour across 72 check lanes and automated control kiosks. Key features include the Skytrain, an elevated automated rail system with four stations that transports passengers along the 2,000-foot concourse at speeds up to 25 mph, reducing walking time significantly. Amenities in Concourse D feature over 166,000 square feet of concessions space with 118 food, beverage, retail, and duty-free outlets; airline lounges such as the Admirals Club; and cultural elements like the Wall of Honor, a memorial installation dedicated to military personnel. A multi-sensory room for travelers with autism or sensory sensitivities is also available post-security. The Central Terminal consists of Concourses E, F, and G, offering 50 gates in total (18 in E, 16 in F, and 16 in G) and serving a blend of domestic and international carriers. Concourse E handles American Airlines and select Latin American routes, while F and G accommodate United Airlines and other domestic operators, with F also featuring cruise line counters for integrated travel services. Passenger facilities include expanded concessions areas with diverse dining options, VIP lounges in each concourse, and the MIA Hotel accessible airside in Terminal E for overnight stays. Art installations, such as rotating exhibits from the Miami-Dade County Department of Cultural Affairs, enhance the environment across these concourses, promoting cultural engagement for travelers. The South Terminal, with Concourses H and J providing 30 gates, is designed for efficiency and primarily supports low-cost carriers like and , along with regional commuter operations and Delta Air Lines. Spanning 1.7 million square feet, it includes a Federal Inspection Facility with kiosks and processes up to 2,000 passengers hourly. Amenities comprise 60,000 square feet of concessions with 61 outlets focused on quick-service dining and retail, plus unique features like the Jetsetter Spa and a room in Terminal H for passenger relaxation. Concourse H (referred to as Terminal H in some contexts) hosts the Delta Sky Club, the primary Delta lounge at MIA and the only Delta-operated lounge in Concourse H, accessible to eligible Delta Sky Club members, certain credit card holders, and premium cabin passengers on Delta or SkyTeam flights. Lounges such as the Escape Lounge are available, and the terminal's design emphasizes streamlined flow for budget travelers. Recent upgrades under the $9 billion MIA Future Ready modernization program have enhanced passenger experience across all terminals, including the installation of 15 new conveyance units such as escalators and elevators in 2025 to improve and reduce wait times. Airlines provide free wheelchair and mobility assistance services as required by the Air Carrier Access Act, though delays may occur during peak times; wheelchair charging stations for electric mobility devices are available in concourses D, E, F, G, H, and J, as well as pre-security areas. For additional assistance with security screening, passengers may contact TSA Cares at least 72 hours in advance. Further accessibility information is available on the airport's myMIAccess page. Additionally, ongoing expansions, such as the new Concourse K in the South Terminal with six domestic gates, aim to add capacity without disrupting current operations.

Runways and airfield

Miami International Airport features four runways configured primarily for east-west operations, with two parallel runways serving as the main corridors for arrivals and departures, supplemented by a third offset parallel runway and a runway for variable wind conditions. The primary parallel runways are 08L/26R, measuring 8,600 feet in length by 150 feet wide, and 08R/26L, at 10,506 feet long by 200 feet wide; both are constructed of grooved asphalt to enhance traction and wet-weather performance. Adjacent to these is runway 09/27, the longest at 13,016 feet by 150 feet, also grooved asphalt, which is frequently used for heavy departures due to its length accommodating long-haul international flights. The runway 12/30 provides flexibility for operations in non-prevailing winds, spanning 9,360 feet by 150 feet with a grooved asphalt surface. The airfield supports a high volume of traffic, handling over 1,300 aircraft operations daily on average, with peak capacity reaching up to 100 operations per hour under through optimized arrival and departure procedures. To mitigate environmental impacts, the airport implements abatement procedures, including specific departure tracks for and nighttime operations in both east and west flow configurations, as coordinated by the Miami-Dade Department. Recent environmental assessments, such as the 2023 Final Environmental Assessment for proposed aircraft flight procedure changes, evaluated potential and impacts from updated RNAV routes and arrival procedures to balance efficiency and community concerns. Taxiway infrastructure has undergone significant enhancements for improved aircraft movement and safety, particularly under the airport's 2019 capital improvement program, which included the rehabilitation of Taxiways T and S—critical for cargo access—with new pavement and lighting systems, alongside the realignment of Taxiway R to reduce congestion and enhance flow between runways and terminals. These upgrades contribute to overall airfield efficiency by minimizing taxi times and supporting the high-density operations at this major international gateway. Air traffic control at Miami International Airport is managed from a dedicated tower standing 333 feet tall, completed in 2002 to provide unobstructed visibility over the expansive airfield and surrounding . The facility employs advanced systems, including the Airport Surface Detection , Model X (ASDE-X), which integrates multilateration and data to monitor ground movements and prevent runway incursions in real time.

