From David Volz
Miami-Dade County Mayor Daniella Levine Cava and County Commissioner Raquel Regalado, District 7, announced that the Miami-Dade Board of County Commissioners has approved a minimum of $400 million in private investment to construct a four-story cargo facility at Miami International Airport that will be the first of its kind in the Western Hemisphere and, when completed, will increase the airport’s total cargo capacity by at least 50% or potentially up to two million tons annually.
The project is scheduled for completion in 2029, the new facility will bring MIA’s total capacity to a minimum of 4.5 million tons of cargo and potentially 5 million tons, future-proofing America’s busiest international freight airport until the year 2041 and 11 years ahead of projections. Without this construction, MIA would begin to reach capacity at three million tons of cargo annually. The airport is on pace for more than 2.9 million tons of cargo this year.
“This is great news for our community and our economy as MIA is our largest economic engine generating thousands of jobs for our residents and important income to many of our leading industries, from tourism to small businesses,” said Miami-Dade County Mayor Daniella Levine Cava. “MIA continues to move up the ranks among airports in the U.S. and the world for cargo volume. With the construction of this unprecedented, state-of-the-art air cargo facility now on track, the sky is the limit for where MIA can go in terms of leading the air cargo industry globally after consecutive record-breaking years in cargo growth since 2020.”
The future Vertically Integrated Cargo Community (VICC) at MIA, a nearly 800,000-square-foot facility on 11 acres of airport land, will have a massive local economic impact as well: 8,500 new temporary jobs earning a total of $500 million in wages during five years of design and construction; 2,500 new permanent jobs earning $100 million post-construction; and a minimum of $512 million in rent and business revenue to Miami-Dade County’s Aviation Department over the 40 years of the agreement. Without the VICC, MIA would begin to reach capacity at three million tons of cargo annually. The airport is on pace for 2.9 million tons of cargo in 2024.
“For the past three and a half years, we have prioritized expanding our cargo capacity at MIA and ensuring reliable supply chain access for our residents,” said County Commissioner Raquel Regalado, District 7. “Today’s investment is transformative for Miami-Dade County. The VICC will significantly enhance our airport’s cargo capabilities and establish a new benchmark for sustainable, resilient infrastructure. I am proud to support this visionary project, which will drive economic growth and solidify Miami-Dade’s position as a global hub for commerce.“
The Board of County Commissioners approved a lease agreement with a private developer that will require at least 60% of the design and construction firms to be headquartered in Miami-Dade County, and for those firms to hire registered small businesses during all project phases.
“The VICC is one of the many historic investments being made at MIA to modernize and transform every facet of our operations, including everything from maintenance upgrades and renovations in our terminal to the construction of a new parking garage, four-star hotel, and expanded concourses,” said Ralph Cutié, MIA Director and CEO. “In total, nearly $9 billion in capital improvements and upgrades are scheduled for completion over the next 10 years, with the goal of elevating MIA’s position among the premier airports in the world.”
