FedEx Express has completed a US$72.2m expansion of its air cargo hub at Miami International Airport (MIA), adding around 13,000m2 to the main sorting facility.
This expansion brings the facility to a total of more than 26,000m2 and will enable the company to increase capacity and improve its sorting capabilities. Inside is a new customs clearance area and a 6,500m2 cold chain facility. The expansion is expected to create hundreds of new jobs at the hub during the peak season.
The expansion of the customs clearance area will help accelerate international operations as it will make the entire customs clearance process much quicker. The cold chain facility is comprised of multiple rooms ranging from -25°C to 25°C that will accommodate the growing demand for the transportation of perishables such as flowers and food, as well as pharmaceuticals and therapeutics.
Between 2019 and 2020, FedEx shipping volume through Miami-Dade County, Florida, grew by 30.9%. Planned capital improvement projects such as the expansion at Miami International Airport enable the company to keep pace with demand while creating local jobs and economic activity in the community. Learn more about the FedEx Effect in Miami and throughout the United States.
Daniella Levine Cava, Miami-Dade County Mayor, said, “FedEx Express’s expansion at MIA continues to grow Miami-Dade’s capacity for international trade and e-commerce, especially before the busy holiday shipping season, further positioning our county as a leader for cargo in the nation and the hemisphere. In addition to increasing MIA’s shipping and cargo capacity, FedEx Express’s larger hub is creating hundreds of jobs for Miami-Dade residents and growth opportunities for local businesses.”
Richard W Smith, FedEx Express’s regional president of the Americas and executive vice president of global support, said, “FedEx Express is proud to be one of the largest air cargo carriers operating out of Miami International Airport, and this expansion underscores our commitment to serving South Florida, Latin America and the broader world. The expansion of our Miami hub better positions us to meet growing customer demand and efficiently move increased e-commerce volume through our vast network.”
Juan Cento, regional president of FedEx Express Latin America and the Caribbean, said, “Miami has always been critical to our operations, serving as our largest gateway connecting markets across North and South America. The added cold chain capacities will enable us to expand verticals in the Latin American region that require refrigeration, and the new customs clearance space will help expedite trade in and out of the busy air cargo port.”
Ralph Cutié, Miami International Airport director and CEO, said, “Congratulations to our partners at FedEx Express on the completion of their new Miami hub. As one of the busiest cargo carriers at MIA, their growth is a major reason why we are having by far our best year ever in total cargo volume.”