Miami International Airport became the busiest US gateway for international passengers while retaining its position as the busiest for international freight in 2021, according to preliminary 2021 airport rankings published last week by Airports Council International (ACI).
MIA remained the busiest airport in the US and the ninth busiest in the world for international tonnage handled, at more than two million metric tonnes.
“The global gateway is also now home to the ninth-busiest airfield in the world, with a total of 387,973 takeoffs and landings by passenger and cargo aircraft in 2021, for a 54 per cent increase over 2020 – the largest increase among the 10 busiest airports worldwide. MIA’s ninth-place finish is its highest global ranking in aircraft operations in decades, and a giant leap from 24th in 2020 and 30th in 2019,” the ACI report highlighted.
MIA finished 2021 with a total of 37.2 million passengers, which was twice its total of 18.6 million in 2020. The global gateway also handled 2.7 million tonnes of freight in 2021, shattering its previous record of 2.3 million tonnes in 2020 by 17 per cent, for its second consecutive year of growth.
Miami-Dade County Mayor Daniella Levine Cava said, “MIA is connecting the world to Miami-Dade County like never before, with a growing number of travel options for passengers to choose from and busy trade routes across the globe.”
Ralph Cutié, MIA Director and CEO said, “Our improved rankings in international passenger traffic and flight operations are more examples of MIA’s successful rebound from the pandemic. MIA continues to attract new and returning airline partners that are expanding our passenger and cargo route networks.”
