Massive Multimodal Miami Central Station Taking Shape  

Miami Today -- As Colin Johnson and Oscar Romero stroll the construction site of Miami Central Station, which they say will be unlike anything in Florida mass transit, they point out all the modes of transportation that someday will come together there. They describe it as a modern Miami version of New York’s Grand Central Station. Where groundwater is now being pumped out into temporary pools will rise the central concourse that travelers will pass through as they head to and from nearby Miami International Airport and other destinations.

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A cement foundation and cinderblock walls near the middle of the 27-acre site are the beginnings of what someday will be a Greyhound Bus terminal. The beginnings of another building stand nearby. “That will be the police station and control center,” complete with bicycle storage and showers, said Mr. Johnson, the Florida Department of Transportation’s project manager.

A future Amtrak station is sprouting up on the south end of the site. “We’re going to have all the tracks here,” Mr. Romero, a department consultant who is the senior project engineer, said about what currently is a dusty strip along the west side of the site where train tracks someday will stretch.

When Miami Central Station opens, it will be a main transfer point for commuters and visitors with rail and bus services linking the airport to locations around Miami-Dade, South Florida and beyond. The complex will include a landscaped esplanade and public parking. Since site work began last summer, the $88 million state Department of Transportation project is about a third of the way through. The station is expected to open by November 2013. Continue  

Miami Airport Concession to Revamp Miami International Airport Advertising Program  

Overhaul to Provide High-Tech Visual Displays, Interactive Kiosks, and Affordable Advertising Vehicles for Local Businesses to Reach High Net-Worth Miami Travelers

Miami Airport Concession, LLC today announced a new contract with Miami International Airport (MIA) that calls for a comprehensive overhaul of the airport’s advertising program. As part of the 10-year agreement, which is effective immediately, Miami Airport Concession will introduce a new advertising initiative within Miami International Airport that will focus on providing affordable advertising vehicles for local businesses that can benefit from greater access to vibrant visual displays and reaching a unique base of high net worth consumers: air travelers to Miami.

The Company will install new technologies throughout the terminal, including interactive kiosks and large-screen LCD displays. These platforms promise to engage passengers with a wealth of information about their destination area, from tourist attractions and activities to hotel, transportation, retail, dining, and entertainment options. Miami Airport Concession is also mounting 70-inch LCD displays throughout the baggage claim area, with the highest concentration at international arrivals. The Company will also replace existing phone boards with interactive touch screen kiosks.

“As our capital improvement program draws to completion, we look forward to the continued modernization of Miami International Airport by Miami Airport Concession,” said Miguel Southwell, Miami-Dade Aviation Department Deputy Director for Business Retention and Development. “With the installation of new advertising technology throughout our terminal that also provides affordable options for local organizations, we expect this partnership will help us better connect our passengers to all that Miami-Dade County has to offer.” Continue  

Dutch Antilles Express (DAE)

Dutch Antilles Express (DAE) will commence daily scheduled passenger flights from Curaçao, Netherland Antilles to MIA effective May 11, 2012.  DAE will be utilizing MD-83 aircraft.   Continue

MIA's North Terminal Wins Best Concessions Program Award 

 Shop MIA

Airport Revenue News (ARN) magazine named MIAMI International Airport’s North Terminal the winner of its 2012 Best Overall Concessions Program Award during the publication’s annual conference and exhibition in February (see press release below). Industry participants cast more than 1,300 on-line votes in five airport categories and 15 specialty retail, news and gifts and food and beverage categories to determine the winners.

Miami-Dade Aviation Department (MDAD) Deputy Directors Ken Pyatt and Miguel Southwell, Concession Business Chief Adrian Songer and Aviation Director José Abreu with ARN’s 2012 Best Overall Concessions Program Award.

In 2011, MIA opened more than 20 new concessions and now provides 80 retail and dining locations in North Terminal alone.  ARN is a monthly trade magazine that specializes in coverage of all revenue-generating issues affecting the airport industry.  For more information about MIA’s award-winning shops and restaurants, go to www.ShopMiamiAirport.com. Continue  

GOL Seeks Rights To Operate São Paulo-Caracas-Miami Service  

Brazil’s GOL Linhas Aereas Inteligentes this summer plans to launch a daily service between its São Paulo hub and Miami. The Boeing 737 service is scheduled to launch June 29, with a technical stop in Caracas included in the route application filed with the U.S. Transportation Department. GOL already has been granted the authority by Brazilian regulators, which also are awaiting at least one more U.S. route application from GOL.