Cargo and ground support facilities

Miami International Airport features cargo facilities equipped to handle up to 3 million tons of freight annually, supporting its position as the leading U.S. gateway for international air cargo. This infrastructure includes 24 dedicated cargo buildings totaling 2.8 million square feet of warehouse space and 5.4 million square feet of apron area, with 74 aircraft parking positions optimized for freighter operations near the runways. Key operators such as the Miami Free Zone, a designated Foreign-Trade Zone magnet site, facilitate efficient customs processing and duty deferrals for importers and exporters. In 2024, the airport announced a $400 million private for a new facility, the Vertically Integrated Community (VICC), scheduled to open in 2029 and enhancing handling for high-volume international shipments. Additional specialized facilities include a Centralized Clearance for U.S. Customs and Border Protection documentation and an APHIS-approved site for agricultural and veterinary import/export inspections. These assets handled a record 3,008,715 tons of in 2024, with 84% consisting of international freight. Ground support infrastructure at the airport encompasses hangars, storage and distribution systems, and de-icing capabilities to ensure operational reliability. Multiple , repair, and overhaul (MRO) providers operate on-site, including FEAM Aero's expanded facility with space for line and heavy checks, relocated in July 2025. A new $50 million broke ground in March 2024, providing additional capacity for aircraft modifications and work. farms are managed by Allied Aviation Services, which has handled into-plane fueling and system operations since 2004. De-icing services, though less frequently required in South Florida's climate, are available through ground handling providers equipped for . In May 2025, the Miami-Dade County Board approved a $600.6 million expansion of the South Terminal, including new Concourse K with six gates, a dedicated maintenance facility, and improved baggage handling systems, scheduled for completion in 2029. These enhancements integrate with the airport's broader $9 billion capital improvement program, aimed at supporting projected growth to over 4 million tons of annual by 2040.

Ground transportation

Road access and parking

Miami International Airport (MIA) is primarily accessed by vehicle via LeJeune Road (State Road 953), a major north-south artery that runs alongside the airport's western boundary, providing direct entry points to the terminals and parking facilities. Perimeter Road serves as an internal loop road encircling the airfield, facilitating access for ground operations, employee shuttles, and limited public entry from LeJeune Road, though portions may be restricted for during or events. These roads connect to broader highway networks, including Interstate 95 (I-95) via the tolled Airport Expressway (SR 112) for northern and southern routes, and the Turnpike through the tolled Dolphin Expressway (SR 836), enabling efficient travel from downtown Miami, Miami Beach, and southern regions. Parking at MIA encompasses a network of on-site garages and surface lots offering over 8,200 spaces for passengers, employees, and visitors, including short-term, long-term, , and options in the and Flamingo Garages, as well as remote lots with shuttle service. In early 2024, construction began on a $136 million expansion of the Flamingo Garage, adding 2,240 spaces across seven levels to accommodate growing demand, with completion scheduled for winter 2025–2026; this project includes features like automated guidance systems and dedicated areas for oversized and accessible vehicles. A cell phone waiting lot with 60 free spaces is available off LeJeune Road for drivers picking up passengers, helping reduce congestion at the terminals. Ride-sharing services such as and operate from designated pickup zones on the arrivals level (Level 1) outside the baggage claim areas of each terminal, with drop-offs permitted on the departures level (Level 2); drivers must follow airport signage to avoid fines for unauthorized staging. The Rental Car Center, housing counters for major providers, is located off-site at 3900 NW 25th Street and accessible via the free MIA Mover train from Level 3 between the Dolphin and Flamingo Garages, with road entry via the Dolphin Expressway (SR 836) for returning vehicles. To manage heavy traffic volumes, MIA leverages express toll lanes on SR 112 and SR 836, which provide expedited access during peak hours, while LeJeune Road offers a toll-free alternative for local approaches; these infrastructure elements integrate with public transit options like shuttles for seamless multimodal connectivity.

Public transit and other options

Public transit options provide convenient access to Miami International Airport (MIA), primarily through connections at the Miami Intermodal Center (MIC), which serves as a hub for multiple modes. The Metrorail Orange Line offers direct rail service from downtown Miami and other areas to the MIA Station at the MIC, with the line extending 2.4 miles from Earlington Heights Station. From there, passengers can transfer to the free MIA Mover, an automated people mover that operates every 15-30 minutes from 6 a.m. to 11:40 p.m., connecting the MIC directly to the airport terminals and Rental Car Center in about five minutes; the MIA Mover is wheelchair-accessible, while the Metrorail costs $2.25 one-way via EASY Card. Metrobus services operated by link various neighborhoods to the MIA Station at the MIC, with drop-offs and pick-ups on the ground level east side. Representative routes include the 150 Airport Express, which runs from along Alton Road and the ; Route 7, connecting to Sweetwater, Mall, and downtown; and Route 37, serving Hialeah and South Miami. Intercity bus travel is available via at the MIC, located at 3801 NW 21st Street, offering nationwide connections adjacent to the and stations for seamless transfers via the MIA Mover. All Metrobus fares are $2.25, with service available seven days a week. Alternative access includes paths and facilities, such as secure bike racks and at the MIC and stations, supporting commuters from nearby areas. Designated bridges and sidewalks facilitate walking from adjacent hotels or the Rental Car Center to terminals. Numerous hotels near MIA provide complimentary shuttle services, picking up and dropping off at curbside zones on the departures level (Level 2) at doors 5, 6, 7, 10, 11, 14, 22, 28, and 29. In preparation for hosting matches of the , Miami-Dade County and the City of Miami have allocated $46 million toward infrastructure enhancements, including transportation upgrades to improve public transit capacity and connectivity around MIA and event venues. These efforts aim to accommodate increased passenger volumes, potentially involving expanded shuttle operations and route optimizations, though specific airport-linked projects remain in planning phases; however, the funding has faced controversy, with some county commissioners calling for its halt in mid-2025 to redirect resources to local priorities.

