Hands of HaitiArt Exhibit Debuts at MIA

More than 60 Major Works by “Artists in Distress” to be Unveiled September 2

A relief program to support Haitian artists affected by the country’s devastating earthquake in January has resulted in Hands of Haiti, an exhibit featuring more than 60 major works by artists living in Haiti who have continued their craft despite their challenging circumstances.

The exhibit, which will be on display for the first time ever at Miami International Airport’s South Terminal Gallery from September 2, 2010 to March 2011, will feature works of cut metal, woven sequined flags, beaded artwork on leather, sculptures made from discarded urban materials, carnival masks, clay pottery and photography. Click here for more information.

MIA's South Terminal Gallery
  level 3 and 4
International Greeters Lobby
and 4th floor mezzanine

MIA Celebrates American Eagle's New Regional Commuter Facility Grand Opening

MIA opened on Thursday August 19 the new American Eagle's Regional Commuter Facility (RCF) at North Terminal D. The new terminal will offer customers improved check-in and domestic baggage claim. It will also have an array of shops and restaurants featuring the flavors for South Florida. The new lounge features two concourse-level gates with jet bridges for convenient boarding.

The opening of the RCF concludes the initial phase of American Eagles' transition to new departure areas at gates D53, D55 and D60. When the next phase of construction is complete, lower-level gates will eliminate the need for most shuttle buses to take passengers to awaiting aircraft. A new skytrain is expected to open in September that will whisk thousands of customers per hour along the 1.4 mile North Terminal concourse. Continue

North Terminal skytrain Set to Open in September

Travelers in MIA's Concourse D will soon be able to hop on the skytrain automated people mover and get to their gate or baggage claim area within minutes.  Scheduled to begin operations in mid-September, skytrain's four-car trains will whisk passengers between conveniently located stations on the roof of the mile-long concourse.  With a capacity to transport 9,000 passengers per hour, skytrain can get from one end of Concourse D to the other within five minutes.  Click here more information.           

Say "hello" to Hotel MIA's new website, http://www.miahotel.com.

The new website is packed with photos, special packages and user-friendly online reservation system, as well as amenities, groups & meetings information.  Click here for more information.

Visit Traveling with Kids, featuring TSA and FAA security videos and useful links about traveling with children, and Kids’ Corner: Online games, fun things to do at the airport and cool aviation links for kids.

Click here to visit MIA's Kids' Corner.

American Airlines Awards Miami International Airport Employees for Improved Customer Service

Miami Takes Home 'Customer Cup' For Third Quarter in a Row

American Airlines employees in Miami celebrated a customer service victory this week as the airline announced the top five airports to be honored for improved customer experience and innovative problem-solving during the second quarter of 2010. The program is called the Customer Cup, the winners of which are announced each quarter.

...Miami was awarded the Customer Cup for the third consecutive quarter for improving internal customer satisfaction ratings in several categories, leading the pack in making the biggest improvements year-over-year compared to other stations of the same size. Continue

MIA Congratulates Cayman Airways on its 42nd Anniversary!

Click here to view more images from MIA's water cannon salute celebrating Cayman Airways' 42nd Anniversary.

Flight Guide (Aug 1 - Nov 30, 2010) 

For nearly 20 years, we have published the complimentary Miami International Airport (MIA) Flight Guide several times each year for the convenience of our passengers and other airport customers, and we know that it has been well received by all of you. During these past two decades, much has advanced both in electronic information technology and in awareness of being mindful of our environmental resources.

As such, effective December 1, 2010, the MIA Flight Guide will no longer be published in paper format. Instead, we would like to steer you to an even more dynamic resource already available to you, and that is the MIA Website at www.miami-airport.com.

Download MIA's Flight Guide 

American Eagle Expands at MIA

American Eagle Airlines, the regional affiliate of American Airlines, has announced increased nonstop service between Miami International Airport (MIA) and 10 additional cities throughout the American Airlines network beginning Nov. 18.  The airline will also introduce two new daily nonstop flights from Miami to Cleveland Hopkins International Airport (CLE) on Nov. 18. This is in addition to previously-announced new service between Miami and Gainesville Regional Airport (GNV) in Gainesville, Fla., that begins Oct. 1.  Just in time for the busy winter travel season, American Eagle will soon move into its new location in the North Terminal of Miami International Airport. In August, American Eagle will complete the transition from its current departure lounge located at gate D35 to its new departure areas at North Terminal’s Regional Commuter Facility, which includes gates D53, D55 and D60.. Continue

Featured Webpage: Protocol & International Affairs

Miami International Airport (MIA) is the first airport in the United States and one of the few major airports in the world to offer a full array of services specifically tailored to the needs of traveling foreign diplomats, government officials, dignitaries and other official guests and VIPs. MIA’s Office of Protocol and International Affairs was created in 1988 to meet the demands of the local and international diplomatic communities.

The Protocol Office also manages all VIP hospitality facilities at MIA, which currently include the VIP hospitality room and the Consular Lounge, reserved for foreign delegations visiting or transiting through MIA.  Click here for more information.

MIA’s Mid-Year Traffic, Final Bond Sale Savings Exceed Projections

View Airport Statistics

Passenger and freight traffic at Miami International Airport continue to exceed forecasts through the first six months of 2010 after a stable year in 2009. MIA’s total passenger traffic has grown four percent through the first half of the year compared to 2009, with international passengers increasing 4.8 percent and domestic passengers growing by 3.3 percent.  MIA has served 17.6 million passengers to date this year, with 8.1 million being international and 9.5 million domestic. 

