Airlines and passengers at Miami International Airport (MIA) are experiencing the benefits of the Miami-Dade Aviation Department’s (MDAD) $4.8 billion Capital Improvement Program (CIP).
In August 2003, MIA’s fourth runway became operational, increasing airfield capacity by 25 percent. The additional runway resulted in more than 80 percent of flights in and out of MIA being on time in 2004. Even during peak periods, flights experienced only minor delays. Additionally, recent improvements to MIA’s midfield and taxiways now allow aircraft to move more efficiently between the runway and the gate, cutting down on time spent on the ground.
“We had the foresight to plan ahead and provide for increasing air traffic demands,” said Carlos F. Bonzon, Ph.D., P.E., Interim Aviation Department Director. “We are now reaping the benefits of this vision.”
“Compare this to airports with only one runway, and you immediately see the benefits of having four, long runways,” said Bruce Drum, Assistant Aviation Director for Operations. “We’re able to get planes in and out quickly. This is especially important today, when the price of oil is around $50 a barrel. If a plane has an hour delay on the ground, that translates into an average cost of $6,360 to pay for fuel burn and crew time.”
“Our CIP is making MIA a very competitive airport, given the demands of the aviation industry today,” said Dr. Bonzon. “We’re on track with modern improvements to both our airfield and terminal operations that will help give passengers a more customer-friendly experience.”
