Page 12 - IAADFS Summit of the Americas 2025 Special Issue

INSIDER

Miami – fastest growing mega-airport in the U.S. - reaches record

air traffic

Miami International Airport (MIA)
continues to break records, and strengthen
its position as a leader in international trade
and tourism. Miami-Dade County Mayor
Daniella Levine Cava reports that MIA
reached all-time highs in passenger and
cargo service last year while also paving
the way for a series of transformative
improvement projects ready to take flight
in 2025.

Passenger and Cargo Growth
MIA reached new annual records
of nearly 56 million passengers and 3
million tons of cargo in 2024, giving the
airport three consecutive record years in
passenger traffic and five straight record
years in cargo volume. Passenger traffic
surged by 6.8% in 2024, with international
travel climbing by 8.4% to 25.2 million
passengers and domestic travel up 5.6% to
30.8 million passengers. Miami-Dade County Mayor Daniella Levine Cava presents MIA’s 2024 year in review.
Additionally, MIA continues to be
the fastest-growing mega airport (33+ first terminal expansion since 2012, is on receiving an unprecedented investment
million passengers) in the U.S. since the track for review by the Miami-Dade Board of $9 billion in capital improvements
pandemic, with its airline seat capacity up of County Commissioners this year. If and maintenance upgrades. MIA offers
24% last year compared to 2019, according approved in 2025, the three-level expansion more flights to Latin America and the
to Airports Council International-North would add six new passenger gates to Caribbean than any other U.S. airport
America. MIA’s South Terminal upon completion in and is also the leading economic engine
To support its dynamic growth, MIA’s 2029. for Miami-Dade County and the state
Future-Ready Modernization in Action Miami International Airport, of Florida, generating business revenue
Plan is investing $9 billion into major America’s busiest airport for of $118 billion and approximately 60
capital improvements and modernizing international freight and the second percent of all international visitors to
outdated infrastructure such as conveyance busiest for international passengers, is Florida annually.
units (escalators, elevators, walkways),
restrooms, and boarding bridges. Port Authority reports record traffic at New York’s
Highlights to date include the renovation
of 33 conveyance units, 48 restrooms, and commercial airports
32 boarding bridges, two of which are
energy-efficient glass bridges. Currently, The Port Authority of New York 2019’s record of 50.9 million passengers.
95% of MIA’s 616 conveyance units are and New Jersey reports that 2024 marked Domestic passengers in 2024 totaled
operational compared to 85% at the same the busiest year ever at the agency’s 93.6 million, just below the 2023 record
time last year. Thirty conveyance units are commercial airports. of 94.2 million. Both JFK and LaGuardia
scheduled for modernization in 2025. A total of 145.9 million air passengers recorded new records in 2024.
flew through John F. Kennedy International JFK handled 63.3 million international
Modernization in Action (M.I.A.) Plan (JFK), LaGuardia (LGA), Newark Liberty passengers, up +2 percent from the record
MIA’s $136-million, 2,240-space International (EWR), and New York on 2023.
Flamingo Garage expansion, which broke Stewart International (SWF) airports, per LGA handled 33.5 million
ground in early 2024, is on schedule for initial estimates. The total surpassed the international passengers, up +4 percent
completion by the end of 2025. The new previous record of 143.8 million set in from 2023.
$350-million, 546-room Westin MIA Hotel 2023. Newark reports 48.9 million
is also set to break ground this summer at The year also saw record international international passengers, equal with 2023.
the entrance to MIA and be completed in travel demand, eclipsing the previous high The new records follows
2027. set in pre-pandemic 2019. transformative redevelopments at the Port
A contract recommendation for a new The region’s 52.3 million international Authority’s three major airports.
$750-million Concourse K, the airport’s travelers in 2024 exceeded pre-pandemic

Summit of the Americas March 2025 12