FYI Miami: September 12, 2024

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NEW ROME-MIAMI FLIGHTS: American Airlines announced last week new nonstop air service starting next July 5 from Miami International Airport to the Rome Fiumicino Airport as well as expanded service from Miami International to Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport. The seasonal service to Rome will operate daily, and daily service to Charles de Gaulle airport, originally scheduled to end in March, will operate through next August. Juan Carlos Liscano, American’s vice president of Miami operations, said this year is the airline’s “biggest summer in MIA history.”

COLOMBIANS TARGET MIAMI: Almost one in ten global searches for Miami real estate in July came from Colombia, according to a ranking from the Miami Association of Realtors. Some 9.9% of searches were from Colombia, followed by 7.3% from Germany, 6.9% from Spain, 6.4% from China, and 5.7% from Canada, the report from the association said. The report tallied searches from 153 nations during the month. Others in the top ten were Venezuela with 5.5% of searches, Argentina 5.4%, India 5%, Philippines 3.9% and the United Kingdom 3.9%. The top single city abroad for searches on the site was Bogotá, Colombia.

MANNING THE PUMPS: The contract cost for managing, operating and maintaining Miami-International Airport’s aircraft fueling system is to rise 30% in a bid facing approval this week by the county’s Airports and Economic Development Committee. The county had been paying $4.8 million for 10 years of operation in a contract that expires Oct. 31. The new contract that cumulatively would last 10 years is for $6.2 million with Allied Aviation Fueling of Miami Inc., which was recommended over the sole other bidder. The winning bidder also will receive an estimated $115 million for reimbursable operating expenses. The deal has potential complexities: each carrier serving the airport can select its own supplier of jet fuel, which must be available to fuel aircraft at all times. The fuel arrives at the airport by pipeline from Port Everglades. It then is tested and stored for use at the airport before being pumped into airplanes via hoses attached to the underground hydrant system or by refueler trucks. The chosen firm is responsible for development and program maintenance to provide immediate containment and clean-up of fuel spills.

GAS PRICES NOSEDIVE: Miami’s gas prices are falling fast after a big drop in the crude oil market. Last week, the US price for a barrel of oil fell to the lowest level since June 2023. “Declining oil prices lowers the cost of producing gasoline,” said Mark Jenkins of AAA.