FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT: Greg Chin
July 24, 2012
Communications Director
305.876.7017
MIA’S NEW INTERNATIONAL ARRIVALS FACILITY OPENS JULY 31
North Terminal international Arrivals Facility
For hi-res images, go to http://www.miami-airport.com/photos.asp and scroll down.
(Miami-Dade County, FL) – Beginning July 31, 2012, international passengers flying
Miami International Airport hub carrier American Airlines and all other airlines in
concourses D, E and F will be welcomed to the U.S. by a new three-level, 400,000square-foot international arrivals facility twice the size of the existing Concourse E
facility. The dazzling new area is located in the middle of North Terminal and is
adjacent to the Concourse D skytrain, for quick access from any of the 47 gates in North
Terminal within four minutes.
Upon arrival at the new facility, international travelers will be greeted by a passport
control area featuring 72 lanes that can process 2,000 passengers per hour – twice the
capacity of Concourse E’s 36 lanes. MIA is also one of the only U.S. airports with six
dedicated lanes for Global Entry, which provides expedited processing for travelers who
have registered with U.S. Customs and Border Protection.
Once processed, passengers will collect their checked bags in a spacious new secondlevel baggage claim area and then exit on either the second level for connecting flights
or to the first level greeter’s lobby. Befitting for one of the top international gateways to
the U.S., the terrazzo floor of the new greeter’s lobby features a rendering of the globe
titled “Gateway of the World.”
North Terminal’s new international arrivals facility opens at a time when visitors to
Miami-Dade County are at record-breaking numbers. MIA is now the top U.S. airport for
international flights, with nearly 1,300 weekly flights serving 85 international
destinations. With American Airlines and American Eagle combining to handle nearly
70 percent of MIA’s passengers, and with 95 percent of Miami-Dade County’s visitors
arriving through MIA, the new North Terminal facility will soon be the County’s main
front door to the world. For more information about the new MIA, visit http://www.miamiairport.com/.
###
http://www.local10.com/news/New-customs-wing-at-MIA-ready-for-grand-opening//1717324/15565706/-/f26ooiz//index.html?treets=mia&tid=2656268226813&tml=mia_8pm&tmi=mia_8pm_1_07000207162012&ts=
H (see link for video)
New customs wing at MIA ready for grand opening
Facility to allow faster processing
Author: Todd Tongen, ttongen@Local10.com
Published On: Jul 16 2012 05:58:36 PM EDT Updated On: Jul 16 2012 09:01:22 PM EDT
MIAMI -
After a bit of a delay, the new customs and immigration wing at Miami International
Airport is ready for its grand opening.
Coming into the U.S. through MIA can be a real challenge.
"Our old Concourse E facility had reached capacity, so at certain times, we reached a
point where we couldn't process them all," said MIA Communications Director Greg
Chin. "We had to send some passengers to temporary facilities."
Quick Clicks

New baggage system opens at MIA
That takes valuable time. On average, it takes an hour or more to get through
immigration and customs.
So, the airport is opening a new facility to speed things up.
"We are thinking, on an average, it will be 15 to 20 minutes less than it was before,"
Chin said.
Convenience is key for international travelers. That is why the Sky Train drops them off
just one floor above. As soon as they walk into the immigration hall, they realize how
massive it is -- a full football field long.
The new facility opens July 31 at a cost of $180 million. Its 72 passenger lanes are
double the number at the old facility.
It also will include six global entry kiosks, which travelers can use for a small fee. All
users have to do is have their passport scanned, their fingerprints taken and their
retinas read, and if they are approved, they are on their way.
Customs officers have just as much room behind a one-way mirrored wall, and a new
baggage area is connected to American Airlines' fully automated baggage handling
system.
For security, there will be 25 inline explosive detection units at $1 million apiece, Xraying every piece of checked luggage.
"We have five carousels that will open this month, and then at the end of March next
year, we will have all 10 carousels working with the new baggage handling system,"
Chin said.
In order to staff the new facility with immigration and customs officers, the airport will
temporarily close Concourse E until further notice.