Total freight volume at MIA has grown 26.5 percent year to date, with international freight increasing nearly 28.9 percent and domestic freight growing by 10.3 percent.  MIA has already handled more than one million tons of freight in the first half of 2010. In the month of June alone, MIA served nearly three million passengers, up 5.4 percent from last June, and saw total freight volume increase by 30.6 percent.  Most notably, international freight grew by 33.8 percent in June. Continue

MIA Hosts Summer Fun Events for North Terminal Passengers 

Passengers traveling through Miami International Airport’s North Terminal this summer can experience the sights and sounds of South Florida every weekend afternoon without ever leaving the airport. Westfield Concessions Management, which operates several stores at MIA, has partnered with the airport to host South Florida-themed passenger events every Friday, Saturday, Sunday and Monday from noon to 3:00 p.m. beginning this weekend and through the end of August.

On July 23 to 26 near the Corona Beach House restaurant at gate D-26 (past security), a beach-themed weekend event features Nintendo Wii interactive surfing, photographs in front of a replica of the Corona Beach Bar, and a contest to win real oyster pearls.  On July 30 to August 2, a “Havana Nights” promotion features domino games with instructors, mojito demonstrations, rumba dancers, photo opportunities, cigar rolling and a DJ. The remaining weekends in August will also include a variety of musical performances, entertainment, food samples and contests. Continue

View North Terminal's Summer Program - Shopping & Dining - Press Release

MIA’s North Terminal Adds 16 More Gates

Miami International Airport’s North Terminal moved one step closer to final completion on Tuesday, July 20, with the completed renovation and re-opening of 16 gates (D-1 to D-19) in the former Concourse A, which has been re-named and is now an extension of Concourse D.  North Terminal’s security checkpoint #1, which provides direct access to the 16 new gates, also opened on July 20. 

The eight gates closest to the checkpoint are fully operational and the other eight will start serving flights in September when the North Terminal SkyTrain, a rooftop automated people mover system, begins service.  The SkyTrain will transport passengers from one end of the mile-long concourse to the other for connecting flights within a few minutes. Continue

Flight Attendant Named MIA Employee of the Month

More than two months after using a defibrillator to assist a passenger going into cardiac arrest, American Eagle flight attendant Meghan Rafferty received a letter from the passenger, now thousands of miles away in Denmark, telling her that after two weeks in the hospital and major surgery, he is grateful to be alive.  For Rafferty’s heroism and compassion, she was named Miami International Airport’s Employee of the Month for July 2010.

“We don’t really know each other very well, but on January 29th our paths crossed each other in Miami International Airport in a way that for me turned out to be the most incredible and life-giving moment,” the letter from Paul Jensen begins.  “Today I look upon the gift of life in a different way – I cherish the blessings in my life – and I am allowed to do so thanks to your heroic actions on that day.” Rafferty received her Employee of the Month award during a surprise celebration on July 21 and is now eligible to win MIA’s Employee of the Year award. Continue

Click here to learn more about MIA's Reward & Recognition program.

MIA Rental Car Center Now Open

• News Clips
• Video (On Demand)

Miami International Airport passengers and South Florida rental car customers now have a convenient, one-stop shop for all their rental car needs just east of MIA in the middle of Miami-Dade County. The MIA Rental Car Center (RCC), opening July 13 at 3900 N.W. 25th Street, consolidates under one roof the operations of 16 rental car companies currently serving the area surrounding MIA.  A new consolidated shuttle bus service transports travelers from MIA's arrivals level to the RCC's spacious fourth-level customer service lobby, where they can pick the company and vehicle of their choice from a combined inventory of 6,500 rental cars.

"We are extremely indebted to the Florida Department of Transportation for building this facility that benefits not only MIA and its passengers, but all of Miami-Dade County," said Miami-Dade Aviation Department Director José Abreu.  "The Rental Car Center is another huge step toward making MIA a world-class entrance to South Florida for visitors from around the world." Continue

Get the Latest Airport News with MIA Connections

Travelers will soon have one convenient facility near MIA for all their rental car needs.  More North Terminal gates with quick access from the check-in area open this month.  Four new international nonstop flights began at MIA in June alone.  And that's just the beginning.  To find out more about what's new and improved at MIA, read the latest issue of the MIA Connections e-magazine at http://www.miami-airport.com/mia_connections.asp.

Congratulations to the Reward & Recognition Winners

Carl Sejour, Dunking Donuts January 2010 -read more	Kirsten Breitenbach, American Eagle February 2010 - read more
Mercedes Castro and Leslie Iglesias, Unicco March 2010 - read more	Jeanne Mydil, Hotel MIA June 2010 - read more

Click here to read more or nominate an employee

American, American Eagle Add More Flights at MIA

American Airlines and American Eagle, its regional affiliate, have announced new nonstop routes scheduled to begin this fall at MIA. American Airlines was awarded by the U.S. Department of Transportation the rights to provide service between MIA and Brasilia four days a week, beginning November 18. Brasilia is the sixth destination in Brazil served by American from Miami. American plans to fly 182-seat Boeing 757 aircraft that accommodate 16 business class and 166 economy cabin passengers.

