Travel

Here are six things that are changing at airports in South Florida

Stories by Miami Herald journalists, with AI summarization

Airlines, security rules and construction projects are altering South Florida airports.

Miami International Airport is introducing new check-in pods to reduce walking distances.

Meanwhile, Miami faces new security requirements with the REAL ID mandate, affecting TSA procedures. However, travelers can use passports in place of the new ID. The airport prepares for potential delays without proper identification.

At Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport, JetBlue expands its flight offerings, adding new destinations such as Norfolk, Virginia and Tampa. But Spirit Airlines is cutting back, halting several flights as it faces financial uncertainty.

See the coverage below.

New ticket pod at Miami International Airport’s Central Terminal; Started operating in October.

NO. 1: MIAMI AIRPORT HAS A NEW CHECK-IN POD SO TRAVELERS DON’T HAVE TO WALK AS FAR. SEE DETAILS

it’s a one-stop shop for some passengers. | Published October 18, 2024 | Read Full Story by Vinod Sreeharsha

Passengers go through a checkpoint at Miami International Airport as the Transportation Security Administration started enforcing REAL ID for travel on Wednesday, May 7, 2025. By Pedro Portal

NO. 2: TRAVELERS AT MIAMI AIRPORT NOW DEALING WITH NEW REAL ID REQUIREMENT

What to know about the security check before you board a flight. | Published May 7, 2025 | Read Full Story by Vinod Sreeharsha

Aviones de JetBlue esperan en la puerta de embarque del Aeropuerto Internacional de Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood en 2020. By Mark Konezny

NO. 3: JETBLUE IS ADDING NEW FLIGHTS IN FORT LAUDERDALE. SEE DESTINATIONS AND DETAILS

What to know about the expansion, which comes after a pullout from Miami. | Published July 23, 2025 | Read Full Story by Vinod Sreeharsha

People check in to flights at a newly constructed Spirit ticketing pod during the day on Tuesday, Aug. 19, 2025, at the Miami International Airport in Miami, Fla. By Alie Skowronski

NO. 4: AIRLINES HAVE ADDED NEW FLIGHTS IN MIAMI AND FORT LAUDERDALE. SEE DESTINATIONS

Airlines are adding a bunch of new flights at the Miami and Fort Lauderdale airports. | Published August 27, 2025 | Read Full Story by Miami Herald Archives

Travelers enter checkpoint 5 at the Miami airport. The TSA announced that they are ready to deal with the increase of travelers flying in and out of MIA during the Christmas and New Year’s holidays. Wednesday December 20, 2023. By Pedro Portal

NO. 5: TSA CHECKPOINT SHUTTING DOWN AT MIAMI AIRPORT FOR MORE SECURITY. WHAT TO KNOW

A security checkpoint at Miami International Airport temporarily closed on Tuesday, according to an airport official. | Published September 2, 2025 | Read Full Story by Vinod Sreeharsha

A Spirt Airlines plane gets ready to take off into a cloudy sky, from the Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport, in Broward County. Spirit Airlines one of America's largest budget airlines has filled for bankruptcy for the second time in less than 12 months, on Tuesday August 19, 2025. By Pedro Portal

NO. 6: SPIRIT STOPS FLIGHTS BETWEEN SOUTH FLORIDA AND 4 CITIES AS PART OF LARGER CHANGE

Spirit Airlines is halting service to 12 U.S. | Published September 4, 2025 | Read Full Story by Vinod Sreeharsha

The summary above was drafted with the help of AI tools and edited by journalists in our News division. All stories listed were reported, written and edited by McClatchy journalists.