Miami International Airport Announces Project to Increase Capacity to 80 Million Passengers

To keep up with the growth predicted in coming years, the Miami International Airport has announced plans for a massive extension. The Capital Improvement Plan will see construction from next year until 2035, and costing more than $5 billion.

Airport director Lester Sola presented the project to Miami-Dade subcommittee, who voted to allow the presentation. The project still requires full commission approval.

The airport foresees the passenger count to grow from 45 million to 77 million by 2040, the current terminal capacity is estimated to be almost 60 million, but part of the space isn’t practical. Cargo is anticipated to expand even faster, with freight calculation to double by 2040.

The project will add more capacity to all three terminals to support the increase in passengers. This new plan supersedes the 2016 Terminal Optimization Program and will now welcome 70 to 80 million passengers.

The Central Terminal will receive a new check-in hall and security checkpoint, as well as a new shopping and restaurant area. Concourse F will be renewed and rebuilt, while joined behind security to Concourse E and the North Terminal. Concourse G will be demolished, giving more net capacity gains.

South Terminal will gain three new widebody gates, as well as retail space. North Terminal will also be receiving more gates. Other items planned in the expansion includes two new hotels (to be built by private developers) and parking garage.

The airport has $1.5 billion already available in the next five years to build without increasing the Cost Per Enplaned Passenger that is now just $19 against over $30 that had been projected in the 1990s when the airport chose to build the North Terminal.

Central terminal rebuild:

North Terminal expansion: