The new 1.7 million sq. ft. South Terminal at Miami International (MIA) officially opened to great fanfare with more than 500 people, including federal, state and local elected officials, as well as members of the public, gathering for a grand opening event. Dignitaries such as former Governor Jeb Bush praised the new terminal and hailed it as a critical economic generator for the community.
The over $1B terminal has been operating since August 29, and airlines have been relocating gradually to the new terminal space since then. The last four of 19 airlines are scheduled to move into the new facility and begin their flight operations in December. At that point, South Terminal will begin handling 25% of MIA’s 32M annual passengers, with airlines providing international service to 72 cities in 28 countries.
South Terminal includes: a new Concourse J with 15 gates and a renovated Concourse H with 13 gates; 190 new ticket counters; space for 61 dining, retail and duty free concession locations; 1,040 feet of new vehicle curbside space; two new security checkpoints; a new federal inspection service facility that can process 2,000 international passengers per hour; and a new cruise and tour bus station for shuttle service to and from the Port of Miami. The building also features many architectural finishes using indigenous materials and South Florida-themed artwork by local artists.