Airlines and destinations

Passenger airlines

Miami International Airport (MIA) serves as a major gateway for passenger airlines, with approximately 50 carriers operating nonstop flights to approximately 200 destinations worldwide as of February 2026. American Airlines operates the most nonstop routes to MIA, followed by carriers like Delta and United, dominates operations, holding approximately 57% of the market share and functioning as a primary hub for connections to . The airline operates from Concourses D and E, offering extensive domestic and international services that underscore MIA's role as a key U.S. entry point for South American traffic. As of February 2026, MIA has nonstop service from approximately 198-200 airports in 189 cities across 63 countries, including about 87 domestic U.S. airports. Major domestic origins include Atlanta (ATL), New York (LGA/JFK/EWR), Chicago (ORD), Dallas-Fort Worth (DFW), Los Angeles (LAX), and Boston (BOS). Key international origins include Bogotá (BOG), Panama City (PTY), London (LHR), São Paulo (GRU), Mexico City (MEX), and Toronto (YYZ). Other prominent passenger airlines include , which provides significant connectivity to from H/J; , a major carrier for Central and South American routes also based in H/J; and , focusing on U.S. domestic and select international flights from the same concourse. Low-cost carriers like and contribute to domestic and short-haul international options, primarily from Concourse F, while operates from Concourse G with a mix of U.S. and Latin American services. These airlines collectively emphasize MIA's strategic position for regional travel, with a strong emphasis on leisure and business routes to nearby destinations. The airport's nonstop network spans approximately 189 cities across 63 countries, with a particular concentration on and the as of February 2026. Major domestic origins include Atlanta (ATL), New York (LGA/JFK/EWR), Chicago (ORD), Dallas-Fort Worth (DFW), Los Angeles (LAX), and Boston (BOS). Key international origins include Bogotá (BOG), Panama City (PTY), London (LHR), São Paulo (GRU), Mexico City (MEX), and Toronto (YYZ). This connectivity supports MIA's status as the second-busiest U.S. for international passengers, facilitating , , and family travel in the . Recent expansions have enhanced long-haul options: launched its first nonstop service from MIA to Rome Fiumicino (FCO) in summer 2025, operated seasonally with aircraft, and plans year-round flights to Malpensa (MXP) starting March 2026 using 787-8s. Aeroméxico added daily nonstop service from MIA to (CUN) on December 19, 2024, using 8 aircraft, increasing its operations to 10 daily flights. Major airline alliances are well-represented at MIA, bolstering global connectivity through codeshare agreements and frequent-flyer partnerships. anchors the alliance, enabling seamless transfers to partners like LATAM and Iberia for and . members, including and , provide robust links to , , and from their respective concourses. affiliates, such as Delta and , further diversify options for transatlantic and transpacific routes.

Cargo carriers

Miami International Airport serves as a primary hub for dedicated operations, with major operators including LATAM Cargo, , and , which collectively manage significant volumes of freight, particularly perishables such as flowers and produce, as well as electronics originating from . LATAM Cargo, operating as a key connector for South American shipments, handles perishables and high-value goods through its freighter services at MIA, supporting regional trade flows. provides long-haul capacity from , facilitating the transport of electronics and other time-sensitive to and from Latin American origins. focuses on express freight, including perishables and items from , leveraging MIA's position as the leading U.S. gateway for international . In 2024, MIA processed a record 3 million tons of , underscoring its role as the top international freight in the United States, with operations enhanced by a new $400 million vertical facility approved for development by Miami Gateway Partners, set to boost overall capacity by at least 50% upon completion in 2029 and enable greater for handling and storage. This expansion will increase the 's total throughput potential to a minimum of 4.5 million tons annually, supporting efficient processing of diverse freight types. Key cargo routes from MIA connect to major destinations in , such as via , across through LATAM Cargo's network in countries like and , and intra-regional hubs in and the serviced by , enabling rapid distribution of Latin American exports to global markets. These routes emphasize MIA's strategic focus on international freight, with over 84% of cargo being international in nature. Cargo operations utilize dedicated aprons for freighter parking and loading, accommodating over 35 all-cargo carriers, alongside the airport's designation as a Foreign-Trade Zone (FTZ No. 281), which streamlines processing by allowing deferred duties on imports and exports, particularly beneficial for perishables and transiting through Latin American gateways. Passenger airlines like also operate cargo subsidiaries at MIA, contributing to overall freight capacity through belly-hold services.

