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Miami International Airport

Coordinates: 25°47′36″N 080°17′26″W / 25.79333°N 80.29056°W / 25.79333; -80.29056
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25°47′36″N 080°17′26″W / 25.79333°N 80.29056°W / 25.79333; -80.29056

Miami International Airport
FAA airport diagram
Summary
Airport typePublic
OwnerMiami-Dade County
OperatorMiami-Dade Aviation Department (MDAD)
ServesMiami, Florida
Elevation AMSL8 ft / 2 m
Websitewww.miami-airport.com
Map
Runways
Direction Length Surface
ft m
8L/26R 8,600 2,621 Asphalt
8R/26L 10,506 3,202 Asphalt
9/27 13,000 3,962 Asphalt
12/30 9,354 2,851 Asphalt
Statistics (2006)
Aircraft operations384,537
Based aircraft345
Destinations with direct service from Miami

Miami International Airport (IATA: MIA, ICAO: KMIA, FAA LID: MIA) is a public airport located eight miles (13 km) northwest of the central business district of Miami, in unincorporated Miami-Dade County, Florida, United States.[1] It is between the cities of Miami, Hialeah, Doral, and Miami Springs, the village of Virginia Gardens, and the unincorporated community of Fountainbleau.

The airport is a hub for passenger airlines American Airlines, American Eagle, and Executive Air; cargo airlines Arrow Air, Fine Air, UPS and Federal Express; and charter airline Miami Air. Miami International Airport handles flights to cities throughout the Americas and Europe, as well as Israel and cargo flights to Asia, and is South Florida's main airport for long-haul international flights, although most domestic and low-cost carriers use Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport and Palm Beach International Airport, which charge significantly lower fees to tenant airlines.

Miami is the premier gateway between the US and Latin America, and, along with Atlanta's Hartsfield-Jackson Airport, Miami is one of the largest aerial gateways into the American South, owing to its proximity to tourist attractions, local economic growth, large local Latin American and European populations, and strategic location to handle connecting traffic between North America, Latin America, and Europe. In the past, it has been a hub for Eastern Air Lines, Air Florida, the original National Airlines, the original Pan Am, United Airlines, and Iberia. As an international gateway to the United States it ranks third, behind New York-JFK in New York City and LAX in Los Angeles.

In 2007, 33,740,416 passengers traveled through the airport.[2]

In the first 10 months of 2007 more international passengers boarded U.S. carriers at Miami International than at any other U.S. airport.[3]

History

Pan Am's first terminal consisted of a single hangar. The airport was the base of Pan Am's flights to Cuba, but fell into disuse when the airline switched to seaplanes in the mid-1930s.

The airport was opened to flights in 1928 as Pan American Field, the operating base of Pan American Airways Corporation, on the north side of the modern airport property. After Pan Am acquired the New York, Rio, and Buenos Aires Line, it shifted most of its operations to the Dinner Key seaplane base, leaving Pan Am Field largely unused until Eastern Air Lines began flying there in 1934, followed by National Airlines in 1937.

In 1945, the City of Miami established a Port Authority and raised bond revenue to purchase the airport, which had meanwhile been renamed 36th Street Airport, from Pan Am. It was merged with an adjoining Army airfield in 1949 and expanded further in 1951. The old terminal on 36th Street was closed in 1959 when the modern passenger terminal (since greatly expanded) opened for service.

Air Force Reserve troop carier and rescue squadrons also operated from Miami International from 1949 through 1959, when the last such unit relocated to nearby Homestead Air Force Base, now Homestead Air Reserve Base.

Pan Am and Eastern remained Miami International Airport's main tenants until 1991, when both carriers went bankrupt. Their hubs at MIA were taken over by United Airlines and American Airlines. United slowly trimmed down its Miami operation through the 1990s, and eventually shut down its crew base and other operations facilities in Miami. At the same time, American expanded its presence at the airport, winning new routes to Latin America and transferring employees and equipment from its failed domestic hubs at Nashville and Raleigh-Durham. Today, Miami is American's largest air freight hub, and forms the main connecting point in the airline's north-south oriented international route network.