American Eagle is slated to begin daily nonstop service between MIA and Gainesville Regional Airport in Gainesville, Florida, beginning October 1. Eagle will operate the service with 64-seat Super-ATR jets. American Eagle also announced the reinstatement of seasonal service four days a week between MIA and Treasure Cay Airport on Grand Abaco Island in the Bahamas, starting November 18. Eagle will also serve this island paradise with Super-ATR aircraft.

View all MIA's nonstop routes by region

French Carrier Corsairfly Begins Paris Service at MIA

French carrier Corsairfly received a water cannon salute from Miami-Dade Fire Rescue on June 18 to celebrate the beginning of non-stop passenger and cargo service from Miami International Airport to Paris Orly Airport - the first scheduled service to any U.S. city by Corsairfly.  The new service will operate twice weekly on Monday and Friday with an Airbus A330-200 until July 2, when it will transition to a Boeing B747-400 configured for 582 seats.  For more information, go to www.corsairfly.com or dial 954-332-6089.  

Miami Rental Center (RCC) Opening July 13, 2010

In preparation for the July 13, 2010 opening of the new Rental Car Center (RCC), MIA is offering customer service training, Miami Begins with MIA, classes to all RCC employees. The classes, an off-shoot of a program created in partnership with the GMCVB, are designed to raise employee awareness that personal performance directly ties into customer satisfaction, return business and the health of Miami’s tourism economy. Click here for more information.

Aeromexico Adds Monterrey-Miami Flights

Aeromexico said it will begin a new Monterrey-Miami flight on June 28. Mexico’s largest transcontinental airline also is adding summer service between high-demand routs including Mexico City to Miami.

Its new routes will be served with the airline’s 50-seat Embraer jets. The Monterrey-Miami flight will leave at 10:15 a.m. and arrive at 2:15 p.m., while the Miami-Monterrey flight is scheduled for a 3:15 p.m. departure with a 5:15 p.m. arrival. Continue

MIA Unveils New Camera Works Photography Gallery

People Places Things, a collection of 18 photographs depicting “small events and ordinary days” by South Florida photographer and college professor Peggy Levison Nolan, is now on display at the new Camera Works photography gallery at Miami International Airport’s North Terminal.  The exhibition is the first for the gallery, which is dedicated to showcasing contemporary photography on a rotating basis, and is located between gates D-22 and D-25.

Nolan is a mostly self-taught photographer and single mother of seven who is also a full-time staff member of the Art and Art History Department at Florida International University, where she received both a Bachelor of Fine Arts and a Master of Fine Arts degree. Her work is collected by major institutions including New York's MOMA, the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art and the Martin Z. Margulies Collection. “Her work is a treasure hunt through her mostly empty house and the result of endless curiosity about the world in front of her camera,” said Yolanda Sanchez, PhD, Miami-Dade Aviation Department Division Director of Fine Arts and Cultural Affairs. Continue.

New Metrorail Extension Renamed as Airportlink

It’s a 2.4-mile Metrorail extension that will take the stress out of getting to and from Miami International Airport. And with less than two years to go before its scheduled spring 2012 opening, the project now has an official new name. Formerly known as the Miami Intermodal Center-Earlington Heights Connector, Miami-Dade Transit (MDT) is pleased to reintroduce the project as the AirportLink. “We wanted to give the project a user-friendly name that really describes its function of providing a rapid transit connection to and from the airport,” MDT Director Harpal Kapoor said. “The AirportLink name is an excellent identifier that will be easily understood by visitors and residents alike.”

The rail extension, which broke ground in May 2009, will run from Metrorail’s existing Earlington Heights station to the Miami Intermodal Center (MIC), a centralized transportation hub now under construction at the airport. Continue.

Miami International Airport launches MIA Lives United – a United Way week at the airport

In an unprecedented display of compassion for its neighbors, MIA is uniting the entire airport community to support Miami-Dade

For the first time ever, Miami International Airport (MIA), one of the largest economic engines of Miami-Dade County, is bringing together more than 31,000 employees, its vendors and an estimated 642,000 weekly passengers for a week-long charity event to support the local community through the works of United Way of Miami-Dade.  The event, MIA Lives United, is designed to be a highly visible week of activities involving retailers, sponsors, employee and passenger raffles, text-to-give promotions, and much more.

We applaud the airport community and particularly the leadership of Aviation Director José Abreu for coming together in this new and creative way to help their neighbors through United Way,” Harve A. Mogul, president and CEO, United Way of Miami-Dade, said. Continue. 

Alitalia Begins Milan Non-Stop Service at MIA

Miami International Airport (MIA) welcomed the inaugural flight of Alitalia’s new Milan-Miami non-stop service on Thursday, June 3, with a special ceremony that included a water cannon salute by Miami-Dade Fire Rescue.  Alitalia commenced three times weekly service from Milan to MIA, which is in addition to the airline's current daily non-stop service from Rome to Miami.  The flight will operate Mondays, Thursdays and Saturdays with Boeing B767-400 aircraft. Continue.

Industry leader wins additional 8-year food, beverage and retail award

BETHESDA, MD - HMSHost, a world leader in travel dining and shopping, announced today the award of a new eight year food and beverage concessions agreement at Miami International Airport (MIA). HMSHost and local Miami ACDBE partners Tinsley Family Concessions and Master ConcessionAir will offer MIA’s North Terminal travelers new dining options that reflect the city’s style and culture. Continue.

