American Airlines will partner with Miami-Dade County on a $1 billion expansion of the Miami Airport's Concourse D.
The project will do away with the concourse's existing gate D60 area, which has one common boarding door that accesses 17 outdoor, tarmac-level gates serving regional jets.
In its place, 17 traditional gates will be built, each with its own waiting area and each capable of serving larger regional jets as well as mainline narrowbodies. All boarding will be from indoors.
The gates will also provide direct access to the international arrivals processing area on the third floor of Concourse D. The concourse also will get new dining and shopping options as well as an enhanced baggage-handling system.
Work on the project is expected to begin next year and completed by 2030, Miami Airport said. Miami officials were joined by American Airlines CEO Robert Isom at the airport Wednesday for an unveiling ceremony.
Hub carrier American is Miami's leading airline, accounting for more than 60% of traffic at the airport. American currently flies approximately 400 daily flights from Miami, it said. Its operations are centered in concourses D and E.
The D60 renovation is part of the $9 billion MIA Plan, which also includes construction of a new, six-gate Concourse K, the redevelopment of the Central Terminal and several other projects.
American also has a new premium Flagship Lounge in the works in Miami and will convert the existing Flagship Lounge there into an expanded Admirals Club.