Long Term Parking Miami International Airport offers long term parking in two parking facilities: Dolphin Garage and Flamingo Garage. Long term parking rate is $4 for the first and second hours, and $2 for each additional hour. Daily maximum parking rate is $15. Both parking facilities connect to the Main Terminal hall. Terminal entrance is located on the 3rd level.
Discount Airport Parking - Discount parking is available in the economy self-parking lot. This parking facility is not connected to the Main Terminal hall. Airport shuttles are on-hand to pick-up and drop-off passengers at the terminal. Shuttles operate continuously and arrive every 10 minutes. The daily maximum rate for the economy parking lot is $8.
Handicapped Parking - Handicapped or special need parking is located in all Miami International parking facilities. Disabled guests can locate available parking spaces in the terminal garages. Identifiable spaces are conveniently situated on the 3rd level next to the terminal entrance. Handicapped parking is also available in the short term parking facility and economy parking lot. Airport shuttles include wheelchair lifts.
Airport Hotel Parking - Airline passengers have the option of parking their vehicles off-site at local hotels. Airport hotel parking is less expensive, and benefits guests who plan on leaving their vehicles for several days. Free complimentary airport shuttle is available. Additionally, several hotels in the area provide courtesy transportation to and from the airport.
|
||||||||||||||||||||
Miami International Airport is one of the busiest airports in the world, which ranks 12th in busiest airport for passengers and 3rd in busiest airport for international arrivals and departures. The airport is located approximately nine miles northwest of Miami. Each year the airport welcomes more than 20 million passengers from domestic and international destinations. What's more, the airport serves more than 500,000 passengers each week.
The airport is a major hub for American Airlines, and more than 15 domestic airline carriers and 35 international carriers serve the airport. Domestic carriers offer non-stop service to various major U.S cities. These airlines include Delta, United, U.S Airways, and Continental. International airlines include Air Canada, Air France, Air Jamaica, British Airways, and many more.
Miami International Airport features one Main Terminal hall and eight concourses: A, C, D, E, F, G, H, and J. All concourses are located on the departures level and include several amenities and passenger services. Concourses are easy to navigate and airline passengers may take advantage of flight information boards and airline information booths located throughout the Main Terminal.
Miami International Airport (IATA: Miami International Airport, ICAO: KMiami International Airport, FAA LID: Miami International Airport) is a public airport located eight miles (13 km) northwest of the central business district of Miami, in unincorporated Miami-Dade County, Florida, United States.[1] It is between the cities of Miami, Hialeah, Doral, and Miami Springs, the village of Virginia Gardens, and the unincorporated community of Fountainbleau.
The airport is a hub for passenger airlines American Airlines, American Eagle, and Executive Air; cargo airlines Arrow Air, Fine Air, UPS and Federal Express; and charter airline Miami Air. Miami International Airport handles flights to cities throughout the Americas and Europe, as well as Israel and cargo flights to Asia, and is South Florida's main airport for long-haul international flights, although most domestic and low-cost carriers use Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport and Palm Beach International Airport, which charge significantly lower fees to tenant airlines.
Miami is the premier gateway between the US and Latin America, and, along with Atlanta's Hartsfield-Jackson Airport, Miami is one of the largest aerial gateways into the American South, owing to its proximity to tourist attractions, local economic growth, large local Latin American and European populations, and strategic location to handle connecting traffic between North America, Latin America, and Europe. In the past, it has been a hub for Eastern Air Lines, Air Florida, the original National Airlines, the original Pan Am, United Airlines, and Iberia. As an international gateway to the United States it ranks third, behind New York-JFK in New York City and LAX in Los Angeles. Miami is also the proposed hub of two new start-up airlines, one which hopes to use the Eastern Airlines name.[2]
In 2007, 33,740,416 passengers traveled through the airport.[3]
In the first 10 months of 2007 more international passengers boarded U.S. carriers at Miami International than at any other U.S. airport.
