Passenger growth at MIA continues in third quarter with strong international traffic.

MIAMI - Total passenger traffic at Miami International Airport grew 2.1 percent through September to 30.5 million travelers, powered by a 4.4 percent jump in international traffic to nearly 15.2 million passengers. The number of domestic travelers increased to 15.3 million passengers through September, equal to last year’s total through the third quarter.

International growth is expected to continue through the end of 2013 with the help of four upcoming route launches. Canadian low-cost carrier WestJet will begin non-stop service from Calgary on October 28 with four weekly flights until December 14 and then increase the service to six weekly flights through April 26. American Airlines is scheduled to launch new routes to MIA from: Cozumel, Mexico on November 21; the Brazilian cities of Curitiba and Porto Alegre on November 22; and Milan, Italy also on November 22. 

The two new Brazilian cities will bring the total number of destinations in Brazil served by MIA to nine – the largest number for any U.S. airport. The destinations also comprise nine of the 12 host cities for the 2014 World Cup in June, providing the most options of any U.S. airport for World Cup travelers. MIA’s reach in its top international market will expand further when TAM Airlines launches the airport’s 10th Brazilian route from Belem in February 2014.

MIA’s pursuit of new international markets reached another major milestone in October with the announcement that Qatar Airways will launch the first-ever route from Doha on June 10, 2014, with four weekly flights. The new route will be the only passenger service between Florida and the Middle East region and establishes new connections between MIA and destinations in India, Asia, East Africa and Australia.

“With the World Cup approaching next summer and the Olympic Games also being held in Brazil in 2016, we look forward to strengthening our position as the world gateway to Brazil and the Americas,” said Miami-Dade Aviation Director Emilio T. Gonzalez. “MIA’s central location and extensive route network in Latin America and the Caribbean continue to be attractive incentives for top airlines from around the world.”

Total freight shipments at MIA grew by less than one percent to 1.5 million tons through September, with international freight increasing one percent and domestic freight dipping 4.4 percent. MIA’s freight growth is slightly above the world average of -0.1 percent through August, according to Airports Council International.