Miami International Airport (MIA) is set to have a record-breaking spring break travel season as the hub continues with the strong growth from last year. According to data from Cirium, MIA expects nearly 3,500 weekly departing flights this month, operated by 49 airlines worldwide.

A record spring break season

Passenger totals at Miami International in January and February were all-time highs for those months. In February, the airport received a total of 4.1 million passengers for an average of nearly 150,000 travelers per day – an increase of 7% over last February and 5% over pre-pandemic February 2020. The leading airlines operating out of this hub are American Airlines by a mile, followed by Delta Air Lines and Southwest Airlines.

The airport expects this upward trend to continue in March when spring break periods for colleges and grade schools are scheduled.

To help future travelers, Miami provided several travel tips. Here are some of them:

1. Arrive at least three hours before a domestic flight and 3.5 hours before an international flight
2. Check-in online before arriving at MIA
3. Pre-schedule the TSA checkpoint screening time if departing from concourses D, E, H, and J.
4. Order food and drinks through MIA's mobile ordering service, MIA2GO
5. Check TSA tips to streamline checkpoint screening, such as wearing easily removable shoes and following the 3-1-1 rule for liquids or gels.

Airlines operating in Miami

American Airlines is Miami's top airline. The US carrier has scheduled 2,224 weekly departures from Miami, according to data from Cirium. American operates 64% of all departures and 60% of all seats available. It is followed by Delta Air Lines, which has scheduled 196 departures weekly, and Southwest Airlines, with 147 weekly departures.

Atlanta and New York are the cities with the most direct connectivity with Miami International. There are 133 weekly departures to Atlanta and 351 to New York, divided among the three airports serving this city (130 to JFK, 117 to LaGuardia, and 104 to Newark).

Miami's most important international destination is Bogota. It has 63 weekly flights, followed by Panama City Tocumen with 58 and Havana with 55.

Carrying on 2022 strong numbers

Last year was the busiest in the history of Miami International. The Florida airport served more than 50.6 million passengers in 2022, shattering its record of 45.9 million set in 2019 by nearly 10%. It also surpassed Orlando International's (MCO) 2022 total of 50.1 million travelers by half a million.

Daniella Levine Cava, Miami-Dade County Mayor, said in a statement last month,

"In addition to MIA leading our community's successful economic recovery from the pandemic, it is again leading the way for the state of Florida as well! Congratulations to the MIA team and partners on surpassing 50 million passengers for the first time in its history. Passenger growth represents tourism revenue, job creation, and expanded opportunities in Miami-Dade County – making all county residents proud."

American Airlines and its subsidiary Envoy had 31.5 million passengers in Miami in 2022, 63% of the airport's total and an increase of nearly one million passengers over 2019.

Are you planning to fly through Miami International Airport this year? Let us know in the comments below.

Source: Cirium.

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  Miami International Airport

  IATA/ICAO Code:

  MIA/KMIA

  Country:

  United States

  CEO:

  Ralph Cutié

  Passenger Count :

  37,302,456 (2021)

  Runways :

  8L/26R - 2,621m (8,600ft) | 8R/26L - 3,202m (10,505ft) | 9/27 - 3,967m (13,015ft) | 12/30 - 2,853m (9,360ft)

  Terminals:

  North Terminal | Central Terminal | South Terminal