Traffic and statistics

Annual passenger and cargo traffic

Miami International Airport (MIA) has seen remarkable growth in traffic over the decades, evolving from annual volumes of around 25 million in the mid-1990s to a record 55.9 million s in 2024, reflecting a 7% year-over-year increase from 2023. This marked the third consecutive year of record totals, following 52.3 million in 2023 and underscoring MIA's position as one of the fastest-growing major U.S. airports, with an average of 152,805 daily s in 2024. The surge is driven by strong international demand, which accounted for 45% of and rose 8.4% to 25.2 million s, alongside a 5.6% increase in domestic travel to 30.7 million. The caused a sharp decline, with passenger numbers plummeting 59.4% to 18.7 million in 2020 due to global travel restrictions, representing one of the most severe drops among major U.S. hubs. Recovery was swift and robust, fueled by pent-up demand and expanded routes; by 2023, volumes had rebounded to exceed pre-pandemic levels of 45.9 million in 2019, achieving full restoration and surpassing prior benchmarks. In the first half of 2025, MIA handled 28.5 million passengers, a 1.4% decline from the same period in 2024. Cargo operations at MIA have also expanded steadily, reaching a record 3 million tons in 2024, a 9% increase from 2023 and the fifth consecutive year of growth. This upward trend persisted even through the , with demand playing a pivotal role in sustaining and accelerating freight volumes, particularly for high-value goods like and perishables, where international comprised 84% of the total. The airport's strategic as a gateway to has bolstered its role as the top U.S. hub for international air freight. Looking ahead, MIA's ongoing $7.4 billion modernization and expansion program is designed to accommodate projected growth to over 70 million annually by 2030, enhancing capacity through terminal redesigns and infrastructure upgrades to support sustained increases in both and .

Top destinations and market shares

Miami International Airport serves as a primary gateway for to and from the , with leading routes connecting to key domestic and international hubs. Among the top destinations by volume in 2024 are New York (), (Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport), and São Paulo (), reflecting the airport's strong ties to major U.S. East Coast cities and South American markets. comprises approximately 60% of MIA's international , underscoring its role as the leading U.S. hub for regional connectivity. Airline market shares at MIA are dominated by , which accounted for 55.9% of enplaned passengers in fiscal year 2024, benefiting from its position as the airport's primary hub. LATAM Airlines holds a 2.9% share, particularly on n routes, while other carriers such as (6.6%) and (3.8%) contribute to a fragmented remainder. In the cargo sector, leads operations, supported by dedicated freighter services and the airport's focus on perishable goods and from , with total cargo tonnage reaching 3 million tons in 2024.
AirlinePassenger Market Share (FY2024)
55.9%
2.9%
6.6%
Others34.6%
The airport plays a vital economic role in , supporting 843,000 direct, indirect, and induced jobs statewide and generating an annual economic impact of $181.4 billion through travel, cargo handling, and related industries. In 2024, MIA ranked second among U.S. airports for international , handling 25.2 million international travelers amid a total of 55.9 million s.

Sustainability and environmental impact

Environmental concerns

Aircraft emissions from operations at Miami International Airport (MIA) contribute to local air quality challenges, including elevated levels of particulate matter and precursors to formation. As a major hub handling over 55 million passengers annually as of 2024, the airport's jet engines, , and auxiliary power units release nitrogen oxides, volatile organic compounds, and fine particles that exacerbate regional pollution, particularly in non-attainment areas for fine particulate matter under . Miami-Dade County's air quality reports indicate persistent high particle pollution days, with sources like MIA playing a role in these exceedances, affecting respiratory in surrounding urban areas. Noise pollution from aircraft takeoffs, landings, and ground operations significantly impacts nearby communities, including residential areas in Miami Springs and West Miami. Residents frequently report disturbances from low-flying planes, leading to sleep disruptions, increased stress, and reduced quality of life, with noise levels often exceeding 65 decibels in affected zones. Advocacy efforts, such as those led by local representatives, highlight how MIA's flight paths concentrate sound over densely populated neighborhoods, prompting calls for federal intervention to address these persistent community concerns. Ongoing Noise Abatement Advisory Board meetings in 2025 continue to address these issues. Stormwater runoff at MIA carries potential contaminants, including aviation fuels and maintenance chemicals, into the Biscayne Aquifer and adjacent waterways like . Historical leaks from underground storage tanks have contaminated , necessitating the recovery of over 100,000 gallons of products and treatment of 1 million tons of since 1993, with ongoing risks from impervious surfaces increasing transport during heavy rains. The airport's proximity to sensitive coastal ecosystems amplifies these concerns, as untreated runoff can degrade and harm marine habitats in the bay. MIA's location near the , approximately five miles west, raises habitat disruption issues from light, noise, and air emissions that can affect corridors and in the surrounding wetlands. Operations contribute to broader ecological pressures on the ecosystem, including altered migration patterns for birds and potential contamination of canals that connect to the park. Additionally, airport activities form a notable portion of Miami-Dade County's through fuel combustion and energy use, underscoring the facility's role in regional climate impacts. The (FAA) conducts environmental assessments for MIA's flight procedures to evaluate and mitigate these impacts, including noise and emissions from route changes. Such reviews ensure compliance with the , though community groups continue to scrutinize their effectiveness in addressing ongoing concerns.