American Airlines Donates MD-80 Jet to Miami Aviation School

American Airlines partnered with Odebrecht to move the 39-ton plane from Miami International Airport (MIA) to George T. Baker  Aviation School. The job required lifting the plane over State Road 112 and LeJeune Road, using a 500-ton crane equipped with a 400-foot telescoping boom, and then hauling the plane to the school. Continue

American Airlines at MIA Wins Back-to-Back Customer Service Awards

The American Airlines Operations team at MIA won the airline’s Customer Cup – the highest customer service achievement within the company - in the first quarter of 2010 after also winning the award in the fourth quarter of 2009. AA’s Miami Team is the first hub in the history of the Customer Cup to win the award in back-to-back quarters. The Miami AA Team received the honor for achieving significant improvements in seven customer experience areas: likelihood of customers to recommend AA; overall flight experience; overall handling of a delay; aircraft cleanliness; flight attendants referring to customers by name; flight attendants personally thanking customers for flying AA; and condition of aircraft interior.

European Airlines, Charter Carrier Beginning Service at MIA

Air Berlin announced last week it will commence new service to Berlin from MIA on November 1 through April 28, 2011.  Air Berlin provides connections from Berlin to other destinations in Europe and Tel Aviv, Israel.  With the Berlin service, MIA will be serving four points in Germany: Frankfurt, Dusseldorf, Munich and Berlin.

On June 19, Air Europa reintroduces its seasonal once weekly non-stop service from MIA to Tenerife in the Canary Islands, Spain.

Alitalia will commence three times weekly service from Milan to MIA on June 1, which is in addition to the airline’s current daily service from Rome.

French low-cost carrier CorsairFly is scheduled to begin scheduled passenger and cargo service to MIA from Orly Airport in Paris, France on June 11. The new service will operate twice weekly initially with an Airbus A330-200 until July 2 when the airline will operate with a Boeing B747-400 configured for 582 seats. CorsairFly is a member of the TUI group of airlines and travel services.

Lastly, Falcon Air Express returned to MIA in April to offer ad-hoc (upon request) passenger charter service from MIA using MD-80 aircraft.

Transaero Airlines announced in April that it will commence scheduled passenger and cargo service between Moscow and Miami International Airport (MIA) on October 29. The new service will operate twice weekly on Tuesdays and Fridays using Boeing B747-400 aircraft. Transaero, Russia’s second largest carrier, is a privately held airline based at Moscow’s Domodedovo Airport and operates a growing fleet of Boeing aircraft.

Corona Beach House at MIA Celebrates Grand Opening on Cinco de Mayo

Cutting the ceremonial ribbon yesterday at the grand opening of Corona Beach House Miami in Miami International Airport’s North Terminal with the Corona Girls are: John Utter, Vice President of On-Premise, Crown Imports; Corona Beach House President Christopher McFarlane; Miami-Dade Aviation Department (MDAD) Director José Abreu; and MDAD Deputy Director Miguel Southwell.  Corona Beach House Miami, located near Gate D-23 at MIA, is the first-ever Corona-themed restaurant and is one of more than 40 new restaurants and shops opening in MIA’s North Terminal this year. 

Click here for more information about shopping and dining at MIA. 

MIA Begins 2010 with Strong Passenger and Cargo Numbers

After finishing 2009 on an upward trend in both passenger and cargo volumes and regaining its ranking as Florida’s busiest airport, Miami International Airport had increases of nearly 3.5 percent in passenger traffic and 25 percent in freight for the first quarter of 2010.

March was MIA’s best month of the year so far, with a 6.36-percent jump in total passengers and a 39.3-percent leap in total freight. Through March, MIA has served more than four million international passengers and 4.7 million domestic passengers for a total of 8.78 million. MIA also handled 427.7 tons of international freight and nearly 55 tons of domestic freight for a total of 482 tons of freight in the first quarter.

For a complete report of MIA’s 2010 first quarter statistics, go to http://www.miami-airport.com/monthly_traffic_mar_2010.asp.

MIA Volunteer of the Year Award Goes to a 45-Year Veteran School Teacher

After teaching elementary school in the Miami-Dade County Public Schools system for 45 years and earning a master’s and doctorate degree in education, Carol Dunstall decided that she still wanted to do more to educate her community and became a Volunteer Ambassador at Miami International Airport. In recognition of her hundreds of volunteer hours and tireless efforts to assist travelers, Dunstall was named MIA’s Volunteer Ambassador of the Year at the airport’s Volunteer Ambassador Recognition Gala on Friday, April 23rd.

Whether it’s decorating the Volunteer Ambassador office, driving travelers to their concourse on the courtesy trolley, or using her sign language skills to connect with the hearing-impaired, Dunstall is raising the bar for customer service excellence at MIA. For more information about volunteering at MIA, click here.

US$2.8-Billion Facelift Making Airport More User-friendly

By Ingrid Brown Sunday Finance senior reporter browni@jamaicaobserver.com
Sunday, April 25, 2010

Travelling through Miami International Airport (MIA) -- one of the leading United States gateways to the Caribbean -- is expected to be a much more pleasant experience with the completion next fall of a three-phase expansion project on the North Terminal, the Latin American and Caribbean hub for American Airlines and its partner American Eagle. Read more

Simply Sunflowers – A New Exhibition at MIA

  to  
Connector Gallery,
just past security checkpoint

The unique combination of beauty with function is the special magic of sunflowers, symbol of the sun god in the early Americas, source of food and fuel and spring of inspiration for artists through time. Turning to follow the sun with open faces,
sunflowers suggest reverence, warmth and happiness. Read more

This exhibition is dedicated to MIA’s beloved employee, Andrea Ferrer, who passed on May 28, 2008, and whose love of sunflowers was well-known.   She worked at MIA since 1986.  Her personality, full of good cheer and joy, is fittingly conveyed by this majestic flower.