Copyright 2012 by Post Newsweek. All rights reserved. This material may not be
published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
www.bizjournals.com/southflorida/news/2012/07/24/new-international-arrivals-facility-to.html
New international arrivals facility to
open at MIA
South Florida Business Journal by Ashley D. Torres, Reporter
Date: Tuesday, July 24, 2012, 12:10pm EDT
The new North Terminal international arrivals facility at Miami International Airport will feature
72 lanes that can process 2,000 passengers per hour.
Ashley D. Torres
Miami International Airport will unveil a new three-level North Terminal international
arrivals facility on July 31.
The 400,000-square foot facility is twice the size of the existing Concourse E facility, according
to a news release. International passengers flying into concourses D, E and F will pass through a
passport control area featuring 72 lanes that can process 2,000 passengers per hour. Once
processed, passengers will collect their checked baggage in a new second-level baggage claim
area and then exit on the either the second level for connecting flights or on the first level to the
greeter’s lobby.
MIA is one of the only U.S. airports that will have six dedicated lanes for Global Entry, which
provides expedited processing for travelers that register with U.S. Customs and Border
Protection.
The international arrivals facility is yet another component of the airport’s $2.9 billion North
Terminal. On July 11, the terminal’s long-awaited $220 million automated baggage handling
system concluded 105 days of successful operations.
MIA ranks No. 1 for international flights at U.S. airports, with nearly 1,300 weekly flights
serving 85 international destinations.
American Airlines houses its Caribbean and Latin American hub at MIA's North Terminal and
the airline and its regional affiliate American Eagle handle nearly 70 percent of Miami airport
passengers.
Metrorail’s new Miami International Airport station will open on Saturday, making the airport
accessible by mass transit in Miami-Dade and in Broward and Palm Beach counties through its
connection to Tri-Rail.
Travel
DEALS, TIPS AND TRENDS
MIA’s new international arrivals facility opens July 31
by: Arlene Satchell
July 26th, 2012 | 10:59
AM
International passengers of American Airlines and other carriers located in Concourse D, E and F
of the Miami International Airport arriving Tuesday will be welcomed in a new facility, airport
officials said this week.
The new three-level, 400,000-square-foot international arrivals facility is twice the size of the
existing one in Concourse E, and is located in the center of the North Terminal, adjacent to the
Concourse D skytrain. That makes it within a four minute reach from any of the 47 gates in North
Terminal, officials said Tuesday in a release.
Miami International Airport's new international arrivals facility, Miami-Dade Aviation
Department/COURTESY
The new arrivals facility features a passport control area with 72 lanes that can process 2,000
passengers per hour – twice the capacity of Concourse E’s 36 lanes.
MIA is also one of a few U.S. airports with six dedicated lanes for Global Entry that provides
expedited processing for travelers who have registered with U.S. Customs and Border Protection.
After passport processing in the facility, travelers will then collect their checked bags in the
new second-level baggage claim area and then exit on either the second level for connecting flights
or to the first level greeter’s lobby, the airport said.
The North Terminal’s new international arrivals facility is opening at a time when international
arrivals at the airport are at a record high.
MIA is now the top U.S. airport for international flights, with nearly 1,300 weekly flights serving 85
international destinations, officials said.
American Airlines and American Eagle combined handle nearly 70 percent of MIA’s passenger traffic
and 95 percent of Miami-Dade County’s visitors arrive through the airport.
Published 07-25-2012
Coming soon to MIA: new customs and immigration facility (translated from Spanish)
By Jesús Hernández Diario Las Americas
Miami International Airport (MIA) is counting on improving the service of customs and immigration
with a new facility that will greet the arrival of international flights beginning July 31st. A dazzling array
of halls integrated in three levels that stretches over 400,000 square feet.
“The new facility is located in the middle of the modern North Terminal (site of the majority of American
Airlines’ flights) featuring 72 lanes that can process up to 2 thousand passengers every hour”, was the
expectation of Greg Chin, MIA’s Director of Communications. The number doubles the capacity of the
36 lanes serving the existing hall in Concourse E. A necessary investment that not only reduces the
waiting time of the passenger arriving from abroad, but also decreases the chances that a traveler in transit
misses his or her flight and the chances the airline incurs any additional expenses. A drawback that
became an unprecedented setback with the implementation of security measures following September 11,
2001.
