Miami International Airport (MIA) said it shattered its cargo volumes in 2021 for the second year in a row — ranking as the busiest airport in the US and ninth busiest in the world for international freight.
In a statement, MIA said it handled 2.7 million tons of cargo last year, breaking the record 2.3 million tons seen in 2020.
The Florida cargo hub noted that international freight grew by 17% to 2.2 million tons, while domestic freight rose 15% to 500,000 tons.
Facility expansions at MIA
MIA’s sustained and robust upward trend in cargo volume spurred two major facility expansions that were completed in 2021, it said.
The airport noted that in November, DHL Express completed a US$78-million renovation and expansion of its MIA hub to accommodate its growth. The investment, which includes a ully automated package sorting system, nearly doubled the facility’s sorting capacity and warehouse space to 206,000 square feet.
In December, FedEx Express also completed a US$72.2-million, 138,000 square-foot expansion of its hub at MIA, doubling its total facility size to more than 282,000 square feet. The enhancements include a new customs clearance area and a new 70,000 square-foot cold chain facility, the largest in the FedEx global network.
"I am thrilled to see MIA have another record-breaking year in freight shipments and expand on its role as the cargo gateway of the Americas, further increasing the transportation of essential goods and life-saving supplies across the world," said Miami-Dade County Mayor Daniella Levine Cava.
"This is yet another example of how Miami-Dade County is ready to increase its capacity exponentially and help alleviate the supply chain crisis nationwide."