Sustainability initiatives

Miami International Airport (MIA) achieved Level 1 (Mapping) in the Airport Carbon Accreditation program from on August 1, 2024, recognizing its efforts to systematically measure and manage carbon emissions. As part of Miami-Dade County's Climate Action Strategy, MIA has committed to reducing its by 50% by 2030, focusing on improvements in , electricity usage, and vehicle . This accreditation highlights MIA's initial mapping of emissions sources, with plans to advance to Level 2 (Reduction) in the near future. Key green projects at MIA include a $130 million initiative to renovate the terminal roof with panels by 2030, building on an existing 402-panel array installed in 2020 that generates 160 kW of clean energy. As of 2025, the project has progressed to installing nearly 900 solar panels on 420,000 square feet of roof space, expected to produce over 636,000 kWh of clean energy annually. Additionally, a $45 million Phase II Sustainability Project completed in 2020 retrofitted lighting systems with energy-efficient LEDs, eliminating mercury vapor lamps and saving approximately $3.2 million annually in utility costs while preventing 165 tons of CO2 emissions each year. The airport has also transitioned to , including the acquisition of its first four all-electric units in 2023 and further under a $547 million contract for zero-emissions equipment and infrastructure upgrades over 20 years. Expansions in charging stations continue as part of parking and modernization projects in 2025. In November 2025, began using sustainable (SAF) at MIA, taking delivery of around three million gallons of blended SAF at a 30% blend minimum, supporting reduced carbon emissions in cargo operations. In October 2025, MIA received $94 million in FAA grants for modernization projects, including upgrades that enhance . To prevent , MIA implements comprehensive programs that divert from landfills, including dedicated collection for materials like pallets and recyclables in operational areas, as outlined in its environmental policies. The airport manages wastewater through best management practices that promote separation of streams for treatment and , minimizing environmental discharge. The "Fly at MIA" program educates tenants, passengers, and staff on sustainable practices, such as using reusable water bottles at refill stations, opting for e-tickets, and choosing public transit or electric vehicles. Updates to Concourse E in November 2025 incorporate greener design elements to support these efforts. MIA collaborates with (FPL) on energy efficiency measures, including upgrades to chilled-water systems and pumps that reduce consumption in high-energy areas like and HVAC. This partnership also supports expansions in EV charging infrastructure, with stations available throughout the airport premises to encourage low-emission travel.

Safety and incidents

Major accidents and incidents

One of the most tragic incidents involving occurred on December 29, 1972, when , a en route from New York to MIA, crashed into the Florida Everglades approximately 18 miles from the airport during its approach. The accident resulted in 101 fatalities out of 176 people on board, with the determining the probable cause as crew distraction from troubleshooting a faulty nose landing gear indicator light, leading to a failure to monitor the aircraft's altitude and an inadvertent descent into the swamp. This event highlighted critical issues in cockpit resource management and contributed to widespread changes in aviation training protocols. Another devastating crash associated with MIA took place on May 11, 1996, involving ValuJet Airlines Flight 592, a McDonnell Douglas DC-9 that departed the airport bound for Atlanta but plummeted into the Everglades about 10 minutes after takeoff. All 110 occupants perished, and the NTSB investigation concluded that the cause was an in-flight fire ignited by improperly packaged and stored chemical oxygen generators in the cargo hold, which led to smoke inhalation, loss of control, and structural failure. The incident prompted stricter regulations on hazardous materials handling by airlines and the FAA grounded ValuJet temporarily, ultimately leading to its merger with AirTran Airways. On August 7, 1997, , a Douglas DC-8-61 cargo aircraft, stalled and crashed shortly after departing runway 27R at MIA en route to , . The accident killed all three crew members on board and one person on the ground, with the NTSB attributing the cause to improper cargo loading that shifted the center of gravity aft, causing a loss of pitch control during rotation. This event underscored deficiencies in cargo loading oversight and resulted in FAA directives for enhanced weight-and-balance verification procedures for freight operations. In more recent years, operational incidents at MIA have generally resulted in no fatalities but have still posed significant risks. On June 21, 2022, , a McDonnell Douglas MD-82 from , experienced a left main collapse upon touchdown on 09, leading to a , the veering into grass, and a subsequent . The 140 passengers and 11 crew members evacuated safely with minor injuries, and the NTSB's preliminary findings pointed to a mechanical failure in the landing gear assembly as the initiating factor, with ongoing investigation into maintenance records. A notable engine-related incident occurred on January 18, 2024, when Flight 5Y095, a 747-8F cargo plane bound for , suffered an fire shortly after departing MIA. The crew shut down the affected and returned safely for an with no injuries, but the NTSB's final report in October 2024 identified the cause as an improperly installed inspection plug during recent , which detached in flight and damaged the . In September 2025, Flight 1399, a 737-832 headed to , encountered a strike that damaged one during initial climb from MIA on September 13. The aircraft circled to burn off fuel before making a safe emergency return landing, with all passengers and crew uninjured; the FAA and NTSB initiated reviews of at the airport, though full investigation details remain pending as of November 2025. While these represent the major accidents and incidents directly tied to operations at or near MIA, the airport has experienced limited other minor events, such as ground vehicle collisions and small-scale mechanical issues, none resulting in fatalities in recent decades.

