According to preliminary 2021 airport rankings from the Airports International Council (ACI), Miami International Airport has been ranked as the busiest U.S. gateway for international passengers, while retaining its position as busiest for international freight.
On Wednesday (April 13, 2022), Miami International Airport (MIA) announced that according to preliminary 2021 airport rankings by the Airports Council International (ACI), MIA has been ranked as the busiest U.S. gateway for international passengers. The new accolade is in addition to MIA’s current ranking as the busiest airport for international freight in 2021. During 2021, MIA welcomed over 13 million international passengers, moving the airport from second place in 2020 to the top U.S. ranking, and to 11th place globally. In terms of freight, the airport is the ninth busiest in the world for international tonnage handled with more than two million metric tons in 2021.
In Wednesday’s announcment, Miami-Dade County’s Mayor, Daniella Levine Cava, said,
“Congratulations to MIA for moving up the ranks to become America’s busiest entry point for international passengers and freight. MIA is connecting the world to Miami-Dade County like never before, with a growing number of travel options for passengers to choose from and busy trade routes across the globe.”
Also commenting on the airport’s newest rankings, MIA’s Director and CEO, Ralph Cutié, added,
“Our improved rankings in international passenger traffic and flight operations are more examples of MIA’s successful rebound from the pandemic. MIA continues to attract new and returning airline partners that are expanding our passenger and cargo route networks.”
Miami International Airport is now the ninth busiest airfield in the world with 387,973 takeoffs and landings in 2021, an increase of 54 percent versus 2020, and the largest increase among the world’s 10 busiest airports. The airport’s ninth place global ranking is its highest in decades, compared to 24th in 2020 and 30th in 2019. For 2021, the airport handled 37.2 million passengers, twice as many as in 2020, and MIA also handled 2.7 million tons of freight, a 17 percent year-over-year increase compared to 2020.
ACI’s world airport rankings are based on preliminary 2021 data from airports around the world.
Founded in 1991, Airports Council International (ACI) was created with the goal of fostering cooperation between member airports and other global aviation partners including the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), the International Air Transport Association (IATA) and the Civil Air Navigation Services Organization.
Source: Miami International Airport