MIA Hosts Roundtable with Federal Legislators
Miami-Dade Aviation Director Emilio T. González hosted a roundtable discussion Sept. 12, at Miami International Airport with five fellow airport directors, federal legislators from Florida, and Miami-Dade County Mayor Carlos A. Gimenez, to discuss common issues facing Florida’s airports.
U.S. Senator Marco Rubio and U.S. representatives David Jolly and Carlos Curbelo participated in the roundtable, which also included Ft. Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport’s Mark E. Gale, Orlando International Airport’s Phillip N. Brown, Sarasota Bradenton International Airport’s Fredrick J. Piccolo, Southwest Florida International Airport’s Robert M. Ball and Tampa International Airport’s Joseph W. Lopano.
“MIA and our sister airports in Florida continue to make our state one of the busiest in the country for passenger growth,” said Mayor Gimenez. “I appreciate Director González, the other Florida airport directors, and our congressional delegation for partnering with us to insure that our mutual concerns continue to be addressed at the federal level.”
Topics of discussion included efforts to modernize the Federal Aviation Administration’s Passenger Facility Charge program for airport improvements, and maintaining the federal staffing levels necessary to process the rising number of passengers and cargo shipments across the state. MIA, the busiest airport in Florida, served three million more travelers in 2015 than in the previous year, and has seen passenger growth continue in 2016 with a two-percent increase through August. MIA’s growth rate is expected to increase after a host of recent route launches and with the busy winter travel season ahead. MIA has also maintained its ranking as the busiest U.S. airport for international freight, handling 2.17 million tons of cargo in 2015 and matching that pace in 2016.
“It was a pleasure to meet with my counterparts from South and Central Florida, and to discuss the challenges and opportunities we share in common,” said Director González. “I look forward to holding these gatherings on a regular basis, and to collaborating with our federal partners to see continued improvements at our growing airports.”