MIA Britto Store Voted Best New Shop by Travel + Leisure

Travel + Leisure Names the 10 "Best Airport Hot Spots" - Best New Shop: Miami: Britto, Miami International (MIA). Silver-and-enamel sculptures and coffee-table books line the shelves at the first airport shop dedicated to Brazilian artist Romero Britto, whose works have been featured at the Louvre. North Terminal, Concourse D, Gate 32. Read more

Scheduled Air Travel to Europe Has Resumed Normal Operations

If you are a U.S. citizen or permanent resident traveling from MIA to Europe, contact your airline for the latest information regarding your flight. 

If you are returning to Europe under a visa or the Visa Waiver Program, please read MIA's travel advisory.

Miami Herald - Your airplane ticket might not get you to Europe, but it will get you into a Miami tourist attraction. The Miami Seaquarium is offering European passengers stranded at Miami International Airport free admission to the park. Passengers must have a European passport and a return ticket dated between April 14 and April 23. For each airline ticket shown, one admission will be given. This offer cannot be combined with any other offer. It expires Friday. More information about the Seaquarium is available at www.miamiseaquarium.com.

National Volunteer Week 2010 is April 18-24

View slideshow

This year's theme, "Celebrating People in Action," honors those who dedicate themselves to taking action and bettering their communities. MIA’s Volunteer Ambassadors embody this theme. They devote their time and talents to welcoming and assisting passengers as greeters to our community.

Let’s all celebrate the value of MIA Ambassadors—if you see a volunteer in MIA’s terminal, just take a minute and say, “Thank you.” Show them we care – they make a world of difference!

For more information on volunteering at MIA, visit http://www.miami-airport.com/volunteer_program.asp.

MIA's Flight Guide - April 1, 2010 - July 1, 2010

To maintain the Flight Guide both pocket sized and manageable, minor departure time changes of 20 minutes or less will not be reflected. Seasonal cancellations or frequencies will not be listed either, as these items triple the space requirements per flight listing. Multiple stop markets are not shown when there is no round trip multiple stop service available. Please call your airline or travel agent to verify flight numbers, frequency of operation, and departure and arrival times Download Flight Guide.

Airport Director to Receive International Achievement Award

On May 20, Florida’s international community and the World Trade Center Miami’s Board of Directors will present Florida’s International Achievement Award for 2009 to José Abreu, Miami-Dade Aviation Department Director, and Bill Johnson, Director, Port of Miami, for their distinguished performance in managing the aviation and seaport departments and for furthering the growth of Miami’s and Florida’s international trade.

This will be the 25th year that the World Trade Center Miami has presented Florida’s “International Achievement Award” to outstanding executives or corporations whose unqualified commitment to the promotion of international trade has done the most to advance Miami and Florida’s position as the “Trade and Logistics Center of the Americas.”

José Abreu is recognized for his leadership in cargo growth, market expansion and diversification and capital improvements for Miami International Airport. Also, his efforts are applauded for developing new markets in Asia Pacific as well as for his management of Miami’s general aviation airports.  For more information, go to http://www.worldtrade.org/World_Trade_Week/Awards.asp.    

First “Green” Transatlantic Flight by a U.S. Airline Arrives at MIA

On April 7, American Airlines became the first US airline to test next-generation technology and procedures on a transatlantic flight aboard a 767-300 from Paris Charles de Gaulle to MIA, using several fuel conservation measures including single-engine taxi on departure and arrival, continuous climb and descent, a tailored arrival and "several key elements" of its existing fuel conservation program Fuel Smart.  To read more, go to http://atwonline.com/news/story.html?storyID=19950.

American Eagle Now Flies from MIA to Birmingham and Pensacola

American Airlines' regional affiliate, American Eagle, launched two new daily nonstop flights from MIA on Wednesday, April 7. American Eagle now provides service from MIA to Birmingham-Shuttlesworth International Airport and Pensacola Gulf Coast Regional Airport (PNS) with 50-seat Embraer.

MIA will be initiating SunPass Plus in April 2010

Not a SunPass Plus member? You can sign up for Easy Pay automatic replenishment using your credit card or check card. Please call 1-888-865-5352 or visit www.sunpass.com online. Select the Easy Pay replenishment option.

Click here for more information.

New Passenger and Cargo Service Announcements at MIA

Miami International Airport continues to attract additional flights to its passenger and cargo networks.  American Airlines announced this month that it will operate a third daily flight to Buenos Aires from July 2 through Aug. 23, 2010.  Cathay Pacific Airways began last week its fourth weekly cargo flight from Hong Kong, the world's busiest cargo hub, after beginning service at MIA last year with three flights a week.  Also last week, Lufthansa commenced three-times-a-week service to Munich, which joined Frankfurt and Dusseldorf as other destinations served by Lufthansa from MIA.

Read the Latest Issue of MIA Connections

Where are the newest places to shop and eat at MIA’s North Terminal?  What’s the fastest, cheapest way to get from the airport to Miami Beach without a car?  And is that really a train line being built to MIA?  Find out all that and more in MIA Connections, your e-magazine for what’s new at MIA. 