For many years, the airport was a common connecting point for passengers traveling from Europe to Latin America. However, stricter visa requirements for aliens in transit (a result, in part, of the September 11, 2001 attacks) have lessened MIA's role as an intercontinental connecting hub. In 2004, Iberia Airlines ended its hub operation in Miami, opting instead to run more direct flights from Spain to Central America. However, Air France still has flights to Port-au-Prince using smaller Airbus A320 and Embraer ERJ-145 aircraft.

Gulfstream International Airlines operates regular flights between MIA and several airports in Cuba, the one of the few direct airlink between the two nations. However, these flights must be booked through agents with special authorization from the Office of Foreign Assets Control, and are only generally available to government officials, journalists, researchers, professionals attending conferences, or expatriates visiting Cuban family.

See also: Busiest airports in the United States by international passenger traffic

Facilities and aircraft

Miami International Airport covers an area of 3,300 acres (1,335 ha) which contains four runways[1]:

  • Runway 8L/26R: 8,600 x 150 ft. (2,621 x 46 m), Surface: Asphalt
  • Runway 8R/26L: 10,506 x 200 ft. (3,202 x 61 m), Surface: Asphalt
  • Runway 9/27: 13,000 x 150 ft. (3,962 x 46 m), Surface: Asphalt
  • Runway 12/30: 9,354 x 150 ft. (2,851 x 46 m), Surface: Asphalt

For the 12-month period ending December 31, 2006, the airport had 384,537 aircraft operations, an average of 1,053 per day: 77% scheduled commercial, 17% air taxi, 6% general aviation and <1% military. There are 345 aircraft based at this airport: 7% single-engine, 35% multi-engine and 58% jet.[1].

Terminal, airlines, and destinations

A satellite image of Miami International Airport superimposed over the old 36th Street airfield

The main terminal at MIA is semicircular and has eight pier-shaped concourses, lettered A through J (B was demolished in 2005) in a counter-clockwise direction. Ticketing and departures are located on the upper level and baggage carousels are located on the lower level, the airport contains three customs arrival levels, on the third floor at both Concourse J and the now demolished Concourse B, and at the lower level of Concourse E; the largest of the three. Gates located in Concourses A-F and J, and some gates at Concourse H, can route arriving passengers to the main level (for domestic arrivals) or to the immigration halls (for international arrivals), however, gates at Concourse G and some at Concourse H are designed only for domestic arrivals. Two parking garages, the Dolphin and Flamingo Garages, are located inside the terminal's curvature, and are connected to the terminal by overhead walkways, it is expected that a third garage will be constructed to serve expansion for Concourse J; there is a heliport located atop a connecting point between the two garages.

At present, the terminal is being dramatically altered. Concourses A, B, C, and D, which primarily house American Airlines and its Oneworld partner's flights, are being merged into a single linear concourse to be called the "North Terminal". Portions of the new concourse have already been built as extensions of concourses A and D; to make space for completing the new terminal, the former concourse B has been already been demolished and concourse C will soon follow to accommodate new gates and lounges. [1] Although this construction was originally slated for completion by 2005, it has been delayed several times due to cost overruns: the current deadline for completion is summer of 2011. [2]

The remaining "South" (Concourses H and J) and "Central" (Concourses E, F, and G) Terminals have also been renovated and expanded with Concourse J, the newest addition to the airport, opening on August 29, 2007, (photo) being constructed with the support of fifteen Star Alliance and SkyTeam carriers: it is seven stories tall and has 15 gates, with a total floor area of 1.3 million square feet (120,000m²) including two airline lounges and several offices. Currently, the new concourse is still in opening stages with the movement of most airlines located at Concourse A moving to the new area beginning on September 24, 2007, this was done to allow for renovations to be done at Concourse A, and includes American Airlines taking over gates at Concourse E to replace the gates it will lose at Concourse A. Currently, LAN Airlines, LAN Argentina, LAN Ecuador, LAN Peru, LACSA, TACA, COPA, US Airways, Avianca, United/Ted, TAM, Aerolíneas Argentinas, LTU, Caribbean Airlines, Lufthansa, Swiss International, Air Canada, and El Al moved into the new concourse concourse. Delta/Comair, Air France, and Alitalia have also begun operating ticket counters at the new Concourse whilst using gate space at Concourse H, soon to be followed by AeroMexico (date unconfirmed). Continental has begun using gates on Concourse H with the ticket counters remaining between G and H concourses. COPA Airlines will also move its gate usage to Concourse H upon the reopening of gate H4, (date unconfirmed). British Airways, previously housed at concourse A, has moved its ticket counters to Concourse G and will use gates at Concourse F for the duration of the A concourse renovations.

