¡Feliz Navidad! The Miami International Airport (MIA) is actively trying to shake the "Third World airport" label it was recently tagged with when we reported on some glaring and decades-long aesthetic issues, putting together a comprehensive makeover plan that appears to address a significant portion of the ailing airport's long-standing cosmetic and operational issues.
The executive team at MIA, including CEO Ralph Cutrie, recently provided an in-depth overview of the ongoing $9 billion "Modernization In Action" (M.I.A) to revamp (overhaul) the ailing airports appearances, outlining many of the first steps they are taking to fix the issues, and announcing that the Concourse D extension that would scrap the infamous outdoor "Bus Terminal" or as we called it, the gates that resemble "self-checkout lines at Walmart."
According to Cutrie, the completion of the new concourse expansion looks promising, and while the completion date has not been announced, the airport is committed to making every effort to move up any future completion date.
Here is the current "Bus Terminal" concourse:
Here is the proposed Concourse D extension:
This is good news to those lobbyists and lawmakers who frequent Concourse D every time they travel on American Airlines to Tallahassee, Florida.
“At Miami-Dade Aviation Department, we fully recognize that the D60 expansion—while essential to MIA’s long-term success—creates temporary operational challenges. Our commitment is to ensure that, even during construction, our passengers continue to experience the world-class service they expect from Miami International Airport," said Cutrie in a statement to The Floridian.
In addition, before the completion of the terminal extension, Cutrie states that the airport will be expanding "weather protection along covered walkways" in order to improve "comfort and safety for passengers" as they board and deboard the aircraft.
This is good news for those passengers caught waiting to board their airplane outside in the exposed terminal.
With the South Florida weather being what it is, a passing rainstorm or aquacero for our amigos from Hialeah makes it very uncomfortable for boarding and deboarding passengers.
In addition, more of these handsome glass bridges (image above) are being installed at the airport.
After being pressed for answers as to why the airport appears to be in such bad aesthetic shape, Cutrie expressed that the entire MIA team had an "unwavering commitment to maintaining a high-quality travel experience, even amid major modernization."
"These efforts reflect our unwavering commitment to maintaining a high-quality travel experience, even amid major modernization. We appreciate our passengers’ patience as we invest in a more efficient, resilient, and future-ready terminal that will better serve the millions of travelers who rely on MIA each year," he added.
The construction of the new Concourse D extension is music to the ears of lawmakers like Sen. Bryan Avila (R), who first referred to MIA as being a "Third World Airport."
As many of our Cuban-American friends would say, DALE!
