Last Friday, the Miami International Airport (MIA) set a new record for the highest number of travelers screened in a single day, with over 2.9 million people passing through its checkpoints ahead of the holiday weekend in observance of Memorial Day.
Airport officials told Local 10 that more than 160,000 people, on average, have passed through the airport each day since Friday, representing a 10% increase from last year. This Monday was expected to see heavy traffic as many of those travelers returned home; however, everything seemed to proceed smoothly, according to the same source.
"We thought the airport would be very crowded, but it wasn't," said traveler Carey White.
Officials from another Florida airport, the Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport, also reported an average of just over 100,000 passengers per day.
Spring Break and Easter Surge
Last March, coinciding with Spring Break and Easter celebrations, MIA experienced the largest passenger growth in its history for the year. Up to that point, the terminal served 12.3 million passengers, which was a million more than the same period last year, marking a 9.6% increase, according to a press release from the port authority.
The number of flights to and from MIA also increased by 9% compared to the same period last year, starting from the beginning of Spring Break in Florida universities and coastal areas on March 1st, the source specified.
FAQs About Recent Miami Airport Traffic
Here are some frequently asked questions and answers about the recent surge in passenger traffic at Miami International Airport.
Why did Miami International Airport see a record number of passengers?
The record number of passengers was due to the holiday weekend in observance of Memorial Day, which saw a significant increase in travel.
How did the recent traffic compare to last year?
More than 160,000 people, on average, passed through the airport each day since Friday, representing a 10% increase from last year.
What other Florida airport experienced high traffic during this period?
The Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport also experienced high traffic, averaging just over 100,000 passengers per day.