After Concourse A is renovated, it is expected that Alaska Airlines, British Airways, LAN Airlines, LAN Argentina, LAN Ecuador, and LAN Peru will return to Concourse A, along with American Airlines. Aerolineas Argentinas, Caribbean Airlines, EL AL, and LTU will then return to Concourse E once their gates have been vacated by American Airlines. Fire protection at the airport is provided by Miami-Dade Fire Rescue Department[4] Station 12.[5]

Concourse A

Concourse A was a recent addition to the airport and will eventually form part of American Airlines' North Terminal. It houses many American domestic and international flights, although all check-in counters for American are located adjacent to concourses C and D. Both American and British Airways have lounge facilities in Concourse A. On May 17, 2006, American Airlines opened their second Admirals Club lounge at Miami International in Terminal A; it is located on the mezzanine level. On November 9, 2007, Concourse A was temporarily closed as part of the North Terminal Renovation Project.

Concourse B

Concourse B was a former concourse operated by American Airlines. It was closed down and demolished as part of the North Terminal Renovation project. The former Concourse B area of the airport contains a customs arrival facility serving International Arrivals from Concourses A, C, and D.

Concourse C

The airside Concourse C consists of four gates accommodating small-to-medium jet aircraft such as the Boeing 737 or Boeing 757. American uses these gates for domestic flights and some departures to Central America and the Caribbean. The Concourse C check-in area is for American's international flights. During the course of the American Airlines/North Terminal project, Concourse C will be demolished, allowing for the creation of new gates where the concourse was located.

Concourse C Ticket Counters

Located between Concourses C and D

Concourse C Gate Usage

Concourse D

Although Concourse D was one of the original concourses in the MIA terminal, the original portion has been mostly closed, and the concourse now consists of a new extension which will eventually form part of American Airlines' North Terminal. American uses the concourse for domestic and international flights; the Concourse D check-in area is for domestic and Caribbean flights. American operates an Admirals Club on Concourse D.

Concourse D Ticket Counters

Located between Concourses D and E

Concourse D Gate Usage

  • American Airlines (Antigua [begins November 19], Aruba, Atlanta, Barbados, Baltimore/Washington, Barranquilla, Belize City, Bermuda, Bogotá, Boston, Buenos Aires-Ezeiza, Cali, Cancún, Caracas, Chicago-O'Hare, Dallas/Fort Worth, Denver, Detroit, Eagle/Vail [seasonal], Grand Cayman, Guatemala City, Guayaquil, Hartford/Springfield, Houston-Intercontinental, Kingston, La Paz (Bolivia), La Romana, Las Vegas, Liberia(CR), Lima, London-Heathrow, Los Angeles, Madrid, Managua, Maracaibo, Medellín-Córdova, Mexico City, Minneapolis/St. Paul, Montego Bay, Montevideo, Montréal, Nashville, New Orleans, New York-JFK, New York-LaGuardia, Newark, Orlando, Quito, Panama City, Paris-Charles de Gaulle, Philadelphia, Phoenix, Port-au-Prince, Port of Spain, Providenciales, Puerto Plata, Punta Cana, Raleigh/Durham, Rio De Janeiro-Galeão, San Salvador, Santa Cruz de la Sierra, São Paulo-Guarulhos, Santiago de Chile, St. Croix, St. Kitts, St. Louis, St. Lucia, St. Maarten, St. Thomas, San Francisco, San José (CR), San Juan, San Pedro Sula, Santiago (DR), Santo Domingo, Tampa, Tegucigalpa, Toronto-Pearson, Washington-Dulles, Washington-Reagan, Willemstad)
    • American Eagle (Charlotte, Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky, Cleveland, Columbus (OH), Dayton, Fayetteville (AR), Greensboro, Indianapolis, Jacksonville (FL), Louisville, Memphis, Nashville, Norfolk, Pittsburgh, Richmond, Tallahassee)
    • American Eagle operated by Executive Air (Cozumel, Fort Myers, Freeport, Jacksonville (FL), Key West, Marsh Harbour, Nassau, Sarasota/Bradenton, Savannah)