The airport was opened to flights in 1928 as Pan American Field, the operating base of Pan American Airways Corporation, on the north side of the modern airport property. After Pan Am acquired the New York, Rio, and Buenos Aires Line, it shifted most of its operations to the Dinner Key seaplane base, leaving Pan Am Field largely unused until Eastern Air Lines began flying there in 1934, followed by National Airlines in 1937.
In 1945, the City of Miami established a Port Authority and raised bond revenue to purchase the airport, which had meanwhile been renamed 36th Street Airport, from Pan Am. It was merged with an adjoining Army airfield in 1949 and expanded further in 1951. The old terminal on 36th Street was closed in 1959 when the modern passenger terminal (since greatly expanded) opened for service.
Air Force Reserve troop carier and rescue squadrons also operated from Miami International from 1949 through 1959, when the last such unit relocated to nearby Homestead Air Force Base, now Homestead Air Reserve Base.
Pan Am and Eastern remained Miami International Airport's main tenants until 1991, when both carriers went bankrupt. Their hubs at Miami International Airport were taken over by United Airlines and American Airlines. United slowly trimmed down its Miami operation through the 1990s, and eventually shut down its crew base and other operations facilities in Miami. At the same time, American expanded its presence at the airport, winning new routes to Latin America and transferring employees and equipment from its failed domestic hubs at Nashville and Raleigh-Durham. Today, Miami is American's largest air freight hub, and forms the main connecting point in the airline's north-south oriented international route network.
For many years, the airport was a common connecting point for passengers traveling from Europe to Latin America. However, stricter visa requirements for aliens in transit (a result, in part, of the September 11, 2001 attacks) have lessened Miami International Airport's role as an intercontinental connecting hub. In 2004, Iberia Airlines ended its hub operation in Miami, opting instead to run more direct flights from Spain to Central America. However, Air France still has flights to Port-au-Prince using smaller Airbus A320 and Embraer ERJ-145 aircraft.
Gulfstream International Airlines operates regular flights between Miami International Airport and several airports in Cuba, the one of the few direct airlink between the two nations. However, these flights must be booked through agents with special authorization from the Office of Foreign Assets Control, and are only generally available to government officials, journalists, researchers, professionals attending conferences, or expatriates visiting Cuban family.
Terminal, airlines, and destinations. The main terminal at Miami International Airport is semicircular and has eight pier-shaped concourses, lettered A through J (B was demolished in 2005) in a counter-clockwise direction. Ticketing and departures are located on the upper level and baggage carousels are located on the lower level, the airport contains three customs arrival levels, on the third floor at both Concourse J and the now demolished Concourse B, and at the lower level of Concourse E; the largest of the three. Gates located in Concourses A-F and J, and some gates at Concourse H, can route arriving passengers to the main level (for domestic arrivals) or to the immigration halls (for international arrivals), however, gates at Concourse G and some at Concourse H are designed only for domestic arrivals. Two parking garages, the Dolphin and Flamingo Garages, are located inside the terminal's curvature, and are connected to the terminal by overhead walkways, it is expected that a third garage will be constructed to serve expansion for Concourse J; there is a heliport located atop a connecting point between the two garages.
At present, the terminal is being dramatically altered. Concourses A, B, C, and D, which primarily house American Airlines and its Oneworld partner's flights, are being merged into a single linear concourse to be called the "North Terminal". Portions of the new concourse have already been built as extensions of concourses A and D; to make space for completing the new terminal, the former concourse B has been already been demolished and concourse C will soon follow to accommodate new gates and lounges. [1] Although this construction was originally slated for completion by 2005, it has been delayed several times due to cost overruns: the current deadline for completion is summer of 2011. [2]
The remaining "South" (Concourses H and J) and "Central" (Concourses E, F, and G) Terminals have also been renovated and expanded with Concourse J, the newest addition to the airport, opening on August 29, 2007, (photo) being constructed with the support of fifteen Star Alliance and SkyTeam carriers: it is seven stories tall and has 15 gates, with a total floor area of 1.3 million square feet (120,000m²) including two airline lounges and several offices. Currently, the new concourse is still in opening stages with the movement of most airlines located at Concourse A moving to the new area beginning on September 24, 2007, this was done to allow for renovations to be done at Concourse A, and includes American Airlines taking over gates at Concourse E to replace the gates it will lose at Concourse A.
