Through June, Miami International Airport served 688,000 more passengers than last year, for an increase of three percent and a mid-year total of 23.4 million travelers. International travelers rose by 516,000 for a 4.7-percent jump to 11.4 million, while domestic traffic grew by 172,000 for a 1.4-percent increase to 12 million passengers, according to recently released traffic statistics.
«The continued growth of business and leisure travel at MIA means additional tourism revenue and jobs within our local economy,» said Miami-Dade County Mayor Carlos A. Gimenez. «After another record-setting year in 2018, it is encouraging to see our global gateway climb to new heights in passenger traffic».
The first half of 2019 featured MIA hub carrier American Airlines’ launch of Cordoba, Argentina service on June 7, as well as four international passenger airlines that entered the Miami market with new routes: Low-cost carrier Norwegian launched daily nonstop service between MIA and London Gatwick Airport on March 31; Moroccan national carrier Royal Air Maroc launched the first-ever Miami-Casablanca route on April 3, giving MIA its first passenger flights to Africa since the year 2000 and Florida’s only nonstop service to the continent; LOT Polish Airlines began the airport’s first-ever route to Poland with Warsaw service on June 1; and French airline Corsair started weekly flights to Paris Orly Airport at MIA on June 10.
«We have had an outstanding year so far in terms of expanding and diversifying our route network,» said Lester Sola, MIA Director and CEO. «We look forward to the second half of 2019 bringing additional growth and more exciting route development announcements».
Miami International Airport offers more flights to Latin America and the Caribbean than any other U.S. airport, is America’s third-busiest airport for international passengers, boasts a lineup of more than 100 air carriers and is the top U.S. airport for international freight. MIA, along with its general aviation airports, is also the leading economic engine for Miami-Dade County and the state of Florida, generating business revenue of $31.9 billion annually and welcoming nearly 60 percent of all international visitors to Florida. MIA’s vision is to grow from a recognized hemispheric hub to a global airport of choice that offers customers a world-class experience and an expanded route network with direct passenger and cargo access to all world regions.