MIA is First U.S. Airport with AirportMD

MIA is proud to be the first U.S. airport location for AirportMD, a state-of-the-art, full-service walk-in medical clinic serving airport users and employees.  Services provided include urgent care, routine medical care, prescriptions, immunizations,  vaccines, travel health preventive medicine and health education.  To staff and manage the clinic, AirportMD has partnered with leading local physicians who also staff Baptist Health of South Florida’s urgent care facilities throughout Miami-Dade County.  Located pre-security near the Concourse H security checkpoint, AirportMD is open daily from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.  For more information, go to www.airportmd.com or call 305-869-4075.

MIA Welcomes Non-Stop Service from Madrid by Air Europa

Spanish carrier Air Europa began non-stop service from Madrid to MIA on March 19 and was welcomed with a water cannon salute by Miami-Dade Fire Rescue. Air Europa will operate four weekly flights to Madrid using Airbus A330-200 aircraft. The airline will also renew non-stop service to Tenerife, Canary Islands on June 19. Air Europa first began operating at MIA on June 20, 2009, with seasonal service to Tenerife that concluded on January 9.

A recent economic impact study shows that Air Europa’s service from Madrid and Tenerife will directly and indirectly contribute 1,354 jobs and more than $116 million in business revenue to the Miami-Dade County economy.

Airport-Wide Customer Service Reward & Recognition Program

Exceptional customer service is vital to the success and the future of Miami International Airport and plays a pivotal role in the vitality of our local economy. The greetings and services that travelers receive while using our facilities set the tone for their experiences and perceptions of Greater Miami. All airport employees, whether directly or indirectly, have contact with customers in one way or another. Every day, every one of these employees has the opportunity to brighten a customer’s day.

To laud airport employees who have provided excellent service to our customers, the Aviation Department has established the Airport-wide Customer Service Reward & Recognition Program (R&R). This program is designed to recognize our best in the field of customer service. Any employee of the many companies and government agencies operating at MIA and MDAD’s General Aviation Airports is eligible for an R&R nomination and can, in turn, also nominate any other employee.

| Website | Flyer | Nomination Form | E-mail | Ph. 305-876-7724 |

MIA Excels at FAA Inspection 13 Years in a Row

In March, Miami International Airport (MIA) received for the 13th consecutive year a zero-discrepancy rating in the Federal Aviation Administration’s (FAA) annual Part 139 inspection – the highest rating possible.

The annual inspection, which took place over four days, certifies MIA to operate as a commercial airport and measures compliance with FAA safety regulations in areas including: the Miami-Dade Fire-Rescue Department’s airport station training curriculum; basic emergency medical care training curriculum; MIA’s emergency and triennial disaster exercise; records of airport self-inspection for the past 12 months; training for pedestrians and ground vehicle operators with access to the movement and safety areas; the condition of paved areas; airfield signage; and wildlife hazard management.

In all categories, MIA was found to have zero discrepancies in non-compliance.

New Art Exhibition at South Terminal

Temporary Altars is a series expressing artist Teresa Camozzi’s search for the spiritual in the midst of a turbulent global environment. The “altars” are created in the tradition of Tibetan Thangka paintings, portable references for meditation. The mobiles consist of chiffon panels created by composing purified glass vessels on a spinning turntable. The irretrievable moments of changing light patterns are then captured through digital photography.

 
South Terminal, East Elevator Lobby
3rd and 4th Levels near Club America

40 at a time, 35,000 MIA workers train to better help visitors

Miami Today - At first glance, the 40 or so men and women sitting in school desks Monday at Miami International Airport customer service training seemed anything but uniform. Two younger-looking women sat up straight toward the front of the Miami-Dade Aviation Department training room, looking polished in heels; handbags at their sides. A spectacled, gray-haired man who could have been a professor leaned against the wall to the right. And toward the back, a row of gruff men in neon-orange vests striped with reflective tape sat slightly slumped but attentive. Despite coming from different fields — construction, cargo and more — all had one thing in common: as new hires at Miami International, they're now tourism-industry representatives. Continue

FAA Honors Kendall-Tamiami Airport Manager

ATLANTA, GA -The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Southern Region Airports Division has named Michael J. Handrahan, manager of the Kendall-Tamiami Airport in Miami, as its 2009 General Aviation Airport Manager of the Year. The award is presented annually to the general aviation airport manager who demonstrates outstanding leadership.

"Mike Handrahan sets a strong example for airport directors around the country," said Winsome A. Lenfert, Manager, Airports Division, FAA Southern Region. "During his tenure, Handrahan has made a positive impact at the airport. He is well deserving of this honor." Continue

Freight that Can't Wait is Big Business at MIA

The Miami Herald - Using more than 80 airlines -- including cargo carriers and passenger airlines that ship cargo in the bellies of their planes -- MIA's air freight operations provide a vital trade link between the United States, Latin America and the Caribbean. MIA handles about 82 percent of all air imports from Latin America and the Caribbean as well as about 79 percent of all U.S. exports to the region. Continue

Haitian Relief Efforts at MIA

Read the Florida Airports Council (FAC) Airmail newsletter article about MIA's massive relief effort following January 12 earthquake in Haiti, one of the largest natural disasters in the history of the western hemisphere. Continue

State of the Ports 2010

In February at the 13th Annual State of the Ports Briefing, hosted by World Trade Center Miami, Miami-Dade Aviation Director José Abreu discussed MIA’s achievements in 2009 and goals for 2010. Despite the tough economy, MIA plans on a bright future. Continue

Don’t Forget That You Can Valet at MIA

In a rush to find a parking space and check in for your flight?  Look no further than the Valet Parking Lot at MIA, located in the Dolphin long-term garage directly across from the new American Airlines check-in area on the departures level. Parking attendants park your car, leaving you free to get to your flight. Just drop off your vehicle, leave your keys, get your valet parking ticket, and walk directly across to the North Terminal or take the third level moving walkway to the Central or South Terminal. Be ready to tell the parking attendant when you plan to return.  Returning passengers can call the number on their valet parking ticket to alert the attendant that your flight has arrived so your vehicle will be ready when you get there.  For more information, go to http://www.miami-airport.com/parking_rates.asp#valet.