“It has immediate access to Skytrain, with connections to all 47 boarding gates, and shall likewise also
serve Concourses D, E and F (linked by corridors) where other airlines operate”, he added.
Once the passenger’s passport has been verified, he shall find his luggage in the second level, then
proceed on to customs and either exit the airport or continue on to another flight.
“The new facility opens at a time when new records are being set by the number of visitors to MiamiDade”, the Director of Communications pointed out.
“MIA is now the leader for international flights in the nation with close to 1,300 weekly flights serving
85 international destinations” he added.
In fact, MIA was announcing the record set by the 38.3 million passengers last year, 18.4 million of
which came aboard international flights. All of this in spite of the remodeling of the airport that never
seems to end.
“If we keep in mind that American Airlines and American Eagle together serve 70 per cent of all
passengers at MIA and that 95 per cent of the visitors to Miami-Dade enter through the airport, I am
confident that the new facilities in the North Terminal shall soon be the County’s ‘Gateway to the
World’”, he stated.
Now the airport is planning to remodel the main building with an ambitious project. A reconstruction
plan that shall include a multi-storey shopping center as well as new escalators and access hallways that
would balance the design of the already dated facility with the other two wings of the aviation complex.
A plan in its initial stages that still needs a financial outline and the appropriate approval of Miami-Dade
County authorities.
It should be pointed out that Miami International Airport reported earnings of 661.6 million dollars last
year. A substantial increase of 15.4 % compared to the $573.5 million reported in 2010, accomplished by
the significant increase in the number of passengers reflected in the growth in revenues derived from
airport fees.
The airport and the airlines, as well as the providers of related services, pump close to 30 billion dollars,
directly or indirectly, into the Miami-Dade economy while simultaneously maintaining close to 28
thousand jobs in the area and its surroundings. A remarkable figure that is the equivalent of 1 out of
every 4 jobs in existence.
Posted on: July 24, 2012
Miami airport set to open new facility for
international arrivals
By Gay Nagle Myers
The Miami airport's new international arrivals facility, twice the size of the existing Concourse E
facility, opens July 31.
The three-level, 40,000-square-foot area is in the middle of North Terminal, adjacent to the
Concourse D skytrain. According to the airport, the skytrain offers access to the 47 gates in North
Terminal within four minutes.
After arrival in the new facility, international passengers enter the passport control area with 72
lanes. The airport said the new area will process 2,000 passengers per hour, twice the capacity of
Concourse E's 36 lanes.
Six lanes will serve members of Global Entry, a government program that offers vetted travelers
expedited processing.
After passport control, passengers collect bags in a new baggage-claim area on the second level,
where they can exit for connecting flights.
Miami's airport says it handles 1,300 international flights per week.
This page is protected by Copyright laws. Do Not Copy. Purchase Reprint
Posted on Sun, Jul. 29, 2012
Travel briefs
Miami Airport
Clearing Customs to get quicker
Beginning Tuesday, international passengers arriving at Miami International Airport’s
Concourses D, E and F will be welcomed by a new three-level, 400,000-square-foot
passport control area. With 72 lanes, Customs officers can process 2,000 passengers
per hour — twice the capacity of Concourse E’s 36 lanes.
MIA is now the top U.S. airport for international flights, with nearly 1,300 weekly flights
serving 85 international destinations.
Posted on Mon, Jul. 30, 2012
New $180 million arrivals center opens at MIA
By Hannah Sampson
hsampson@MiamiHerald.com
Miami International Airport opens its international arrivals center Tuesday , the last major step of a multiyear, multi-billion-dollar project to modernize the airport. Here officials tour the path that people will take
as they go to pick up their baggage.
The final phase of a long-awaited, multi-billion dollar Miami International Airport
improvement project wraps up Tuesday.
Almost.
The new $180 million international arrivals center, a 400,000-square-foot facility on
three levels, starts processing an average of 22,000 people a day after nearly three
years of construction.
Tuesday’s opening essentially completes a $3 billion project to expand, beautify and
modernize the airport’s north terminal that has been in the works since the mid-1990s.
Eleven years after the groundbreaking, all the construction and pardon-our-dust
disarray — not to mention cost overruns, delays and embarrassments — are nearly
history.
