As the holidays are approaching, Miami International Airport (MIA) is getting ready to level up its services, expecting a record-breaking crowd. The upcoming holiday season is anticipated to be its busiest travel season to date. Last year, MIA witnessed a staggering 51 million travelers during this season, a record that is expected to be surpassed this year.
Being optimistic about this record-breaking travel season, Greg Chin, the spokesperson for MIA, stated, “Last Thanksgiving, December, and Christmas were record times. We expect another record year this year as well.” Chin further revealed that the airport is gearing up for an estimated 52 million passengers by the end of the year.
During the Thanksgiving holiday alone, MIA is preparing to accommodate around 1.8 million travelers, which comes to an average of about 150,000 passengers daily. Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport (FLL) is also experiencing a similar surge in traffic. The airport is expecting nearly 760,000 passengers, averaging more than 108,000 individuals daily, to fly in and out during the Thanksgiving period.
This significant rise in the number of passengers has coincided with American Airlines’ expansion plans at its Miami hub. This hints at an expected increase in the number of flights to various destinations across the Caribbean, Latin America, and the West Coast. Emphasizing the scale of this expansion, Juan Carlos Liscano, the Vice President of the American Airlines Miami Hub, shared, “This schedule, which is American Airlines’ largest schedule ever at Miami International, is 10% larger than 2022, and 2022 for us was already larger than 2019.”
American Airlines recently announced a substantial increase in service to multiple destinations as part of this expansion. The airline will expand its services to 11 destinations in the Caribbean, such as Ocho Rios, Jamaica, Governor’s Harbour, Bahamas, Tortola, British Virgin Islands, and St. Maarten. Additionally, American Airlines is also planning to boost capacity to key West Coast destinations by introducing year-round non-stop flights to destinations like Portland, Oregon (PDX); Sacramento, California (SMF); and Orange County, California (SNA) starting in January next year.
Amidst this bustling travel season, Clint Henderson, the managing editor at the travel site “The Points Guy,” recommended travelers secure their bookings for this holiday season well in advance. Henderson advised, “If you’re waiting to book Thanksgiving, it’s only gonna get more expensive from here. We expect anywhere between $30 and $40 a day for ticket prices to increase every day until the holiday.” However, he also reassured travelers regarding the accessibility of better fares for the December holidays right now, emphasizing the importance of timely action.
Frequent traveler Darwin Telemaque also shared some invaluable insights from his experience to help travelers navigate the airport efficiently. He recommended enrolling in programs such as TSA PreCheck and leveraging mobile passport services to streamline the lengthy security and immigration procedures. Telemaque highlighted the importance of preparedness, encouraging travelers to keep track of real-time updates on parking availability and TSA wait times through airline and airport applications.
With the holiday season approaching, Miami International Airport is all set with enhanced services and efficient operations to accommodate the influx of passengers. The airport is striving to ensure a seamless travel experience for all. Meanwhile, travelers are advised to plan ahead, closely monitor fares, and utilize available resources to make their journeys hassle-free.
