MIAMI – Crowds at Miami International Airport faced a Thanksgiving weekend snag when a broken escalator in Concourse E caused a bottleneck during a surge of international arrivals Sunday night.
The malfunction left travelers at passport control relying on two elevators or a staircase to navigate the terminal, exacerbating delays from already crowded conditions.
“We had multiple flights that came in at one time because of delays,” said Ralph Cutie, MIA’s Director. “Then the area becomes backed up.”
The issue arose as MIA is undergoing a $7 billion, multi-year modernization project aimed at transforming the airport for the 21st century. While signs of progress are visible throughout the terminal, even a single broken escalator can create significant challenges at one of the nation’s busiest airports.
“The escalator is currently being modernized, which is another way of calling it replacement — basically brand new,” Cutie explained.
Crowds and Calls for Solutions
The disruption prompted Miami-Dade Mayor Daniella Levine Cava to seek immediate solutions for handling unexpected surges.
“When we are anticipating big crowds like that, can we have airport personnel there?” Levine Cava said, reflecting on how to prevent similar bottlenecks in the future.
The mayor also assured travelers the escalator is on track to be operational by Christmas.
“Hopefully, we won’t experience that bottleneck again,” Levine Cava said. “The escalator should be up in time for Christmas so hopefully we won’t experience that bottleneck again and we are apologetic to our travelers.”
Looking Ahead
As the modernization project continues, MIA is introducing conceptual upgrades aimed at enhancing passenger experiences. However, officials acknowledge that workarounds may be necessary for isolated issues like Sunday’s logjam.
Despite the challenges, Cutie and Levine Cava emphasized the long-term benefits of the airport’s overhaul, ensuring smoother operations for millions of travelers in the years ahead.