“It’s an amazing weight off my shoulders,” said Airport Director José Abreu, who has
overseen the project since 2005.
Some of the most recent highlights during the extended renovation include the $130
million Concourse D skytrain, which opened in September of 2010 and the new $220
million baggage handling system, which started operating in March. Those followed the
$1.1 billion overhaul of the South Terminal, where Concourses H and J include airlines
such as Delta, United, Lufthansa and Air France.
This new federal inspection center should spare international travelers the long walks
and disorganized lines that have plagued arrivals in the new north terminal, officials say.
“It’s just mass chaos normally,” said Rolando Suliveras Jr., port director for U.S.
Customs and Border Protection at MIA. “We’re moving away from that. We’re going to
controlled chaos.”
Although the new center is being hailed by federal customs and airport officials alike, it
opens with some level of disappointment. The north terminal processing center, with 72
lanes and six Global Entry kiosks for pre-cleared travelers, was supposed to operate at
the same time as the 36-lane central terminal’s facility in Concourse E to ease waits that
can top two hours.
Eventually, Abreu said, that is the plan. But for now, until more Customs and Border
Protection employees can be hired for both facilities, only the new north center will be
open with at least 60 lanes open during peak times. It will serve passengers from
American Airlines’ Concourse D as well as international flights that come in to
Concourses E and F, including Iberia, British Airways and Virgin Atlantic.
Both Abreu and Suliveras said the airport’s international growth has come as a surprise;
MIA is now the top airport for international flights. Through June, nearly 9.6 million
international passengers traveled through MIA, an increase of 8 percent over the first
half of 2011. That’s on top of 9 percent international growth last year. “Nobody,
including me, could have forecast the kind of international passenger growth that we’ve
experienced,” Abreu said.
As the growth is expected to continue with American Airlines adding additional
international flights,more items remain on the to-do list.
Still unfinished in the new terminal are eight security stations to re-check connecting
travelers and five baggage claim carousels in addition to the five opening Tuesday.
Those last touches, held up by demolition of the terminal’s old baggage system, are
expected to come online by March.
Even before those are finished, officials hope to shave 30-45 minutes off the total time
for connecting travelers with the new facility opened.
Also on tap for March: the opening of three American Airlines gates in Concourse D
stationed near the old baggage shed. For now, Abreu said, the new federal arrivals
center is about 85 percent done and the overall North Terminal is 95 percent complete.
“The entire north terminal program has been extremely challenging because of staging,”
he said. “We had to work while maintaining passenger traffic, sometimes through a
maze to be able to turn as much area as we could over to the contractor. It has literally
been like retiling your bathroom while you’re taking a shower.”
Just added to the list of new airport amenities last weekend was the new $506 million
Metrorail Orange Line that can connect travelers to downtown Miami.
“This is a major one-two victory for the destination,” said William D. Talbert III, president
and CEO of the Greater Miami Convention & Visitors Bureau. “You’ve got this really
state-of-the-art center and rail line. These are game changers.”
The new facility arrives at a time of major change for its biggest user, American Airlines.
The company, which handles about 70 percent of the airport’s traffic, is in the midst of
reorganizing under federal bankruptcy protection but has said its future plans include
significant growth at hubs including Miami.
Profitable Latin American routes are especially important for American’s operations in
Miami, making a more efficient and welcoming processing center a necessity.
“Anything that’s going to make traveling to Miami easier, that’s good for American,” said
Marilyn DeVoe, vice president for American Airlines’ Miami hub.
Travel expert John E. DiScala, who runs the JohnnyJet.com website, said the airport
had needed the upgrades. He used to go out of his way to avoid Miami International
Airport whenever possible, but said he now enjoys traveling through the new north
terminal.
Even as this phase of improvements wrap up, more projects loom. An environmental
assessment — a very early step — for a proposed “Airport City” project with two hotels,
office and retail space could be finished by November. Also ahead, in the very distant
future, is an improvement project for the central terminal, made up of Concourses E, F
and G, which is smaller and far less appealing than its shiny new neighbors to the north
and south.
Abreu said long-range plans don’t call for a major re-working of that area until 2024. The
cost is expected to reach billions of dollars and the area only handles about 8 percent of
the airport’s traffic. But in the interim, he wants to invest in some cosmetic upgrades.
