Miami-Dade County commissioners are considering options to expand airport capacity as passenger and cargo traffic continue to grow at Miami International Airport.
The commission accepted an assessment from Mayor Daniella Levine Cava outlining potential locations for a new or expanded commercial airport.
Commissioners directed the mayor to further study the options and explore funding sources.
Proposals include expanding Miami Executive Airport or Miami Homestead General Aviation Airport into full commercial airports, or constructing a new airport between the two sites.
The report concluded that additional capacity will be needed, as Miami International Airport — a key driver of the county’s economy — is expected to reach its limits within 15 years.
According to the study, Miami International can handle up to 631,000 takeoffs and landings annually and recorded 501,529 in 2025. Federal Aviation Administration guidelines recommend planning for expansion once an airport reaches 80 percent capacity — a threshold MIA is approaching.
If approved, expanding an existing airport could take 12 to 15 years, while building a new airport could take up to 20 years.
Funding would likely come from a combination of federal and state sources, along with fees charged to airline passengers.
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