August opening for Miami International’s new terminal

Nicole Mezzasalma

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Facility took 10 years to finish and will contain 61 retail and food outlets

Miami International airport’s $1.1bn South terminal is due to open on August 29, according to local officials. The 1.7m sq ft (157,935sq m) terminal, which took 10 years to be built, will accommodate international flights in dedicated concourse J and most of concourse H and contain 61 food and retail outlets.

The terminal's 1,000ft connection corridor will include such retail shops as Sunglass Hut, Palm One, Taxco Sterling, Perry Ellis, Hugo Boss, Cubavera, 10 Minute Manicure, Brookstone and Navarro Discount Pharmacy. Miami-Dave aviation department deputy director of operations and maintenance Max Fajardo told the Miami Today newspaper that the terminal “has higher ceilings, higher quality concessions and more room for passengers, all of the amenities one could want.”

When fully operational, the new facility will handle 25% of Miami International’s total traffic. Airport spokesman Greg Chin said the airport processed 32.5m passengers last year, adding that more vendors would move into the terminal as more of the 19 airlines operating there were introduced.

The terminal will also contain a new cruise and tour bus station.