For frequent traveler and Miami Beach businessman Ricky Arriola, a completely
spruced-up airport would be welcome: “I think Miami can hold its head up high and say
the newer terminals are world class, or at least very comparable to what world class is
from an appearance standpoint. The problem is that those other terminals are just really
antiquated. It’s an eyesore for Miami.”
© 2012 Miami Herald Media Company. All Rights Reserved.
http://www.miamiherald.com
Read more here: http://www.miamiherald.com/2012/07/30/v-print/2922313/new-180million-arrivals-center.html#storylink=cpy
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Local
New $180 Million International Arrivals Facility
Opens At MIA
July 31, 2012 9:06 AM
International passengers arriving at Miami International Airport in concourses D, E and F on Tuesday
were the first pass through the new three-level, 400,000-square-foot international arrivals facility.
(Source: CBS4)
Click on link to view video: http://miami.cbslocal.com/2012/07/31/145698/
– International passengers arriving at Miami International Airport on American Airlines and other airlines in
concourses D, E and F on Tuesday were the first pass through the new three-level, 400,000-square-foot international
arrivals facility.
Airport officials say the new $180 million facility in the middle of the North Terminal is adjacent to the skytrain which
can whisk passengers to any of the other 47 gates in the terminal in less than four minutes. In the passport control
area, there are now 72 lanes which can process two thousand passengers an hour. MIA is also one of the only U.S.
airports with six dedicated lanes for Global Entry, which provides expedited processing for travelers who have
registered with U.S. Customs and Border Protection.
The opening of the North Terminal’s new international arrivals facility comes at a time when airport officials say
visitors to Miami-Dade County are at record-breaking numbers. MIA is now the top U.S. airport for international
flights, with nearly 1,300 weekly flights serving 85 international destinations.
87°
90 |
78
SUBMIT PHOTOS | TIPS
Miami Airport Opens New
International Arrivals Hub
New $180 million North Terminal opens at Miami International Airport
By Betty Yu
| Tuesday, Jul 31, 2012 | Updated 8:10 AM EDT
The first travelers and crew members were welcomed to Miami International Airport's new
international arrivals hub around 4 a.m. Tuesday morning.
The hub's opening is part of the final phase of a long-awaited multi-billion dollar MIA
improvement project.
"This is a great day for MIA because our new front door to the world has just opened," said
Deputy Director of MIA Ken Pyatt.
The $180 million North Terminal features a brand new 3-level, 400,000-square-foot center
twice the size of the existing Concourse E. It can process 2,000 international passengers
per hour - twice what the old facility could handle. The new space accommodates a recordbreaking number of passengers.
"That's the whole point, our growth has been phenomenal," Pyatt said. "We are the fastest
growing airport in the United States right now."
It features a new greeter's lobby and a 72-lane federal inspection area. MIA is one of six
U.S. airports with six lanes dedicated to expedited Global Entry processing for preapproved, low-risk travelers registered with U.S. Customs and Border Protection.
Airport officials expect that passenger processing times will improve by a minimum of
twenty minutes.
"Where they check all your identification coming back to the country is a bit different, fast,"
said traveler Terry Shelby who flew in from Rio De Janeiro.
"It smells like a brand new apartment," said American Airlines flight attendant Ken Dealba.
The North Terminal project will be completed by March 2013 and feature five more baggage
carousels and three gates.
http://www.nbcmiami.com/news/local/Miami-Airport-Opens-New-International-Arrivals-Hub164409476.html
New customs terminal opens at
Miami International Airport
North Terminal located in American Airline's new wing
Published On: Jul 31 2012 08:05:44 AM EDT Updated On: Jul 31 2012 08:08:36 AM EDT
Click on link to view video: http://www.local10.com/news/New-customs-terminal-opens-at-Miami-InternationalAirport/-/1717324/15869608/-/8iqisdz/-/index.html
MIAMI -
The North Terminal, a new customs terminal opened for business at Miami International
Airport Tuesday, features a 72-lane federal inspection area capable of serving 2,000
international arriving passengers at a time.