Security measures and emergency response

Miami International Airport (MIA) employs comprehensive security measures managed primarily by the (TSA), including advanced imaging technology and behavioral detection programs tailored to its status as one of the busiest U.S. airports. TSA checkpoints utilize computed (CT) scanners, which generate 3D images for enhanced , allowing passengers to keep items like laptops and liquids in carry-ons during screening. In July 2025, MIA implemented new credential authentication technology scanners that permit most U.S. travelers without to keep shoes on, streamlining high-volume processing for the airport's over 50 million annual passengers. Behavioral detection officers observe passengers for suspicious indicators, a program bolstered by MIA's pioneering requirement since 2006 to train all 35,000 employees—including janitors and ground staff—in spotting unusual behavior to mitigate insider threats. High-volume protocols include real-time wait time monitoring and recommendations to arrive two hours early for domestic flights and three hours for international ones, with expedited options like CLEAR available at key checkpoints. Post-9/11 enhancements at MIA have fortified perimeter security and access controls to maintain sterile areas—secure zones beyond checkpoints inaccessible without screening. The airport features robust perimeter fencing integrated with a $6 million Perimeter Intrusion Detection System (PIDS) deployed in 2024, combining fiber-optic sensors, laser walls, infrared cameras, , and CCTV for real-time breach alerts, enabling rapid response. K-9 units from the Miami-Dade Police Department's Airport District patrol for explosives and narcotics, undergoing regular certification drills, such as the November 2023 bomb detection exercise involving multiple canines. Employee screening occurs at four dedicated checkpoints to prevent unauthorized access to sterile areas, a measure expanded after 9/11 to include badge checks and random inspections for all personnel entering secure zones. Emergency response at MIA is handled by the Miami-Dade Fire Rescue Department's Aviation Division, which maintains Aircraft Rescue and Firefighting (ARFF) capabilities certified under FAA standards. The division operates from two stations at MIA (Stations 12 and 59), staffing 153 ARFF personnel and a fleet including at least three foam tenders (FOAM 1, 2, and 3) plus multiple ARFF vehicles for rapid suppression and extrication. Response times meet the FAA's three-minute requirement for aircraft incidents, with a July 2025 demonstration by Airport Director Ralph Cutié showcasing first responders reaching a simulated plane crash site in 96 seconds. Training and drills ensure preparedness for evacuations and other threats, with MIA conducting a triennial full-scale exercise as mandated by the FAA, such as the February 2025 simulation of an inbound crash involving over 100 volunteers to test coordination with local agencies. Annual live-fire ("hot") drills train ARFF teams on fires and hazardous spills, while evacuation protocols are practiced regularly to handle the airport's high passenger throughput. Although specific cyber threat exercises are integrated into broader , MIA emphasizes multi-agency coordination for all hazards through ongoing FAA-compliant programs.

