As holiday travelers flock to the skies, Miami International Airport is bracing for a record-breaking season, with an expected 52 million passengers descending upon its gates by year's end. According to CBS News Miami, the airport witnessed nearly 51 million travelers last year, with the busiest stretch during Thanksgiving, Christmas, and December. This year, numbers are surging again, with estimations of 1.8 million people during the Thanksgiving holiday alone, roughly 150,000 a day.
Airlines are responding with boosted flight options; American Airlines is notably upping its game at the Miami hub. "This schedule, which is American Airlines largest schedule ever at Miami International, is 10% larger than 2022, and 2022 for us was already larger than 2019," Juan Carlos Liscano, American Airlines Miami Hub Vice President, told CBS News Miami. In a ramped-up season, American is expanding with new flights to destinations across the Caribbean, Latin America, and the West Coast.
Meanwhile, Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport (FLL) is no slouch, expecting an increase as well, estimating 760,000 passengers will come through its doors around Thanksgiving. As the South Florida Business Journal reports, passengers will encounter fewer flights but more seats nationally as airlines adjust their approach in a still-recovering post-Covid-19 travel landscape. Nonetheless, travelers are advised to book now to lock in better prices for the December holidays. Clint Henderson, managing editor at "The Points Guy," emphasized that procrastination will cost you. "If you're waiting to book Thanksgiving, it's only gonna get more expensive from here," he said in a statement obtained by the South Florida Business Journal.
Travelers hungry for nonstop service to the West Coast will find their appetites sated with American's expanded options, including direct flights to Portland, Oregon; Sacramento, California; and Orange County, California. Starting in January, American will be the linchpin carrier to offer nonstop flights to Orange County, providing ease and convenience for those eager to explore its notable theme parks and attractions. With flight costs poised to climb daily up until the holidays, savvy navigators of the skyways would do well to heed the guidance of Darwin Telemaque, who, armed with a TSA precheck and mobile passport, flies often. "It helps and makes a big difference," Telemaque said in a statement obtained by CBS News Miami, underscoring the benefits of digital tools in streamlining travel's infamous snags.