MIA Lost and Found Auction on March 20

Hundreds of items misplaced at Miami International Airport for more than 60 days will be auctioned at bargain prices on Saturday, March 20, beginning at 9:30 a.m., at 5600 N.W. 36th Street (Building 845), Third Floor (mapquest location). Attendees may inspect items, excluding luggage, from 8:30 to 9:30 a.m. Auction items include luggage, laptop computers, cellular phones, digital cameras, iPods, CD and DVD players, jewelry, toys, sporting goods and more. Admission is $3. Children under 12 years old are free and complimentary parking is available. All sales are cash and no refunds will be provided. A 15-percent buyer premium will be included. For more information, call auctioneer Paul May at 305-778-0568.

MIA Hosts Art Exhibit Documenting the History of Haiti

Memoire sans Histoire, a collection of recent works by Haitian-born Miami artist Edouard Duval-Carrié that chronicles the major events in Haiti’s past, is on display through May 15 at Miami International Airport’s Central Terminal Gallery (Concourse E, just past the security checkpoint).  Aside from his interest in Haiti’s history, Duval-Carrié’s work focuses on the exploration of new materials.  In contrast, for example, to the use of bronze as a characteristic material for sculpture, he enjoys working with modern substances like resin and aluminum.  For more information regarding Memoire sans Histoire, go to http://www.miami-airport.com/central_terminal.asp or contact the Miami-Dade Aviation Department Division of Fine Arts and Cultural Affairs at 305-876-0749.

IBC to begin Charter Service from MIA to Cap-Haitien

IBC Airways, Inc. has announced it will begin non-stop service to Cap-Haitien, Haiti from Miami International Airport (MIA), beginning April 5, 2010. IBC will operate three days a week (Monday, Friday, Saturday) using SAAB-340 aircraft with 30 seats. The Cap-Haitien service is the first between Miami and the northern Haitian city since Lynx Airlines provided service in 2008. Daily service to Haiti from MIA is provided to Port-Au-Prince by American Airlines, Air France and Insel Air.

Miami International Airport: An entirely new facility

With the new 1.7 million square foot South Terminal now open and the 3.2 million square foot North Terminal scheduled for completion in 2011, MIA is prepared for the future.

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Kids with Cameras Art Exhibition at MIA Benefits Haitian Children

Now on display through August in Miami International Airport's South Terminal, Kids with Cameras: Haiti Unmasked is a collection of photographs taken by 12 children from the Foyer Maurice Sixto, a school for child domestic workers located in Carrefour near Port-au-Prince.  Under the guidance of documentary photographer Gigi Cohen in January 2005, these children took self portraits, documenting their home lives and the annual celebration of Carnival.  In view of the recent tragedy in Haiti, Kids with Cameras is donating 100 percent of the proceeds from this exhibit to the Foyer Maurice Sixto to help support the children of Haiti. To learn more about this exhibition, visit www.kids-with-cameras.org/haiti.  Kids with Cameras: Haiti Unmasked is on display in South Terminal's concession hall past the security checkpoint between concourses H and J.

More Restaurants and Stores Open in North Terminal

In addition to a new check-in and baggage claim area that opened in November, dazzling new stores and restaurants are now available in MIA's North Terminal as well. New concessions that have opened since November are: Au Bon Pain; Bijoux Terner; Boca Bons; Shop Britto; Coco Bay; Coffee Beanery; Corona Beach House; Inmotion Entertainment; Johnston & Murphy; Pizza Hut; Starbucks; StarFire Designs jewelry; two Sunglass Hut locations; and Sushi Maki.  North Terminal, which serves American Airlines passengers, currently has more than 40 dining, retail and duty free concession locations. 

Air Europa Now Connecting Miami and Madrid

Air Europa, one of Europe's most modern and fastest growing airlines, has announced that it will start non-stop service from Miami International Airport to Madrid on March 19.  Air Europa will offer convenient connections to more than 20 cities in Spain and to some of the most important European capitals, such as Paris, Rome and London.  For more information, go to www.aireuropa.com.

World's Largest Aircraft Carries Supplies To Haiti from MIA

The world's largest aircraft landed at Miami International Airport last week to collect and transport relief supplies to earthquake-ravaged Haiti.  The Antonov An-124 from Polet Airlines is the world's largest cargo aircraft. Designed and constructed in the 1980s, the aircraft can carry up to 250 tons of cargo. It was originally built to carry Russian/Ukrainian space shuttles.

Cathay Pacific Airways to Add Fourth Weekly Cargo Flight to MIA

A year after Hong Kong-based airline Cathay Pacific started cargo service from Hong Kong to Miami three times a week, the airline has announced it will add a fourth flight from the world's busiest cargo hub to Miami, the leading international cargo hub in the Americas.  Cathay, China Airlines and Korean Air Cargo offer a total of 15 weekly cargo flights directly from Asia to MIA.  For more information, go to www.cathaypacificcargo.com.

