A new airport? A larger port? All that was said at the ‘State of the Ports' in Miami

Once a year, leaders in transportation and trade come together to discuss the “State of the Ports” and what the future holds.

Could a second airport be coming to Miami-Dade?

Last week, the county commission moved forward with studying the possibility, warning that Miami International Airport could reach capacity within the next 15 years.

“We are working through that right now. It is a long process that takes anywhere from 15 to 20 years,” said Ralph Cutie, Director and CEO of Miami International Airport.

As for expanding PortMiami, Director and CEO Hydi Webb says building outward isn’t an option.

“We really can’t build on our island and make it bigger, but what we are doing is building vertically,” Webb said.

These are just some of the discussions highlighted at this year’s “State of the Ports” event, which examines how the industry is adapting to growing demand, population increases, and rising tourism.

Miami-Dade Mayor Daniella Levine Cava emphasized the need to stay ahead.

“We have to make sure that we stay not only current, but that we get ahead—that’s why we call it ‘future-ready,’” she said.

Cutie says the airport’s Capital Improvement Plan now totals $14 billion. The plan will roll out over the next 15 years to accommodate an estimated 77 million passengers and 4.2 million tons of cargo by 2040.

That includes major upgrades across the airport.

“From replacing all of our passenger loading bridges to upgrading elevators, escalators, moving walkways, and renovating all of our restrooms,” Cutie said.

There are also improvements planned for concourses and terminals.

“We have a new Concourse K under construction—a $750 million project expected to be completed by 2029. Concourse D60, a $1.1 billion project, will break ground in 2027 and be completed by 2030,” he added.

Another major focus is cargo. Cutie says volume has grown for six consecutive years.

“We are finalizing our cargo development master plan, which will add a few million square feet to our cargo facilities,” he said.

At PortMiami, the strategy is similar—grow upward and operate more efficiently.

“We are stacking containers higher with modern infrastructure. We’re also building garages and facilities that can include parking, intermodal areas, and even office space,” Webb said.

She added that future plans could include shifting some operations off-site.

“We are studying the concept of an inland port—looking at what functions we can move off the port, like empty container storage,” Webb explained.

It’s important to note that these projects are expected to be funded through public-private partnerships, not taxpayer dollars, according to Tax Collector Dariel Fernández.