Spotlight On: Ralph Cutié, Director & CEO, Miami International Airport (MIA)
January 2025 — In an interview with Invest:, Ralph Cutié, director and CEO of Miami International Airport (MIA), shared insights into the airport’s record-breaking growth, innovative initiatives like biometric boarding and urban air mobility, and major infrastructure upgrades. “Over the past four years, J.D. Power has consistently rated us among the top airports in the country for customer satisfaction, with rankings of first, ninth, fourth, and 10th, respectively,” he said.
What have been some key milestones for Miami International Airport over the past year?
We’re in our third consecutive year of record-breaking passenger numbers. In 2022, we welcomed 50.7 million passengers, and in 2023, that figure grew to 52.3 million. This year, we’re trending about 7% higher than last year’s record, which means we’re on pace to handle between 55 and 56 million passengers by the end of the year. This upward trend has made MIA the fastest-growing hub airport in the United States and the fastest-recovered airport in the country post-COVID.
What drives MIA’s growth and competitiveness in passenger and cargo operations?
When I say fastest growing, I’m referring to seat capacity, a key metric predicting future passenger volumes. MIA’s growth in this area is strong, ranking second in the United States for international passengers and 10th for total passengers. Globally, we’re the 25th busiest airport for total passengers and 33rd for international passengers.
For cargo, we’re on track for a fifth consecutive year of record-breaking performance, trending 6% to 6.5% above last year and nearing 3 million tons by year-end — a significant milestone for MIA.
To put this in perspective, of the 40,000 airports worldwide and 20,000 in the United States, MIA consistently ranks among the top, highlighting our national and global competitiveness. Operationally, we’ve moved beyond distinguishing peak from non-peak times due to constant activity. Instead, we operate in “peak” and “super-peak” periods, handling 1,000 to 1,100 flights daily on average and over 1,200 during holidays. These figures place us ninth in the United States and 12th globally for total operations, solidifying MIA’s status as one of the world’s busiest and most vital airports.
How does MIA maintain high customer satisfaction while achieving growth and undergoing major improvements?
Over the past four years, J.D. Power has consistently rated us among the top airports in the country for customer satisfaction, with rankings of first, ninth, fourth, and 10th, respectively. This achievement is especially noteworthy given that we’re undergoing a significant capital improvement and modernization program. Typically, construction projects cause disruptions that negatively impact customer satisfaction, but we’ve managed to maintain high levels of satisfaction thanks to the hard work of our team, airline partners, and stakeholders.
Despite the challenges we face, we’re proud of the progress we’ve made. Whether it’s passenger growth, cargo operations, or customer satisfaction, MIA is consistently reaching new heights. We’re excited about our position as a leader in the industry, both nationally and globally, and we look forward to continuing to deliver exceptional results.
How are business and leisure travel performing?
Both business and leisure travel have recovered exceptionally well. Business travel has almost fully recovered, while tourism travel has surpassed pre-pandemic levels.
We currently serve 79 domestic destinations and 107 international destinations, providing a strong balance between the two. Cargo operations also play a critical role; they sustained us during the pandemic, and now we’re seeing record-breaking performance in both cargo and passenger numbers.
Miami is a top tourist destination globally, and MIA serves as the gateway to welcome millions of visitors. We take pride in being the first impression of Miami for travelers, whether they’re here for business or leisure.
What are the key trends you’re seeing in cargo, and how is the airport preparing to stay ahead in this segment?
This year, we’re nearing 3 million tons of cargo — the maximum capacity our current facilities can handle. With projections showing 4 million tons by 2030 and 5 million by 2040, we must act now to prepare for future growth.
To address this, we’ve launched the Vertically Integrated Cargo Community Center (VICC), a transformative project supported by our Board of County Commissioners and the mayor. Approved in July, this state-of-the-art, four-level facility will be built on 11 acres at MIA through a public-private partnership. Featuring advanced robotics and processing technologies, the VICC will be the first of its kind in the Western Hemisphere, comparable to facilities in Hong Kong and the Middle East.
How is technology and innovation shaping MIA’s operations?
MIA is a leader in innovation, driven by our dedicated Innovation Division led by Chief Innovation Officer Maurice Jenkins. This team collaborates with airports worldwide to stay ahead of trends. For instance, we successfully piloted a virtual queuing program, which we plan to implement permanently.
One of our most exciting initiatives is biometric boarding, set for airport-wide completion next year. Similar to Global Entry, this technology uses facial recognition instead of passports or boarding passes, cutting processing times significantly. Saving just 30 seconds per passenger makes a big impact with 56 million travelers expected this year, improving checkpoint and gate efficiency while maintaining our short average wait times of 14 to 15 minutes — among the best in the United States for hub airports.
We’re also implementing predictive maintenance by installing sensors in elevators and escalators to detect issues before downtime occurs, ensuring smooth operations and better passenger experiences.
Additionally, we’re exploring Urban Air Mobility (UAM) with electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) vehicles, or air taxis. These vehicles can carry five to seven passengers over distances of 150 to 170 miles, connecting locations like MIA, Key West, or downtown Miami. While this industry awaits FAA approval and infrastructure development, we’re already identifying potential vertiport sites at MIA.
What are the biggest challenges the airport is facing, and how are you addressing them?
We’re addressing challenges through strategic initiatives and investments. MIA spans 10 million square feet — 4 million more than the Pentagon — with 8.5 million square feet as air-conditioned terminal space and the rest dedicated to aircraft ramp areas. Maintaining a facility of this scale is a massive task.
The Central Terminal, parts of which are nearly 78 years old, remains a key focus. To address this, we’ve launched a $9 billion capital improvement program. The investment is divided into two key components. The first, totaling $1.7 billion, is dedicated to deferred maintenance and modernization, focusing on critical updates such as restroom renovations, conveyance replacements, and infrastructure upgrades. The second component, amounting to $7.4 billion, is allocated to the capital program, which emphasizes expanding and modernizing terminals, adding gates, and enhancing passenger throughput to meet future demands.
What role will MIA play in Miami’s future?
MIA is more than Miami-Dade County’s economic engine, it’s Florida’s top economic driver. We generate $118 billion in annual business revenue and support over 700,000 jobs statewide. Our goal is to sustain and grow this impact, ensuring the airport remains central to Miami’s economic future.
Our vision is to evolve from a hemispheric hub into a global hub and airport of choice. Traditionally, MIA was the gateway to the Americas, dominating markets in Central and South America. Now, we’re expanding to compete globally, exemplified by our efforts to secure direct flights from Tokyo in collaboration with Japan Airlines.
In November 2023, I joined the mayor and county commissioners on a trip to Japan, where we advanced plans for a 17-hour nonstop Tokyo-Miami, the first direct connection between MIA and Asia. This route will unlock opportunities in tourism, business, and cargo, further connecting Miami with Latin America through our extensive network. While the project is a few years out due to aircraft acquisition, we’re optimistic about its potential.
We’re also preparing for significant growth. This year, we expect 56 million passengers, rising to over 77 million by 2040. Our $9 billion capital program is expanding and modernizing terminals to meet this demand, ensuring MIA remains the airport of choice for travelers and airlines.
Addressing current challenges is equally critical. We’re modernizing loading bridges, restrooms, escalators, and elevators, with full support from the mayor and stakeholders. These historic investments will transform MIA into a world-class facility.
Images provided by Miami-Dade Aviation Department
For more information, please visit:
https://www.miami-airport.com/
