On the heels of a massive program to expand and renovate Miami International Airport’s passenger facilities, airport leaders concurrently are modernizing MIA to welcome more cargo traffic than ever before.
Recent and future cargo initiatives will streamline operations, upgrade facilities, increase the capacity of existing cargo infrastructure and improve roadway arteries serving the airport and surrounding shipping, warehousing and logistics partners.
“Miami’s location at the doorstep to the Americas, as well as its extensive number of trade routes to Europe, Asia and the Middle East, place us in an enviable position to serve cargo imports and exports like no other U.S. airport can,” says Miami-Dade Aviation Director Emilio T. González. “Air cargo at MIA reflects our commitment to an evolving and dynamic global marketplace. We are our partners’ trusted destination for global shipping and logistics.”
Business Development: Flying into the Future
Innovative business development initiatives will keep MIA on the forefront of the air cargo industry — today and tomorrow. Among its latest programs:
E-Air Waybill With the goal of making cargo logistics at MIA virtually paperless — and keeping the freight hub on the forefront of new technology — MIA became one of the first six airports in the U.S. to launch the E-Air Waybill 360 campaign with local shippers. The effort is designed to eliminate printing costs, replace manual data entry with a vastly more efficient and reliable digital system and pave the way toward a completely e-freight cargo industry locally.
Foreign Trade Zone (FTZ) Projected to be under review by the U.S. Department of Commerce in 2017, MIA is seeking to become one of the first U.S. airports designated a foreign trade zone. As an FTZ, MIA can lease airport property that can then be used to import, assemble, manufacture and ship materials and finished products — all with reduced, deferred or eliminated duties. The MIA FTZ has the potential to generate $7.7 million annually in lease revenue and create 1,500 jobs.
Pharma Association This spring, MIA and Brussels Airport — the first two cargo hubs in the world designated as pharmaceuticals freight airports by the International Air Transport Association — announced a partnership to create a Pharma Hub Alliance. The initiative is designed to become a network of airports serving the global pharma industry, which is forecast to reach $400 billion within the next three years.
“All told, these initiatives represent new and novel ways of creating new revenue streams and jobs by maximizing our available space and infrastructure,” says Director González. “These advances will also help us serve our cargo partners at an even higher level.”
MIA’s Keys to the Future
Numerous short- and long-term projects are transforming MIA’s cargo facilities, simplifying and securing its infrastructure and solidifying its position as a global cargo gateway. These include:
The 25th Street Viaduct Completed by the Florida Department of Transportation in the summer of 2016, this $63-million elevated roadway routes cargo trucks from MIA directly to warehouse and logistics providers to the west, as well as to state and federal highways — helping cargo truckers avoid surface roads to reduce congestion and travel time.
Enhanced Security Throughout the airport’s cargo area, including MIA’s six main cargo buildings, new surveillance cameras and lighting have been installed to improve already vigilant security monitoring, situational awareness, crime deterrence and overall safety of MIA and cargo partner property.
Enlightened Sustainability As with its passenger terminal, where MIA is working with electric utility FPL Services to install $32 million in lighting, air conditioning and water system upgrades, similar conservation measures are scheduled to begin in 2017 in the airport’s cargo area — significantly reducing MIA’s carbon footprint and making the airport more cost-efficient.
CORE Scheduled to begin in 2017, the CORE (Cargo Optimization, Redevelopment and Expansion) program is a comprehensive, long-term concept to modernize the airport’s existing cargo operations and double its capacity by maximizing the use of current facilities; demolishing and replacing aged and costly structures; and developing cargo facilities on newly acquired land.
Total air freight at MIA topped $52.8 billion in 2015, including ...
- Hi-tech Goods $10.6 billion
- Gold $7.4 billion
- Pharmaceuticals $2.95 billion
- Fish $1.2 billion
- Flowers $937 million
- Fruits & vegetables $432 million
MIA AT A GLANCE
- 1st in U.S. - International freight airport
- 10th busiest - International freight airport worldwide
- 2.2 million - Cargo tons annually
- 3.4 million square feet - Warehouse, office and support space dedicated to cargo
- 42 all-cargo - Carriers linking MIA to the U.S., the Americas and the globe
To learn more about MIA’s cargo operations, visit www.miami-airport.com/cargo.asp