Miami International Airport Sets New Records
MIAMI (CBSMiami) – If you've ever been to Miami International Airport, you know just how busy it can get.
Last year they set a record.
On Thursday airport officials announce that they set a new all time record or passenger and cargo traffic in 2012 with 39.5 million passengers and 2.1 million tons of cargo.
The passenger increase was 3.0 percent, up more than 1.1 million passengers from 2011. International passengers led the way with an increase of 5.2 percent to 19.4 million travelers, while domestic passengers grew by one percent to 20.1 million.
Cargo volume grew 4.6 percent.
"Despite a national economy still struggling to rebound, MIA continues to reach new heights as our community's primary economic engine," said Miami-Dade County Mayor Carlos Gimenez.
Airport officials said MIA's passenger traffic benefited from hub carrier American Airlines which last November started its largest schedule ever at the airport with 328 flights daily and expanded service to 38 cities.
While cargo growth at MIA was greater than projected in 2012, its value increased even more. Air trade value set a record in 2011 with more than $61 billion worth of goods and products transported to/from MIA, and estimates for 2012 are for that record to be surpassed by 10 percent, based on results through November.
