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On January 12, Miami-Dade County Mayor Daniella Levine Cava met with more than 500 frontline workers at Miami International Airport to celebrate the airport’s achievements in 2025 and energize them for an unprecedented year of local sports and entertainment events that will draw millions of visitors, beginning with the College Football Playoffs National Championship next Monday.

After being commended by Mayor Levine Cava, Miami-Dade County Chief Operating Officer Jimmy Morales, and American Airlines Miami Hub Vice President Juan Carlos Liscano for their teamwork and dedication in 2025, employees received a recap from MIA Director and CEO Ralph Cutie of the airport’s numerous milestones last year that have prepared MIA for the County’s blockbuster events calendar in 2026.

Most recently, MIA welcomed more record-breaking numbers during its winter travel season from December 19 to January 5, with nearly 3.3 million passengers – a 1.2% increase from the same period last year.

Pivotal airport improvements in 2025 include: the completion of the 2,240-space Ibis Garage, which increased MIA’s parking capacity by 30%; the largest single deployment of Enhanced Passenger Processing at any U.S. airport, providing faster and more secure arrivals for U.S. citizens entering the country; upgrading one of its busiest passenger checkpoints with the latest TSA screening technology, designed to be 30% faster than the traditional checkpoint; the launch of biometric eGates by CLEAR at two of MIA’s busiest TSA checkpoints; the modernization of 38 elevators, escalators, and moving walkways, which makes 95% of MIA’s 616 units operational; the 44^th total bathroom renovation, putting that airport-wide project at 23% completion; and 32 modernized passenger boarding bridges to date, which is 25% of all bridges at MIA

I thoroughly enjoyed meeting with our dedicated workforce at MIA, learning more about how they support our global hub that welcomes more than 150,000 visitors and 1,500 flights daily, and sharing my Operation Refresh concept, to beautify areas at MIA and across the County. This year, our community has been chosen as the host for some of the largest and most popular gatherings in the world, which makes the customer service delivery from every airport team member all the more important. Thanks to the leadership of Director Cutié and the support of our airlines, business partners, federal agencies, and stakeholders, MIA is prepared to shine in the global spotlight in 2026. We are proud to say that together, we are MIA!

Miami-Dade County Mayor, Daniella Levine Cava

Miami International Airport, America’s busiest airport for international freight and the second busiest for international passengers, is receiving an unprecedented investment of $9 billion in capital improvements and maintenance upgrades. MIA offers more flights to Latin America and the Caribbean than any other U.S. airport and is also the leading economic engine for Miami-Dade County and the state of Florida, generating business revenue of $181 billion and approximately 60 percent of all international visitors to Florida annually.

To request materials in accessible format, Sign Language Interpreters, CART services, and/or any accommodation to participate in any Miami-Dade Aviation Department (MDAD) public meetings and events, please email the ADA Office at ADAcoordinator@miami-airport.com or call the office at 305-876-7747 five days in advance to initiate your request. Persons who are deaf or hard of hearing may also call 711 (Florida Relay Service).