Miami International Airport – a Look at History

When planning your vacation in the sun and fun of Miami, there are several means of transportation like Palma airport to Puerto Pollensa to this fabulous city of palms, seafood, and tropical breezes. You may choose to drive if time is permitting, or you may elect to hop a plane to Miami. This will allow you to have more time and adventures in the city, instead of eating away your vacation in the car. Miami International Airport will likely be your destination when flying from anywhere in the country or in the world. This airport is the busiest in Florida, as travelers desire to spend their vacations in the city of Miami with its rich culture, beautiful scenery, world-class cuisine, and fine climate. It is a major hub to the Southern area of the US as well as a strategically located gateway to Latin America and Europe. Miami International Airport ranks third in the US for busiest international flight traffic.

Miami International Airport traces its beginnings back to the very genesis of commercial flight. In 1928 when the world was developing the first airplanes for large numbers of passengers, Miami opened its first “airport.” This facility, called Pan American Field, consisted of one single hangar! Flights to points south continued from this airport until Pan American increased its flights. It then relocated south of Miami to a seaplane base in the Keys, and the airport went unused until 1934. Eastern Airlines and National Airlines used the field after Pan Am’s exit.

During the decades of the 1940s and 1950s, this slightly expanded airport began flying troop squadrons and freight shipments. This was the beginning of the traffic that would make the Miami International Airport the largest freight facility in the country. For 50 or so years, Eastern and Pan Am remained the main airlines at this Miami facility until their bankruptcies in 1991. That year, United and American became the main carriers for MIA until United closed its operations there later in the decade.

Miami International Airport hosts a number of airlines for the 33 million-plus passengers passing through its gates each year. American Airlines is still a presence along with American Eagle and Continental Connection for passenger flights. There are a number of freight companies with terminals at the Miami airport including UPS, FedEx, Arrow Air, and Miami Air. One unique arrangement at this Miami location is the ability to fly directly to Cuba. Gulfstream International Airlines, American Airlines, American Eagle, and Sky King Airlines provide regular flights to the country. These are, however, often limited to government officials, ex-pats, researchers, and other professionals who must book the flight through a special agent.

Miami International Airport is a crucial gateway for travelers within the US and from abroad. MIA is easy to navigate on your journey to the beautiful city by the ocean.