The terminal, located in American Airlines' newest wing, promises to save passengers
at least 30 minutes during the arrival process.
It also features a spacious new second-level baggage claim area with five baggage
claim carrousels.
Passengers who have already gone through North Terminal, say it only took them 10
minutes to pick up their luggage.
Five additional baggage carousels and a new eight-lane re-check inspection for
passengers connecting between international flights is scheduled to open in early 2013.

Copyright 2012 by Post Newsweek. All rights reserved. This material may not be
published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed
press release
July 31, 2012, 9:00 a.m. EDT
New International Arrivals Facility Serving American
Airlines Customers Opens At Miami International
Airport
American's International Customers Arriving at MIA to
Enjoy Benefits of State-of-the-Art Facility, Including
Faster Processing and Easier Connections
MIAMI, July 31, 2012 /PRNewswire via COMTEX/ -- American Airlines customers
arriving at Miami International Airport (MIA) from international destinations are enjoying
the benefits of a new, state-of-the-art Federal Inspection Service facility, which opened
today at MIA.
The three-level, 400,000-square-foot international arrivals facility located in American's
Terminal D is twice the size of the previously-used facility and is easily accessible to
arriving passengers though the Terminal D skytrain. The new facility has 72 passport
control lanes that can process 2,000 passengers per hour. There are also six dedicated
lanes for members of the Global Entry program, which provides expedited processing
for travelers who have registered with U.S. Customs and Border Protection. During
peak times, the new facility is expected to cut wait times by an average of 15 minutes.
Once processed, passengers collect their checked bags in a spacious new baggage
claim area on the second level. Passengers can exit the facility either on the second
level for connecting flights, or on the first level for the greeter's lobby and airport exit.
"We are very pleased with the opening of the new arrivals facility which, we know will
improve the travel experience for our international customers at MIA," said Marilyn
DeVoe, American's Vice President - Miami. "American's international traffic at MIA has
been steadily increasing through the years, and we expect this trend to continue as we
grow our operations in Miami. The new facility is good news for our customers."
In 2011, American served approximately 5 million customers who traveled from
international destinations to or through Miami. That number is expected to grow in 2012
with American's addition of international destinations and frequencies. American serves
more than 65 international destinations from Miami. This year, the airline added service
to two international destinations: Barcelona, Spain and Manaus, Brazil, and has
announced plans to begin flying between Miami and Asuncion, Paraguay in November.
About American Airlines
American Airlines, American Eagle® and the AmericanConnection® carrier serve 260
airports in more than 50 countries and territories with, on average, more than 3,500
daily flights. The combined network fleet numbers more than 900 aircraft. American's
award-winning website, AA.com®, provides users with easy access to check and book
fares, plus personalized news, information and travel offers. American Airlines is a
founding member of the oneworld® alliance, which brings together some of the best and
biggest names in the airline business, enabling them to offer their customers more
services and benefits than any airline can provide on its own. Together, its members
and members-elect serve more than 900 destinations with more than 9,000 daily flights
to 150 countries and territories. American Airlines, Inc. and American Eagle Airlines,
Inc. are subsidiaries of AMR Corporation. AmericanAirlines, American Eagle,
AmericanConnection, AA.com, and AAdvantage are trademarks of American Airlines,
Inc. AMR Corporation common stock trades under the symbol "AAMRQ" on the OTCQB
marketplace, operated by OTC Markets Group.
Current AMR Corp. releases can be accessed on the Internet. The address is
http://www.aa.com
SOURCE American Airlines
Copyright (C) 2012 PR Newswire. All rights reserved
Local News
New international terminal opens at
MIA
Posted: Yesterday at 12:50 pm EDT
MIAMI (WSVN) -- The Miami International Airport is rolling out its dazzling new welcome mat
to international flyers.
Those arriving by American Airlines will land at a new 400,000-square-foot terminal.
The three-level concourse will be able to process 2,000 passengers an hour.
A mural of the globe in the main lobby hails Miami as the "Gateway of the World."
