MIAMI-DADE, FL -- Miami International Airport welcomed 1.86 million passengers during the 12-day Thanksgiving Day travel period from Friday, November 17 to Tuesday, November 28, shattering its previous record of 1.73 million travelers in 2021 by 7.3%. The peak travel season also brought three of MIA’s five busiest days ever on November 18, 25, and 26, with November 26 setting a new all-time single-day record of 169,926 passengers. The airport’s second-busiest day ever was on March 20, 2022, when it served 167,529 travelers.

“I am very proud of our airport for successfully completing another record-breaking Thanksgiving travel period and for efficiently welcoming more visitors to our community,” said Miami-Dade County Mayor Daniella Levine Cava. “Thanks to the strong teamwork across our Aviation Department, our airline and concessionaire partners, and the local and federal security agencies at MIA, nearly two million travelers were able to have a positive airport experience in Miami-Dade County during the Thanksgiving holiday week.” 

Even with the record numbers, MIA’s parking garages remained open throughout its busiest days. Additionally, flights at the global gateway are arriving on time at an 81% rate and departing on time at a 79% rate in November. In 2022, MIA was the world’s 8th busiest airport in total flights and ranked 10th among the world’s busiest airports in on-time performance at 74%, according to the Official Airline Guide.  

Before Thanksgiving Day, American Airlines subsidiary Envoy Air began a courtesy trolley service with a total of 10 golf carts from 7:30 a.m. to 9 p.m. daily, to transport passengers within Concourse D while the concourse’s Skytrain people mover remains out of service. In partnership with the Miami-Dade Aviation Department, Envoy Air also began an airside shuttle bus service with stops at gates D10 and D55 during the peak travel period of 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. 

Separately, American Airlines continues to provide wheelchair assistance to passengers who request this service in advance of their flight. 

“During this season of Thanksgiving, I am especially grateful for every team member at MIA who helped to make our record-breaking travel period a success,” said Ralph Cutié, MIA Director and CEO. “With the winter holiday travel season and the end of the year quickly approaching, I am incredibly proud of the strides we have made as an airport in 2023 to provide our customers with the world-class service they deserve.”