References

  1. https://www.miami-airport.com/about_us.asp
  2. https://www.miami-airport.com/history_of_mia.asp
  3. https://www.flightconnections.com/flights-to-miami-mia
  4. https://www.flightconnections.com/flights-from-miami-mia
  5. https://www.miami-airport.com/library/pdfdoc/MIA%20History%20Book%202020%20small.pdf
  6. https://simpleflying.com/eastern-air-lines-1991-shutdown/
  7. https://news.aa.com/news/news-details/2019/Miami-hub-turns-30/default.aspx
  8. https://simpleflying.com/united-airlines-former-hubs/
  9. https://www.miami-airport.com/airline-information.asp
  10. https://www.airport-technology.com/projects/miami/
  11. http://www.bizjournals.com/southflorida/stories/2007/09/10/story2.html
  12. https://news.miami-airport.com/mia-and-portmiami-fuel-miami-dades-economy-with-record-2428-billion-impact/
  13. https://www.futuretravelexperience.com/2019/06/miami-international-airport-to-invest-5-billion-in-modernisation-projects/
  14. https://news.miami-airport.com/miami-dade-county-mayor-announces-mias-record-growth-in-2024-and-provides-modernization-plan-update/
  15. https://www.miami-airport.com/CIP_terminal_projects.asp
  16. https://simpleflying.com/miami-officials-proposals-expand-south-terminal/
  17. https://news.miami-airport.com/mayor-daniella-levine-cava-launches-groundbreaking-at-mia-unveils-plans-for-new-parking-garage/
  18. https://www.miamitodaynews.com/?p=84883
  19. https://govmarketnews.com/miami-international-airport-launches-600m-terminal-expansion-to-meet-surging-demand/
  20. https://hoodline.com/2025/09/miami-international-airport-named-north-america-s-most-improved-mega-airport-in-customer-satisfaction/
  21. https://www.miami-airport.com/MIAFutureReady.asp
  22. https://www.blacklane.com/en/blog/travel/a-guide-to-miami-international-airport-mia/
  23. https://www.miami-airport.com/getting-around-mia.asp
  24. https://upgradedpoints.com/travel/airports/miami-international-mia-airport/
  25. https://www.miami-airport.com/library/pdfdoc/MIA_Passenger_Services_brochure.pdf
  26. https://www.miami-airport.com/services-and-amenities.asp
  27. https://www.delta.com/us/en/skyclub/airport-lounges/miami-mia
  28. https://secretmiami.com/miami-international-airport-modernization-plan/
  29. https://www.transportation.gov/airconsumer/air-carrier-access-act
  30. https://www.tsa.gov/tsa-cares
  31. https://www.miami-airport.com/myMIAccess.asp
  32. https://www.miami-airport.com/MIA_Concourse_K.asp
  33. https://adip.faa.gov/agis/public/#/airportData/MIA
  34. https://www.faa.gov/sites/faa.gov/files/airports/planning_capacity/profiles/MIA-Airport-Capacity-Profile-2014.pdf
  35. https://www.miami-airport.com/noise_abatement.asp
  36. https://www.miami-airport.com/mia_assessment.asp
  37. https://www.miamidade.gov/performance/library/business-plans/fy-2019-20-aviation.pdf
  38. https://aviationweek.com/special-topics/air-traffic/pictures-look-miami-intl-tower-inside-out
  39. https://www.airnav.com/airport/mia
  40. https://www.miami-airport.com/library/pdfdoc/Marketing/Cargo%20Brochure%202025.pdf
  41. https://www.miami-airport.com/library/pdfdoc/Facts%20at%20a%20Glance/Facts-at-a-Glance%20October%202025%28f%29.pdf
  42. https://www.miamidade.gov/global/release.page?Mduid_release=rel172122538126731
  43. https://feam.aero/feam-aero-expands-mia-operations-and-relocates-hq-to-mia-grounds/
  44. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2wlmv-xSDLg
  45. https://alliedaviation.com/store_location/miami-international-airport-mia/
  46. https://thenetworkplan.com/ground-handling-services-at-miami-international-airport/
  47. https://www.miamidade.gov/global/release.page?Mduid_release=rel1747754346561934
  48. https://www.aaroads.com/guides/fl-953
  49. https://news.miami-airport.com/mia-perimeter-road-detour-begins-april-3/
  50. https://www.miami-airport.com/library/pdfdoc/Rental_Car_Center_Directions.pdf
  51. https://www.miami-airport.com/library/pdfdoc/facts_at_a_glance.pdf
  52. https://www.miami-airport.com/CIP_other_projects.asp
  53. https://www.miami-airport.com/ground-transportation.asp
  54. https://www.miami-airport.com/car-rentals.asp
  55. https://tollguru.com/miami-airport-tolls
  56. https://www.miamidade.gov/global/transportation/metrorail.page
  57. https://www.miami-airport.com/public-transportation.asp
  58. https://www.miamidade.gov/global/transportation/metrobus-routes-serving-mia.page
  59. https://www.miamidade.gov/mpo/mdcfictodd/miamiintermodal_index.htm
  60. https://www.miami-airport.com/Hotel_Shuttle_Buses.asp
  61. https://onlyindade.com/local-news/miami-governments-allocate-46-m-for-world-cup-infrastructure
  62. https://www.miamiherald.com/news/local/community/miami-dade/article312892116.html
  63. https://www.miamitodaynews.com/?p=84881
  64. https://simpleflying.com/aircraft-types-most-flights-miami-international-airport/
  65. https://www.miami-airport.com/home-passenger.asp
  66. https://news.miami-airport.com/american-airlines-to-expand-miami-europe-network-in-2025/
  67. https://news.aa.com/news/news-details/2025/American-Airlines-announces-new-international-routes-for-next-summer-NET-RTS-08/default.aspx