Currently, LAN Airlines, LAN Argentina, LAN Ecuador, LAN Peru, LACSA, TACA, COPA, US Airways, Avianca, United/Ted, TAM, Aerolíneas Argentinas, airberlin, Caribbean Airlines, Lufthansa, Swiss International, Air Canada, and El Al moved into the new concourse concourse. Delta/Comair, Air France, and Alitalia have also begun operating ticket counters at the new Concourse whilst using gate space at Concourse H, soon to be followed by AeroMexico (date unconfirmed). Continental has begun using gates on Concourse H with the ticket counters remaining between G and H concourses. COPA Airlines will also move its gate usage to Concourse H upon the reopening of gate H4, (date unconfirmed). British Airways, previously housed at concourse A, has moved its ticket counters to Concourse G and will use gates at Concourse F for the duration of the A concourse renovations.
After Concourse A is renovated, it is expected that Alaska Airlines, British Airways, LAN Airlines, LAN Argentina, LAN Ecuador, and LAN Peru will return to Concourse A, along with American Airlines. Aerolineas Argentinas, Caribbean Airlines, EL AL, and LTU will then return to Concourse E once their gates have been vacated by American Airlines. Fire protection at the airport is provided by Miami-Dade Fire Rescue Department[5] Station 12.[6
[edit] Concourse A
Gates A1-A18
Concourse A was a recent addition to the airport and will eventually form part of American Airlines' North Terminal. It houses many American domestic and international flights, although all check-in counters for American are located adjacent to concourses C and D. Both American and British Airways have lounge facilities in Concourse A. On May 17, 2006, American Airlines opened their second Admirals Club lounge at Miami International in Terminal A; it is located on the mezzanine level. On November 9, 2007, Concourse A was temporarily closed as part of the North Terminal Renovation Project.
[edit] Concourse B
Concourse B was a former concourse operated by American Airlines. It was closed down and demolished as part of the North Terminal Renovation project. The former Concourse B area of the airport contains a customs arrival facility serving International Arrivals from Concourses A, C, and D.
[edit] Concourse C
The airside Concourse C consists of four gates accommodating small-to-medium jet aircraft such as the Boeing 737 or Boeing 757. American uses these gates for domestic flights and some departures to Central America and the Caribbean. The Concourse C check-in area is for American's international flights. During the course of the American Airlines/North Terminal project, Concourse C will be demolished, allowing for the creation of new gates where the concourse was located.
Concourse D
Although Concourse D was one of the original concourses in the Miami International Airport terminal, the original portion has been mostly closed, and the concourse now consists of a new extension which will eventually form part of American Airlines' North Terminal. American uses the concourse for domestic and international flights; the Concourse D check-in area is for domestic and Caribbean flights. American operates an Admirals Club on Concourse D.
Concourse E Model of a Pan Am flying boat in Concourse EConcourse E is divided into two sections: a pier concourse, called "low E," and a satellite terminal, called "high E," connected by an airport people mover. Low E is mostly used by American Airlines; high E is used by various other carriers. The Admirals Club operated by American has temporarily reopened inside security after a renovation to the checkpoint. Concourse E contains Customs Arrival facilities for International Arrivals at Concourse D, E, and F.