Concourse E

Model of a Pan Am flying boat in Concourse E

Concourse E is divided into two sections: a pier concourse, called "low E," and a satellite terminal, called "high E," connected by an airport people mover. Low E is mostly used by American Airlines; high E is used by various other carriers. The Admirals Club operated by American has temporarily reopened inside security after a renovation to the checkpoint. Concourse E contains Customs Arrival facilities for International Arrivals at Concourse D, E, and F.

Concourse E Ticket Counters

Located between Concourses E and F

Concourse E Gate Usage

Low E
High E

Concourse F

Concourse F Ticket Counters

Located between Concourses F and G

Concourse F Gate Usage

Concourse G

A Panoramic View of Concourses G and H, as well as the new concourse J, from the South

Concourse G Ticket Counters

Located between Concourses G and H

Concourse G Gate Usage

Concourse H

Concourse H Ticket Counters

Located between Concourses G and H

Concourse H Gate Usage

Concourse J

Concourse J is a new concourse that opened on August 29, 2007 under Miami International Airport's South Terminal Renovation Project. [3] The Concourse was designed by Carlos Zapata of Studio Carlos Zapata in New York, with M.G.E., one of the largest Hispanic owned architecture firms in Florida, as the architect of record; the Concourse will hold Star Alliance and SkyTeam Members. Together with Concourse H, this area will be called the "South Terminal". It will be the only pier at the airport able to accept the new Airbus A380 and has introduced a third customs and immigration facility at the airport, supplementing the ones at Concourses B and E; with international SkyTeam and Star Alliance members moving to this new concourses, it is expected that the new facilities will ease overcrowding that has plagued the concourse E immigration facilities since new US entry laws came into effect. Once the North and South Terminals are completed, all airlines not affiliated with either the Star Alliance, SkyTeam (South Terminal), or Oneworld (North Terminal) will be housed at the remaining Concourses E , F and G.

Concourse J Ticket Counters

Located between Concourses H and J

Concourse J Gate Usage

Charter Carriers

Most charter airlines have counters at concourse F, and use concourse F or G for gates.

Ground transportation

Miami International Airport has direct public transport links to Miami-Dade Transit's Metrobus network, being served by routes 7, 37, 42, 57, 133, 236, 238, and the J; free shuttles are also provided to and from the Miami Airport and Hialeah Market Stations on the Tri-Rail commuter rail line, which operates trains once every two hours on weekends and more frequently on weekdays. The stations are close, within 5 minutes drive from the main terminal. MDT is currently planning to link the airport by people mover to the upcoming Miami Intermodal Center, which will provide access to Miami-Dade Metrorail as well as the future BayLink light rail to South Beach. Taxis and rental cars are available as well, as is the case in most airports.

Approximate time and cost to city center:

  • Super Shuttle: fare US$9, time depends on stops.
  • Metro Bus: $1.50 ($.75 reduced fare), approx. 35-40 mins via route 7 (East) or route J.
  • Taxi fare $15.50, approx. 20 mins.

Cargo

The airport is one of the largest in terms of cargo in the United States, and is the main connecting point for cargo between Latin America and the world. It is 1st in International freight and 4th in total freight for 2006. In 2000 LAN Cargo opened up a major operations base at the airport and currently operates the second largest cargo facility at the airport second to UPS. Most major passenger airlines, such as American Airlines use the airport to carry belly cargo on passenger flights though most cargo is operated through cargo only airlines. UPS, FedEx, and DHL, all operate their major Latin American operations through MIA.