  68. https://simpleflying.com/miami-cancun-aeromexico-boeing-737-max-8-new-route/
  69. https://www.miami-airport.com/home-cargo.asp
  70. https://www.ajot.com/premium/ajot-miami-international-seeking-to-boost-tonnage
  71. https://www.miamiherald.com/news/business/article279061879.html
  72. https://agi.aero/agi-cargo-extends-longstanding-partnership-with-latam-cargo-at-miami-hub/
  73. https://aviationweek.com/air-transport/airports-networks/private-jv-invest-400m-build-operate-new-miami-airport-cargo
  74. https://www.airport-technology.com/news/miami-international-airport-declared-foreign-trade-zone/
  75. https://www.aacargo.com/AACargo/ua/facilities/MIA
  76. https://www.miamidade.gov/global/release.page?Mduid_release=rel1740490708573278
  77. https://www.miami-airport.com/library/pdfdoc/Traffic%20Reports/2020.pdf
  78. https://news.miami-airport.com/mia-reaches-unprecedented-heights-in-passenger-and-cargo-numbers-paralleled-by-historic-investments/
  79. https://www.miamiherald.com/living/travel/article311559411.html
  80. https://www.miamiherald.com/living/travel/article295377894.html
  81. https://www.transtats.bts.gov/airports.asp
  82. https://www.miami-airport.com/library/pdfdoc/Annual%20Reports/2024%20Annual%20Comprehensive%20Financial%20Report.pdf
  83. https://www.atlasairworldwide.com/2025/06/atlas-air-worldwide-expands-operations-at-miami-international-airport-with-new-state-of-the-art-cargo-facility/
  84. https://www.internationalairportreview.com/news/289130/miami-international-airport-drives-record-181-4-billion-impact-and-supports-842703-jobs-across-florida/
  85. https://simpleflying.com/the-uss-10-busiest-airports-for-international-flights/
  86. https://www.lung.org/media/press-releases/sota-miami-2024
  87. https://www.miami-airport.com/library/Section_4_Affected_Environment.pdf
  88. https://www.miami-airport.com/airport_stats.asp
  89. https://wilson.house.gov/media/press-releases/congresswoman-wilson-fights-for-communities-impacted-by-aircraft-noise-pollution
  90. https://digitalcommons.fiu.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?referer=&httpsredir=1&article=1082&context=sferc
  91. https://www.miami-airport.com/noise_abatement_meeting.asp
  92. https://www.miami-airport.com/library/MIA_Env_Report.pdf
  93. https://www.miamidade.gov/global/environment/climate-strategy/emissions.page
  94. https://www.airportcarbonaccreditation.org/miami-international-airport-enters-airport-carbon-accreditation-at-level-1-mapping/
  95. https://news.miami-airport.com/mia-earns-global-accreditation-for-reducing-carbon-emissions/
  96. https://www.instagram.com/p/DEqHSmVP8py/?hl=en
  97. https://www.miami-airport.com/flygreenmia.asp
  98. https://news.miami-airport.com/mia-has-electrifying-news-before-earth-day/
  99. https://www.miami-airport.com/library/CIP%25202019/CIP%2520Master%2520Schedule%2520-%2520August%25202025.pdf
  100. https://newsroom.fedex.com/newsroom/global-english/fedex-begins-use-of-saf-at-chicago-ohare-and-miami-international-airports
  101. https://news.miami-airport.com/miami-dade-county-mayor-announces-94-million-in-faa-grants-for-mia-modernization-projects/
  102. https://www.miami-airport.com/library/pdfdoc/MIA_PP_Pack1-What_Can_I_Do.pdf
  103. https://www.instagram.com/reel/DRGOVTnAV8a/
  104. https://www.fples.com/application/files/4715/7253/5767/ESCO-S-15-ARPT-A-01.pdf
  105. https://www.ntsb.gov/investigations/AccidentReports/Reports/AAR7314.pdf
  106. https://www.ntsb.gov/investigations/AccidentReports/Reports/AAR9706.pdf
  107. https://www.ntsb.gov/investigations/Pages/DCA22FA132.aspx
  108. https://www.faa.gov/newsroom/statements/accident_incidents?newsId=23000
  109. https://aviation-safety.net/database/airport/airport.php?id=MIA
  110. https://airportindustry-news.com/mia-upgrades-checkpoint-2-with-new-ct-scanning-technology/
  111. https://www.tsa.gov/news/press/releases/2020/08/20/fly-through-security-mia-new-screening-technology
  112. https://www.local10.com/news/local/2025/07/09/mia-passengers-react-to-tsas-new-no-shoe-rule/
  113. https://www.nbcnews.com/id/wbna14722165
  114. https://www.internationalairportreview.com/article/23216/airport-security-mitigating-insider-threat/
  115. https://www.miami-airport.com/airport-security.asp
  116. https://www.miami-airport.com/expedited-security.asp
  117. https://www.nbcmiami.com/news/local/mias-new-6m-security-system-features-laser-walls-and-infrared-cameras/3452512/
  118. https://www.airport-technology.com/news/miami-airport-perimeter-security-system/
  119. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WI7Cc8DALro
  120. https://www.securitymagazine.com/articles/86470-employee-screening-boosts-security-at-miami-airport
  121. https://www.miami-airport.com/airport_fire.asp
  122. https://news.miami-airport.com/get-to-know-mias-fire-rescue-division-this-ems-week/
  123. http://miamidade.gov/fire/stations-units.asp
  124. https://www.youtube.com/shorts/CyDdlJOg6hM
  125. https://www.miamidade.gov/global/release.page?Mduid_release=rel1740666694619918
Add your contribution
Related Hubs
User Avatar
No comments yet.