Passenger growth at Miami International Airport continued to surge in the third quarter of 2011 with an increase of 9.6 percent in September, keeping the airport on track to surpass its best year ever in 2010. International passengers jumped 12.7 percent while domestic passengers also improved by 6.8 percent. Through September, passenger traffic at MIA grew 7.2 percent compared to 2010, for a total passenger count of nearly 28.6 million in 2011. Calendar year-to-date statistics through August, which are the most current data available for all airports nationwide, show MIA’s growth to be the highest among all U.S. airports.

MIA’s success has been boosted by hub carrier American Airlines, which handled 5.7 percent more passengers at MIA in the fiscal year ending September 30 and has 63 percent of the airport’s market share.  New and expanded service by other carriers has also contributed to MIA’s rising numbers. Based on a scientific study of Official Airline Guide schedule data for more than 650 airports and approximately 100 airlines operating in the U.S., aviation industry website Airline Network News and Analysis (anna.aero) named MIA “U.S. Airport with the Most New Airlines in 2011.”

MIA earned the award with the addition of four new airlines between October 31, 2010 and October 31, 2011: Arkefly to Amsterdam on June 24; Corsairfly to Paris on June 18; ExecAir to Naples, Florida, on July 4; KLM also to Amsterdam on March 21; and TAP Portugal to Lisbon on June 6. Transaero Airlines began service from MIA to Moscow on October 27 last year, but the new route began just four days outside of the contest deadline.

MIA will add more new airlines in November, with Mexican low-cost carriers VivaAerobus and Interjet beginning twice-weekly service from Monterrey, Mexico on November 11 and daily flights from Mexico City on November 17, respectively. In January, Sun Air International Airlines will commence 18 weekly flights from MIA to five destinations in the Bahamas.