The Miami service revives a route once served by Varig, the now defunct flag carrier that was acquired by GOL some five years ago. The application also comes as GOL ends a code-share relationship with American Airlines, which has a hub in Miami. Continue  

Ocean Drive Magazine Opens First U.S. Branded Store at MIA  

South Beach staple Ocean Drive magazine has partnered with airport concessionaire NewsLink to open its first U.S. branded retail store at Miami International Airport. The Shoppes at Ocean Drive concept store spans close to 10,000-square-feet and features several brands under one roof including Ocean Drive News, Shop Britto, Solstice Sunglass Boutique, Zone 305 Sportwear and Prive Gourmet Market, among others.  

In a statement Ocean Drive Publisher Courtland Lantaff said the recently opened shopping complex “brings the stories, fashions and most in-demand products found within the book to life.” The store-within-a-store complex is located in the airport’s North Terminal at Concourse D near Gate 17.   For a complete list of shopping and dining options at MIA, click here. Continue  

MIA Offering Behind-the-scenes Tours  

Anyone interested in the future of Miami International Airport is invited to a presentation and tour next weekend. Airport Director José Abreu will speak about airport improvements, plans for development and cargo and passenger statistics.

The free event, which will begin in the fourth-floor auditorium of Terminal D, starts with registration at 8:30 a.m. March 24. Continental breakfast will be served and parking will be validated. Those interested in attending must provide their name, date of birth and the last four digits of their Social Security number by Wednesday. Space is limited and spots may be reserved by calling 305-876-0412 or emailing emfernandez@miami-airport.com. Continue  

MIA Was Fastest Growing U.S. Airport in 2011  

Miami International Airport grew the fastest out of the top 20 airports in the US last year, +7.3%, and the airport has already this year seen the arrival of another new airline – LAN Colombia – suggesting that the end to the growth has not yet been seen.

This week, anna.aero has collected 2011 traffic data for the top 20 airports in the USA, which reveals that between them passenger numbers grew by an estimated 2.5% in 2011. Of the top 20 airports, only two (Chicago O’Hare and Houston Bush) failed to record year-on-year growth, while only Miami recorded passenger growth of more than 6%.

In terms of ranking, Houston Bush has dropped from seventh to tenth, as a result of which Las Vegas, San Francisco and Phoenix have all moved up a place. Further down, Seattle-Tacoma has overtaken Detroit for 16th place. Continue

MIA’s New K-9 Ambassador Spreads Love For Valentine’s Day

In honor of Valentine’s Day, Miami International Airport will turn to man’s best friend for some extra tender love and customer care with Casey, MIA’s new K-9 Ambassador. Casey, a 69-pound Golden Retriever and trained therapy dog, and her owner Liz Miller, who is an MIA Volunteer Ambassador, will walk MIA’s terminal two days a week in search of passengers in need of a “helping paw” or maybe just some snuggle time with Casey. Casey, decked out in a customized “Pet Me” uniform and airport ID badge, will assist Liz in providing directions and interacting with passengers to put them at ease during their travel experience.

 GALLERY: Meet MIA’s New K-9 Ambassador (CBS 4)

Airport officials said Casey’s canine touch will be especially helpful during a busy February expected to draw large crowds through MIA for events like the Miami International Boat Show, the Food Network South Beach Wine and Food Festival and the Coconut Grove Art Show. In just a few test runs, Casey has already been a hit with our passengers,” said Dickie Davis, Miami-Dade Aviation Department Terminal Operations and Customer Service Division Director. “Casey and Liz are two of our 80 very special Volunteer Ambassadors, and we’re excited about this new customer service initiative.” Casey also has her own business trading cards and website.   Continue

Interjet Announces New Flight to Miami

Interjet, in a short 6 years since its inaugural flight on December 5th 2005, has already achieved historical success in Mexico´s commercial aviation sector, thanks to its innovative strategy of offering high quality products and services at affordable prices. Its fleet is comprised of 33 Airbus A320 aircraft, serving 40 routes in 28 destinations, including three international destinations at Guatemala, Havana, San Antonio, TX and as of February 23th Miami, Florida. According to official statistics, Interjet has achieved second place in total number of passengers transported (by market share) within Mexico, and as per publicly traded airline data, is one of the most efficient and profitable airlines, both in Latin America and around the world.

Interjet is the first airline in Mexico and Latin America to implement the use of biofuels on its commercial flights. Biofuels have the potential to reduce up to 80% of CO2 emissions. Made from oils extracted from the seed of the Jatropha Curcas (a native Mexican plant), it is transformed into Synthetic Paraffinic Biokerosene (Bio-KPS). The biofuel is made of a combination 27% Bio-KPS and 73% traditional jet-fuel. Continue

Metrorail Line to the Airport Almost Ready

The new route will be known as the Orange Line and get to the Earlington Heights station is also the first line to open in Miami since 1984. A Metrorail line to Miami International Airport is almost ready after more than two years of construction, and last week local transportation officials offered the first details about how they plan to operate the route marking the first elevated train system expansion since 1984, when the first line opened from Dadeland to a station in Hialeah.

