Miami Airport (MIA) – America’s second busiest hub for international traffic – saw first half international passenger numbers rise by just +1% to 10.5m as Brazil’s struggling economy continued to have a negative impact. However, it will add five new airlines this autumn which is expected to lift traffic.

Overall, MIA’s traffic grew +3% to 22.6m travellers in the first half boosted by domestic traffic increasing by +5% to 12.1m pax.

Brazil is MIA’s busiest international market, while the Florida gateway offers more flights to Latin America and the Caribbean than any other US airport. It boasts a line-up of over 100 air carriers.

“To grow by +3% overall despite a major decrease in travel from our top international market is significant,” says Miami-Dade Aviation Director Emilio González. “In fact, air travel throughout Latin America and the Caribbean was up only +1.7% through May. After a record +8% growth in 2015, and with a busy third and fourth quarter ahead, we expect a strong finish at the end of the year.”

González notes a major decrease in travel from Brazil.

HIGH HOPES FOR SECOND HALF

That strong finish may not result in the same growth as last year, however. Much will depend on a recovery in Brazil and Latin markets, and the addition to peak winter season traffic on existing airlines – and on new ones.

MIA will be boosted by five new airlines starting this autumn. In September, Eurowings will launch three weekly flights to Cologne, Germany; Fort Lauderdale-based Silver Airways will start four weekly flights to Bimini, Bahamas; Scandinavian Airlines will launch three weekly flights to Copenhagen in Denmark and four weekly flights to Oslo in Norway; and Dominican Wings will begin one weekly flight to both Punta Cana and Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic.

From October, KLM Royal Dutch Airlines will also return to MIA with three weekly flights to Amsterdam in the Netherlands. MIA is currently served by 102 passenger and cargo-only airlines – the most of any US airport.