New MIA Rental Car Center Scheduled to Open in May

The Rental Car Center (RCC), the first major component of the overall MIC Program, is scheduled to open in May. Planned as part of the MIC gateway to Greater Miami, the RCC will allow safe and seamless travel for visitors to the South Florida region. Each of its four levels is 20 acres in size; the first three floors are dedicated to storage and maintenance operations and the fourth level will accommodate a spacious customer service lobby where vehicle renters may enter and choose their best option among rental car company offers a virtual rental car shopping mall. All current rental car companies operating inside Miami International Airport (MIA) and many located near the airport will relocate into the consolidated RCC where each company will have its own sales counter.

Once the RCC opens to the traveling public, a consolidated shuttle service will run between the terminals at MIA, transporting South Florida visitors who are renting vehicles to the RCC or back to MIA. The shuttle service will operate for approximately two years until the MIA Mover, a dual track 1.25-mile elevated people mover system, begins service between MIA and the RCC. Ultimately, when the MIA Mover is completed there will be no rental car shuttles circling the airport's lower level. Read more

MIA Improves Rankings Among U.S., State Airports in 2009

Miami International Airport's steady passenger traffic in 2009 despite a full-year of economic recession worldwide made it the busiest airport in Florida and the second-leading airport in the U.S. for international passengers.

MIA was one of the few U.S. airports to maintain stable passenger traffic levels last year, serving 33.9 million passengers in 2009 - down only half a percentage point from 2008. MIA's steady traffic moved it ahead of Los Angeles as the second-leading airport in the U.S. for international passengers after JFK.  MIA also regained its top spot as the busiest airport in Florida after trailing Orlando the last five years.  MIA continues to be Florida's leading international gateway, handling 69.5 percent of the state's arrivals from abroad - more than all the other airports in Florida combined.

MIA retained its domestic market, serving 17.9 million domestic passengers in 2009 - the same number as 2008.  The airport also only lost one percent of its international passengers from the previous year, serving nearly 16 million passengers from abroad.  For the full traffic report, go to http://www.miami-airport.com/2009_traffic_report.asp.

MIA Salutes Super Bowl Champion New Orleans Saints

Miami International Airport provided a send-off ceremony and water cannon salute to the Super Bowl XLIV Champion New Orleans Saints upon its departure from MIA on Monday, February 8.

MIA Adds New Flights to Europe

Five European airlines have announced plans to begin new flights at MIA this year. In March, Lufthansa is scheduled to begin three-times-a-week service from Munich and Air Europa will begin offering four weekly flights from Madrid. French low-cost carrier CorsairFly has announced passenger and cargo service from Paris in June. Transaero has tentatively scheduled passenger service from Moscow to begin May 31 and Alitalia will begin passenger service from Milan in June.

Lufthansa Adds New Route to Miami

Lufthansa will introduce non-stop service between Miami and its Munich hub starting March 29. It will operate the route three times a week, using Airbus A330 aircraft. Lufthansa already offers flights from Miami to Frankfurt and Dusseldorf, Germany. The new route will offer travelers convenient connections three times per week to more than 50 popular European destinations through Lufthansa's largest hub next to Frankfurt.

MIA Leads the Way in Security Among U.S. airports

Recent security breaches at U.S. airports have once again turned the spotlight on MIA as a national model. Thanks to the work of the Miami-Dade Police Airport District, crime at MIA has been reduced to its lowest levels in recorded history. MIA is the only U.S. airport that requires all employees to receive training in Behavior Pattern Recognition, or BPR, which teaches employees to identify suspicious behavior. Nearly all of MIA's 35,000 employees have received BPR training since it began two years ago. For more information, read the latest issue of Airport Improvement magazine at http://www.airportimprovement.com/content/story.php?article=00142.

MIA Featured on Local News Program Issues (video)

Aviation Director José Abreu and Assistant Aviation Director of Operations Lauren Stover were guests last week on the WPBT2 news program Issues, with host Helen Aguirre Ferré, to discuss MIA’s security operations and Capital Improvement Program.  To view the show online, go to http://channel2.typepad.com/issues/video.html.

SunPass Plus is coming to Miami International Airport!

In an effort to speed airport users' entry and exit from MIA's parking garages, the Airport will be initiating SunPass Plus in April 2010.

SunPass Plus is easy and convenient to use. Simply choose the SunPass Plus lanes to  enter and exit the garages. Drive slowly and stop in the SunPass Plus entry/exit lanes until the gate arm opens.  Remember, you must enter through a SunPass Plus lane to be able to use SunPass Plus as a method of payment upon exiting.   At the exit, once the SunPass Plus transponder is recognized, the parking fees will be deducted from your SunPass Plus account and the gate arm will open to allow you to exit.

If you use SunPass Plus and want a receipt, a receipt can be sent immediately to you if SunPass Plus has your mailing address. Access your SunPass Plus transaction by logging on to your account at SunPass.com.
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Not a SunPass Plus member? You can sign up for Easy Pay automatic replenishment using your credit card or check card. Please call 1-888-865-5352 or visit www.sunpass.com online. Select the Easy Pay replenishment option. Please view SunPass Plus brochure for more information or call 305-876-7536 if you have any questions or comments.