The air service developments cap a strong year for MIA that has already seen the addition
of four new international destinations and five new international carriers.
MIAMI – Miami International Airport is poised to end 2014 on a high note, with the introduction of nonstop service to new international destinations; increased flight options on existing routes; new international carriers; and new aircraft that enhance the passenger experience. The air service developments cap a strong year for MIA that has already seen the addition of four new international destinations and five new international carriers.
MIA hub carrier American Airlines will lead the way with the launch of new daily nonstop service to Cap-Haitien, Haiti on October 2 and new nonstop service to Campinas, Brazil on December 2, marking MIA’s 12th destination in that South American nation. American will also increase Miami-London service during the winter season from 14 to 17 weekly roundtrips, with three daily flights on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays. AA’s new Boeing 777-300 aircraft will continue to serve one daily departure to London and effective December 1, AA will operate all Miami-Sao Paulo flights with the spacious widebody aircraft.
Beginning October 27, Swiss International Air Lines (SWISS) will increase frequencies on its popular daily Miami-Zurich route to 14 flights per week. The added frequencies will operate on Tuesdays, Thursdays, Fridays and Sundays through March 27, 2015. Strong demand on the transatlantic route, which operated 10 weekly flights during the Winter 2013-14 season, prompted Switzerland’s flagship airline to add the four additional weekly flights.
Qatar Airways, which provides Florida’s only direct service to the Middle East from MIA, will add a fifth weekly flight to Doha, Qatar beginning Monday, November 17. The route has proven popular with travelers since the Five-Star carrier launched Miami-Doha service this June. Separately, Virgin Atlantic has announced plans to add a second daily Miami-London flight for the Winter travel season. The carrier currently operates the busy transatlantic route using the Boeing 747, Airbus A330 and Airbus A340.
On December 1, Air France will join Lufthansa as the second airline to operate the massive Airbus A380 aircraft at MIA. Air France will operate its daily Miami-Paris service on the superjumbo for the duration of the Winter season through March 28, 2015 before resuming daily service on the Boeing 777-300. The French flag carrier operates the A380 in a four-class, 516-seat configuration. The following day, December 2, Lufthansa will launch seasonal service to Munich using the Airbus A330 aircraft in a three-class configuration. The flight will operate five days per week – Saturday, Sunday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday – through April 30, 2015.
MIA’s busy fourth quarter concludes with the launch of Finnair’s seasonal service between Miami and Helsinki. Finnair will launch two weekly nonstop flights on December 16 utilizing Airbus A340 aircraft arranged in a two-class business and economy configuration. On January 3, 2015, the Miami-Helsinki service will increase to three weekly flights through March 21 when the seasonal service concludes.
“The final quarter of 2014 will be an exciting one at MIA, with a diverse, far-reaching lineup of new travel options for our customers,” said Miami-Dade Aviation Department Director Emilio T. Gonzalez. “Now more than ever, MIA is connecting our community to the world and welcoming both business and leisure travelers from around the globe to our beautiful, dynamic county.”
Theodore is the Co-Founder and Managing Editor of TravelDailyNews Media Network; his responsibilities include business development and planning for TravelDailyNews long-term opportunities.
