Air Traffic And Tourists Go Skyward Through Miami International Airport

By Ashley D. Torres
With more flights winging into Miami International Airport, passenger arrivals are soaring, signaling more tourists for Miami-Dade County.

The airport’s passenger arrivals climbed 9.1% in October to 1.445 million from October 2009’s 1.324 million. Sixty-five percent of this increase was in domestic passenger arrivals, which saw the largest hike of 10.8% in October to 773,328 travelers compared to 2009’s 698,131.

An increase in domestic flight arrivals carried in more US visitors, said Chris Mangos, airport director of marketing, with 87% of the increase coming from passengers traveling on American and American Eagle airlines, which operated 1,482 more flights here in October than October 2009.

Delta Airlines, which has increased its presence at Miami’s airport, Mr. Mangos said, also beefed up operations, adding 130 more flights than October last year.

More flights mean more passengers.

Passenger arrivals also jumped for international flights, up 7.3% to 672,277 passengers from 626,594 in October 2009.

Increased services from Aero Mexico, Brazilian airline TAM, TACA Airlines and Caribbean-based Insel Air have contributed to the spike in foreign arrivals.

October also marked the first time in 2010, Mr. Mangos said, that British carriers fared well.

"We would expect these numbers to continue to grow," said William D. Talbert, III, the Greater Miami Convention & Visitors Bureau’s president and CEO.

The hike in passenger arrivals, Mr. Talbert added, could also be attributed to the Lbureau’s additions to its contract representatives abroad, who promote the county as a tourism destination. Increased marketing dollars and strong community partnerships, he said, have also helped.

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