(Copyright 2012 by Sunbeam Television Corp. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be
published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)
Read more: http://www.wsvn.com/news/articles/local/21008144968440/new-international-terminalopens-at-mia/#ixzz22Izdj2av
New, Larger International Arrivals
Facility Opens in Miami Airport’s
Terminal D
by Staff on July 31, 2012
American Airlines passengers arriving at Miami International Airport (MIA) from international
destinations are now entering the United States via a new, larger Federal Inspection Service
facility, which opened on July 31 at MIA.
The three-level, 400,000-square-foot international arrivals facility located in American Airlines’
Terminal D is twice the size of the previous facility and is easily accessible to arriving
passengers though the Terminal D skytrain.
Terminal D’s new international arrivals facility has 72 passport-control lanes, which can process
2,000 passengers per hour.
This is American Airlines' logo, one of the most famous and long-lived of any airline's
There are also six dedicated lanes for members of the Global Entry program, which provides
expedited processing for travelers who have registered with U.S. Customs and Border Protection.
During peak times, the new facility is expected to cut wait times by an average of 15 minutes.
Once they have passed through immigration processing and customs, passengers collect their
checked bags in a large new baggage-claim area on the second level. Passengers can exit the
facility either on the second level for connecting flights, or on the first level for the greeters’
lobby and airport exit.
“We are very pleased with the opening of the new arrivals facility, which we know will improve
the travel experience for our international customers at MIA,” said Marilyn DeVoe, American
Airlines’ vice president – Miami. “American’s international traffic at MIA has been steadily
increasing through the years, and we expect this trend to continue as we grow our operations in
Miami. The new facility is good news for our customers.”
In 2011, American carried approximately 5 million customers who traveled from international
destinations to or through Miami International Airport. The airline expects that number to grow
in 2012, with American’s addition of international destinations and frequencies.
American serves more than 65 international destinations from Miami. This year, the airline has
already added service to two international destinations, Barcelona in Spain and Manaus in Brazil,
and has announced plans to begin flying between Miami and Paraguay’s capital Asunción in
November.
To search for low fares, click here. To find hotel deals in Miami, visit here.
MIA opens new 400,000 square foot
international arrivals facility



MIAMI INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT
JULY 31, 2012
BY: SHAWANDA JAMES
At around 4 a.m. this morning, passengers on an American Airlines flight from Rio de Janiero, Brazil
were among the first to see Miami International Airport’s new international arrivals facility. This stateof-the-art facility is the latest phase of the airport’s North Terminal improvement project. International
passengers on American Airlines and other airlines coming into Concourses D, E, and F have
access to the tri-level center, which encompasses 400,000 square feet of space.
Among the highlights of the new facility is the passport control center – an area with 72 processing
lanes. This now makes it possible to process about 2,000 international travelers an hour. This
promises to cut the typical wait times considerably.
Miami International Airport is now one of the only airports in the nation with six lanes specifically
designed for members of the Global Entry program. This program provides faster processing for
travelers who have previously registered with United States Customs and Border Control.
Two well-known complications of airline travel is baggage claim and getting to connecting flights.
These issues can cause more extended delays for international travelers. The new international
arrivals facility alleviates both complications.
The second-level baggage claim area houses five baggage claim carousels, providing ample space
and expediting the baggage retrieval process for incoming passengers. The new facility is adjacent
to the Concourse D sky train; international travelers can quickly access the train to get to other gates
for connecting flights. On Level 1 is a spacious greeting lobby for waiting family and friends.
Airport officials report that MIA is now the top airport in the nation for international flights. Miami
International Airport boasts almost 1,300 international flights per week, flying to 85 international
destinations. The airport serves as the point of entry for more than 95 percent of travelers coming to
Miami.
August 2, 2012, Updated 7:17 AM
American Airlines unveils new facilities at Miami
International
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MIAMI - Starting today American Airlines customers landing at Miami International Airport (MIA)
from international destinations are enjoying the benefits of new and modern customs and
immigration facilities.
The three-story, 400,000 square feet facility is located in Terminal D at American, which is twice
the size of the previous one and has easy access to Skytrain train in Terminal D.
It has 72 lines for passport control, which can process 2,000 passengers per hour, as well as 6
special lines for members of the Global Entry program, which provides express processing for
passengers who’ve registered with U.S. Customs and Border Protection.
In peak hours the new facility is expected to cut waiting time around 15 minutes.