New ticketing areas now open for business at Miami airport. Here are 5 takeaways

Miami International Airport has opened new ticketing pods and baggage drops ahead of the completion schedule. The additions are part of a larger $9 billion improvement program.

FULL STORY: Miami airport opens new ticket pods and baggage drops. See the changes

Here are the highlights:

• The renovation of the Central Terminal’s check-in area cost $38 million and includes new floors, ceilings and baggage conveyors. This upgrade is part of the ambitious “Modernization in Action” capital improvement program.
• The project added 96 new ticket counters and 36 baggage machines, with airlines like Spirit, Air Europa, and Viva Aerobus utilizing the new areas. The construction was completed faster than expected, with all counters operational by June 6.
• Spirit Airlines passengers will benefit from the new location, reducing the distance they need to walk between check-in and boarding. The new counters are closer to Concourse G, where Spirit flights operate.
• MIA is experiencing growth but faces challenges, including a slight drop in passenger volume this year and ongoing traveler complaints. It ranked 10th in J.D. Power’s 2024 North America Airport Satisfaction Study among mega airports.
• The airport must balance extensive renovations with 24/7 operations, making early project completions a positive development. More extensive renovations are planned for the Central Terminal, starting in 2028.

The summary points above were compiled with the help of AI tools and edited by journalists in the Miami Herald newsroom. The full story in the link at top was reported, written and edited entirely by Miami Herald journalists.