American Airlines celebrated the 30th anniversary of its bold decision to establish a hub at Miami International Airport (MIA).
In October 1989, American operated only 19 flights a day to six cities from MIA. Today, the airline operates more than 350 daily flights to about 130 destinations from its hub in MIA – the largest international portal of American – including service to more than 70 cities throughout Latin America and the Caribbean. American cargo operations have also grown significantly. In 1989, Cargo transported 39.5 million pounds of cargo and mail. Today, Cargo transports about 380 million pounds annually.
«We have experienced unprecedented growth in Miami over the past three decades, and our commitment to the community is stronger than ever,» said Juan Carlos Liscano, vice president of American Airlines in Miami. “All of us at American Airlines are proud to be the leading airline in Miami. Together with our clients and business partners, we will continue to build on the basis of the last 30 years of growth with a strong focus on further expansion into Latin America. ”
The greatest service to Latin America
No other airline in MIA offers as much service to Latin America as to American. Last month, American announced additional service between MIA and:
Santiago, Chile (SCL)
Lima, Peru (LIM)
São Paulo, Brazil (GRU)
Earlier this year, the airline added new service to Cordoba, Argentina (COR) and Santiago de Cuba (SCU), destinations that only American serves from the United States.
Economic Impact of $ 21,000 million
American is an important economic engine for Miami and South Florida. What started as a small operation in 1989 with fewer than 300 employees, has grown to be the third largest private employer in Miami-Dade County with more than 13,500 employees and an annual payroll that exceeds $ 1.8 billion.
American’s economic impact also goes far beyond the employees who take care of our passengers. More than 162,000 additional jobs are created through businesses that support our operations at MIA, which means that the American hub at MIA contributes more than $ 21 billion annually to the economy of South Florida.
«American Airlines has an important economic impact in our county,» said Miami-Dade Mayor Carlos Giménez. “Its hub in Miami helps boost the economy of South Florida, and its robust programming is critical to the continued economic development of our community. We appreciate American’s commitment to this community and we know that its growth in the coming years will continue to stimulate our local economy. ”
American’s commitment to MIA does not stop with its network and its employees. The airline has made heavy investments in the community over the past three decades and has supported dozens of organizations, including United Way, Camillus House, Autism Speaks, Feeding South Florida and the Nicklaus Children’s Hospital Foundation. In 2018, American volunteers, through their DoCrew program, dedicated more than 30,000 hours of their time to these and other non-profit organizations.
American is also committed to promoting Miami as a great place to live, work and have fun. The airline partners with the Beacon Council, the Miami Visitors and Convention Bureau and the Miami Chamber of Commerce, among other civic organizations, to ensure the continued growth of both the city and the Miami hub. American’s success in South Florida has helped grow the city’s reputation as a major destination for travelers around the world.
«Miami is a global portal and hosts a high volume of international visitors daily,» said William D. Talbert III, president and CEO of the Miami Office of Visitors and Conventions (GMCVB). “Today, the GMCVB celebrates the 30th anniversary of the American Airlines hub in Miami with our travel partners. With the majority of visitors arriving in Miami by air, American Airlines infrastructure investment in our community serves as a fundamental platform for the vitality of the local tourism industry. ”