A $1 billion upgrade at a Miami airport gate draws major airline

Miami-Dade County officials and American Airlines’ top executive revealed plans on Wednesday to expand Concourse D at Miami International Airport, part of a larger airport-wide upgrade in progress.

The planned $1 billion expansion of Gate D60 will result in 17 new airplane gates and adjacent boarding areas, MIA and American said. By 2030, travelers will also see an improved baggage handling system and additional dining and shopping options.

The initiative isn’t scheduled to break ground until 2027, but the county and MIA are eager to show the public, especially those who complain about the airport, that they’re addressing their concerns and actively making improvements even while operating 24/7 and adding flights. There’s also a lengthy procurement process for each individual project.

MORE: Looking to travel from MIA and FLL this year? Take a look at these new flights

The existing D60 gate now has one common boarding space and 17 ground-level gates for smaller regional jets. Passengers have to go outside to board flights.

“It’s a very constrained area,” Ralph Cutié, director and CEO of Miami International Airport, said in a 2024 interview with the Miami Herald.

That will no longer be the case. After the renovation, the three level area will have 17 traditional gates for larger regional and narrow-body planes. Each will have its own passenger waiting area, so travelers will have more room to await flights. Each of the 17 gates will also connect on the third floor to Concourse D’s U.S. Customs and Border Protection facilities, helpful for travelers arriving from overseas.

“This will transform one of the older, more rundown parts of North Terminal,” Cutié said in the 2024 interview.

American Airlines CEO

The new D60 area will be for exclusive use by American Airlines, already MIA’s largest source of passengers.

“The brand new, reimagined D60 is a transformational project that will provide a much-improved experience for our customers and our team,” American Airlines CEO Robert Isom said at Wednesday’s event at MIA. He also promised new premium lounges and new routes.

The carrier also said to expect “bright, expansive spaces with sprawling indoor palm trees” in a Feb. 25 statement.

“Miami is an important hub and gateway for American, and it’s an essential part of our history and our future,” American’s CEO said on Wednesday.

The Fort Worth, Texas-headquartered airline has about 400 departures a day from MIA to 155 destinations and plans to run its largest summer schedule ever.

The airline also accounts for 15,500 employees at the Miami airport, American Airlines VP of MIA Operations Juan Carlos Liscano said.

The $1 billion for the expansion comes primarily from MIA bond-funded dollars, noted Greg Chin, communications director for Miami-Dade Aviation Department.

Like all bond-funded capital projects at MIA, Chin said debt service is passed on to all tenant airlines via landing fees and terminal charges. Carriers with the largest volume incur the greatest debt service.

Florida’s Department of Transportation has also provided $34 million in grant funding for the project, Chin said.

The future expansion revealed Wednesday is one of more than 200 projects part of the $9 billion MIA modernization plan already underway. The new Ibis Garage opened in December and a new Concourse K is scheduled to open in 2029. About 95% of conveyances are working, according to a spreadsheet MIA shared with the Herald earlier this year.

MORE: How $9 billion will change Miami’s airport, and what travelers are getting for the money

“The D60 expansion is one of the most monumental customer service improvements within our unprecedented airport-wide modernization plan,” said Miami-Dade County Mayor Daniella Levine Cava, who was at Wednesday’s reveal.

This story was originally published February 25, 2026 at 4:12 PM.