Concourse J
Concourse J is a new concourse that opened on August 29, 2007 under Miami International Airport's South Terminal Renovation Project. [3] The Concourse was designed by Carlos Zapata of Studio Carlos Zapata in New York, with M.G.E., one of the largest Hispanic owned architecture firms in Florida, as the architect of record; the Concourse will hold Star Alliance and SkyTeam Members. Together with Concourse H, this area will be called the "South Terminal". It will be the only pier at the airport able to accept the new Airbus A380 and has introduced a third customs and immigration facility at the airport, supplementing the ones at Concourses B and E; with international SkyTeam and Star Alliance members moving to this new concourses, it is expected that the new facilities will ease overcrowding that has plagued the concourse E immigration facilities since new US entry laws came into effect. Once the North and South Terminals are completed, all airlines not affiliated with either the Star Alliance, SkyTeam (South Terminal), or Oneworld (North Terminal) will be housed at the remaining Concourses E , F and G.
Ground transportation
Miami International Airport has direct public transport links to Miami-Dade Transit's Metrobus network, being served by routes 7, 37, 42, 57, 133, 236, 238, and the J; free shuttles are also provided to and from the Miami Airport and Hialeah Market Stations on the Tri-Rail commuter rail line, which operates trains once every two hours on weekends and more frequently on weekdays. The stations are close, within 5 minutes drive from the main terminal. MDT is currently planning to link the airport by people mover to the upcoming Miami Intermodal Center, which will provide access to Miami-Dade Metrorail as well as the future BayLink light rail to South Beach. Taxis and rental cars are available as well, as is the case in most airports.
Approximate time and cost to city center:
Super Shuttle: fare US$9, time depends on stops.
Metro Bus: $1.50 ($.75 reduced fare), approx. 35-40 mins via route 7 (East) or route J.
Taxi fare $15.50, approx. 20 mins.
Cargo
The airport is one of the largest in terms of cargo in the United States, and is the main connecting point for cargo between Latin America and the world. It is 1st in International freight and 4th in total freight for 2006. In 2000 LAN Cargo opened up a major operations base at the airport and currently operates the second largest cargo facility at the airport second to UPS. Most major passenger airlines, such as American Airlines use the airport to carry belly cargo on passenger flights though most cargo is operated through cargo only airlines. UPS, FedEx, and DHL, all operate their major Latin American operations through Miami International Airport.
Aerocondor plans to begin non-stop service to Lima.[8] Aerolíneas Argentinas will begin non-stop service to São Paulo in 2008.[9] AeroRepública intends to begin flights to Bogotá and Medellin in 2008.[10] American Airlines will resume daily non-stop flights to Antigua, Leeward Islands on November 20, 2008. The service last operated in November 2001. [11] American Airlines will resume daily non-stop service to Grenada on November 20, 2008.
The service last operated in April 2000.[12] American Airlines has applied to begin four weekly flights to Recife, Brazil, pending Brazilian government approval.[13] American Airlines has applied to begin four weekly flights to Salvador, Brazil, pending Brazilian government approval.[14] American Airlines has applied to begin daily non-stop service to Valencia, Venezuela, pending Venezuelan government approval. Avior plans to begin non-stop service to Puerto Ordaz, Venezuela in 2008.[15] Avior has applied to begin three weekly flights to Valencia, Venezuela, pending US government approval. Iberia Airlines will launch non-stop flights from Barcelona with the opening of a new long-haul base at El Prat.[16]
Insel Air has applied with US DOT to begin non-stop service between Miami and Curacao. Korean Air has announced it plans on beginning passenger services to Miami, but has not set a date. [17] Lloyd Aereo Boliviano will resume service between Miami and Bolivia, via Panama, in 2008.[18] Lufthansa will begin daily flights between Miami and Düsseldorf on October 26, 2008. TAM Brazilian Airlines will begin daily non-stop service between Rio de Janeiro and Miami. [19]. The service is tentatively set to begin in June 2008. Transaero will begin non-stop service between Miami and Moscow in 2008. [20] White Airways will begin seasonal scheduled charters to Lisbon on July 18, 2008.
