Miami Airport Opens New International Arrivals Hub

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 record-breaking number of passengers.

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"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 pre-approved, 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.

 

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