29 January 2011
Miami International Airport set a new record for passengers in 2010: 35.7 million, shattering the 34.5 million peak posted in 1997.
MIA’s passenger count grew 5.4 percent from a year earlier. International passengers rose 5.8 percent to 16.9 million and domestic traffic 5 percent to 18.8 million, the airport said in a statement.
Gains came partly from American Airlines’ expansion of its Latin American and Caribbean hub. American and American Eagle now operate 310 flights per day at MIA and handle about 70 percent of the airport’s total passenger traffic.
Eight other carriers began new international routes at MIA last year, helping the airport win the Airline Network News and Analysis award in 2010 for “U.S. Airport with The Most New International Routes.”
In air cargo, MIA nearly matched its record last year, handling 1.99 million tons of freight, up 18.8 percent from the previous year. It had handled 2 million tons in 2007 before the global recession hit.
Air cargo gains last year came partly from increased trade with fast-growing Brazil and from added routes with Asia, the airport said.
MIA is the No. 1 airport in the United States and number nine worldwide for international freight.
For more information, visit www.miami-airport.com.