What does record-breaking growth at MIA mean for you? More travelers, cargo — and changes
Miami International Airport set a new record last year by serving 56 million passengers. The figure was a slight increase over the 2023 figure of 52 million, which was also a record.
MIA also set a new record in 2024 for cargo, receiving over 3 million tons. That included the vast majority of fresh-cut flowers the U.S. imports for Valentine’s Day and Mother’s Day.
The audited numbers, announced by Miami-Dade County Mayor Daniella Levine Cava at a briefing Monday in Concourse J at MIA, reflect the airport’s continued focus on growth and becoming a global hub.
In the past three months, for instance, the airport has announced new flights to Iceland and Punta Cana in the Dominican Republic. MIA also has flights to Doha and Dubai.
“More visitors are spending more money here and creating more jobs here for our community,” Levine Cava said.
The mayor estimated more than 700,000 jobs statewide resulted from MIA’s overall operations last year.
One big reason for the record numbers is American Airlines. MIA is the airline’s largest international operation worldwide, Juan Carlos Liscano, American Airlines’ vice president of MIA Operations, said at Monday’s briefing. The carrier has more than 14,600 employees based in Miami.
But all of this growth has led to complaints from travelers.
MIA’s ranking on J.D. Power’s 2024 North American Airport Satisfaction Study was slightly below average and tied for 10th with Boston’s Logan Airport out of 20 airports in the mega airport group. A year earlier in its annual survey, the global consumer insight and advisory firm had MIA tied for fourth with Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport.
“All of the growth does mean wear and tear and we have to keep up with that wear and tear,” Levine Cava said.
MORE: How $9 billion will change Miami’s airport, and what travelers are getting for the money
The mayor touted a $9 billion airport improvement plan, and said it’s well underway.
On Monday, Levine Cava said that 95% of the airport’s elevators, escalators and moving walkways were in service. That’s up from 85% a year ago.
And several milestones part of the improvement plan are on the horizon for this year, she said.
Those include:
▪ Groundbreaking for a new Westin airport hotel
▪ Completion and grand opening of the Flamingo garage extension
▪ Groundbreaking of a new K Concourse, part of the South Terminal expansion
▪ More new and modern ticket counters in Central Terminal that have self-serve baggage-drop stations
▪ New passenger lounge by Avianca and TAP
“Improvements are shifting into high gear in 2025,” the mayor said.
This story was originally published February 24, 2025 at 11:42 AM.