Cargo Airlines

New Services

  • Aerocondor plans to begin non-stop service to Lima.[8]
  • Aerolíneas Argentinas will begin non-stop service to São Paulo in March 2008.[9]
  • AeroRepública intends to begin flights to Bogotá and Medellin in 2008.[10]
  • American Airlines will resume five weekly non-stop flights to Antigua, Leeward Islands on November 19, 2008. The service last operated in November 2001.
  • American Airlines has applied to begin four weekly flights to Recife, Brazil, pending Brazilian government approval.[11]
  • American Airlines has applied to begin four weekly flights to Salvador, Brazil, pending Brazilian government approval.[12]
  • American Airlines has applied to begin daily non-stop service to Valencia, Venezuela, pending Venezuelan government approval.
  • Avior plans to begin non-stop service to Puerto Ordaz, Venezuela in 2008.[13]
  • Avior has applied to begin three weekly flights to Valencia, Venezuela, pending US government approval.
  • Insel Air has applied with US DOT to begin non-stop service between Miami and Curacao.
  • Korean Air has announced it plans on beginning passenger services to Miami, but has not set a date. [14]
  • Lloyd Aereo Boliviano will resume service between Miami and Bolivia, via Panama, in 2008.[15]
  • Lufthansa will begin six weekly flights between Miami and Düsseldorf on October 26, 2008.
  • Pan Am World Airways Dominicana plans to begin service to Miami in 2008.[16]
  • TAM Brazilian Airlines will begin daily non-stop service between Rio de Janeiro and Miami. [17]. The service is tentatively set to begin in June 2008.
  • Transaero will begin non-stop service between Miami and Moscow in 2008. [18]
  • Varig announced intentions to resume services to São Paulo and Rio de Janeiro 2008. [19][20]
  • Venezolana Will begin non-stop service between Miami and Maracaibo in 2008

Incidents and accidents

Airline crashes involving MIA include:

Filming location

Miami International Airport has been used for scenes in many movies, including:

  • The 1980's Television show Miami Vice had many airport scenes filmed on location at MIA.
  • The 2002 file Big Trouble has a final chase scene that was filmed at MIA's Concourse C.
  • The 2005 film Red Eye has a scene including the Miami International Airport. The scene takes place as Lisa is running from the police after her plane lands.

References

  1. ^ a b c d FAA Airport Form 5010 for MIA PDF, effective 2007-10-25
  2. ^ 2007 Traffic Report
  3. ^ BTS | October 2007 Airline Traffic Data: 10-Month 2007 System Traffic Up 3.6 Percent From 2006
  4. ^ "Airport Fire Rescue Division". Miami-Dade Fire Rescue Department. Miami-Dade County. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |accessmonthday= ignored (help); Unknown parameter |accessyear= ignored (|access-date= suggested) (help)
  5. ^ "Miami-Dade Fire Rescue Stations". Miami-Dade Fire Rescue Department. Miami-Dade County. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |accessmonthday= ignored (help); Unknown parameter |accessyear= ignored (|access-date= suggested) (help)
  6. ^ ><PressTur><
  7. ^ a b Delta Air Lines will slash service at Orlando International Airport - Air Transportation Industry, Orlando International Airport, Southwest Airlines Company - OrlandoSentinel.com
  8. ^ T NEWS - NOTICIAS 02oct. 2006
  9. ^ Mercado e Eventos
  10. ^ Perú 21 / Economía
  11. ^ American Airlines quer voar para o Nordeste também - O Globo Online
  12. ^ American Airlines quer voar para o Nordeste também - O Globo Online
  13. ^ El Diario de Guayana
  14. ^ Houston Airport System
  15. ^ LAB: llegan dos naves para reanudar vuelos
  16. ^ Las Sociales - Línea aérea festeja nuevo destino
  17. ^ Mercado e Eventos
  18. ^ Transaero Gets a Piece of American Pie :: Russia-InfoCentre
  19. ^ Portugal Digital . Informação e Comunicação Empresarial Luso-Brasileira
  20. ^ Mercado e Eventos
  21. ^ Aviation Safety Network retrieved 26 November 2006
  22. ^ "Jetliner evacuated after fire in wheel well," CNN
  23. ^ "Blair in Bee Gee holiday jet scare," CNN
  24. ^ "Vick water bottle confiscated by Miami airport security," ESPN
  25. ^ "Tower Catches Fire At MIA Terminal," WPLG-TV


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