On Friday an El Nuevo Herald reporter and a photographer rode on a test train without passengers from the new Metrorail station at the airport to a point close to the Earlington Heights station, where the new line begins near the intersection of State Road 112, the Airport Expressway, and Northwest 22nd Avenue. It was the first visit of a press organization to the new route, which will be known as Orange Line. Continue

MIA Sets New Records for Annual and Daily Passengers

Miami International Airport reached a new all-time high for annual passenger traffic in 2011 with 38.3 million passengers and an increase of 7.3 percent over 2010, according to recently released statistics from the Miami-Dade Aviation Department. International passengers led the way with a nine-percent increase over 2010 to 18.4 million travelers, while domestic passengers also surged by 5.8 percent to nearly 19.9 million.

Despite projections from industry association Airlines for America, formerly known as Air Transport Association of America, for a one-percent decline in air travel nationwide from December 21 to January 8 ( http://www.airlines.org/Pages/news_12-20-2011.aspx), MIA drew more than 2.2 million passengers during the 21-day travel period for an increase of 8.7 percent. MIA's busier-than-projected travel season helped the airport surpass the 38 million passenger mark for the first time ever on December 30 and also included a new single-day passenger record at MIA - more than 135,000 passengers on January 2. Continue

Random Acts of Culture™ Hits the Sky: Cuban Classical Ballet @ Miami International Airport

On Friday, Dec 23 the Cuban Classical Ballet surprised travelers at Miami International Airport with spontaneous performances of “Divertissement” from The Nutcracker. Enjoy the video above.

Continue

Coffee Icon Juan Valdez Celebrates Opening of New Cafe at MIA

On Friday, January 13, coffee icon Juan Valdez, who has represented more than half a million Colombian coffee growers for more than 50 years, greeted travelers while celebrating the opening of the newest Juan Valdez Café location near gate D-24 at Miami International Airport.

   View more images

The world-famous character offered samples of Colombian coffee and took pictures with passengers at the café, which opened for business on December 23 as the seventh in North America and the fifth in a U.S. airport. During its first week of operation, the MIA location enjoyed more than 10,000 visitors. In addition to Colombian coffee, the café offers pastries, bagels, muffins, sandwiches, salads and more. The new café was opened in association with NewsLink, an airport concessionaire, and Procafecol, the company that manages the Juan Valdez brand. Continue

Record Total Passengers at MIA on January 2, 2012

MIAMI International Airport (MIA) set the pace for an exciting 2012 by kicking off the New Year with a RECORD 135,006 total passengers (arrivals and departures) on Monday, January 2, 2012. 

While all the final 2011 numbers for MIA are not yet available, preliminary results show another record-breaking year with38.1 million passengers for an increase of more than +7%. Continue

Top 10 Airports for Shopping  

(REUTERS/Joe Skipper) - Miami International Airport: "The United States’ gateway to Latin America has undergone major renovations in the last few years and recently expanded to more than 7 million square feet, covering more than 3,000 acres of land," says Cheapflights.ca. "Lucky for airport frequenters, that means plenty of retail square footage. The terminals feel more like shopping malls than airports, boasting luxury shops like Emporio Armani, convenient technology stores like Sound Balance and great gift giving gems like L’Occitane." Continue

New Show Currently Filming at MIA  

A South Florida airport will soon get its own TV show. The new show will take viewers behind the scenes at Miami International Airport. "You don't see everything that's going on in here, but this is a city within itself," said Marc Henderson, the media relations manager at MIA.

The show's pilot program is only six episodes long but it will show a side of MIA never before seen. The show's executive producer, Chris Sloan, said, "We are producing what's called an occupational TV series, about the real life, behind the scenes, almost behind-the-curtain, a story of this incredible city, Miami International Airport."

MIA is currently one of the country's top airports, with 35,000 employees and nearly 100,000 passengers that it serves each day. The new TV series, which will air on the Travel Channel, will focus on several MIA employees and how they handle their day-to-day tasks. "Every story is kind of fascinating," said Sloan, "and when people actually see what goes into making it, it's going to be illuminating."

The show will include different incidents that occur at the airport, including emergency situations and routine baggage checks. "Basically, we are granting access to the no-entry zones of MIA," said the airport's director of security, Lauren Stover. "But you know what? It's important for the public to know, in terms of security, what we're doing to keep them safe." Continue

MIA Year in Review 2011 (audio on)

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