American Airlines and Miami-Dade County officials have announced plans for a major expansion of Concourse D at Miami International Airport. The project will add 17 new gates and expand the airport’s capacity to accommodate larger aircraft. It will be a major boost to the airport, which is the world’s largest gateway to the Caribbean.
The new D60 expansion, scheduled to begin construction in 2027, will convert space currently used for small regional jets into a three-level concourse designed to handle major aircraft. The expansion will eliminate external boarding at those gates and introduce individually adjacent boarding areas at each gate, replacing the current shared configuration.
This area is particularly frequented by flights to the Bahamas islands. Here, American typically uses smaller Embraer aircraft to serve markets such as Governor’s Harbor and North Eleuthera. The expansion means the experience for travelers visiting the destination will be significantly improved.
Airport officials said the redesign is intended to ease congestion and improve passenger flow in one of the busiest areas of the airport.
The project also includes future capabilities to handle international arrivals along with direct three-level access to airport customs. Renderings show larger gate spaces, expanded seating, and new restaurant and retail space.
Miami-Dade County Mayor Daniella Levine Cava said the D60 project is part of a broader airport modernization effort planned over the next five years.
Expanding capacity at America’s largest international hub
Miami is American’s main gateway to Latin America and the Caribbean. The airline operates approximately 400 flights per day from Miami International Airport and plans to operate more than 380 daily peak-season flights this summer to 155 destinations in 45 countries.
American Airlines accounts for more than 60% of MIA’s passengers, according to the airline.
The airline offers service to more than 90 American-only destinations from Miami, including a new flight to Bimini in the Bahamas that launched earlier this month.
The additional gates are expected to support the continued growth of the airport’s widebody and large narrowbody operations, particularly on international routes.
Premium lounge expansion and technology upgrades
Separately, American recently announced plans to open a new flagship lounge at MIA and expand its existing Admirals Club facilities.
Over the past year, airlines have installed new self-service kiosks at airports to speed up check-in. We also participate in federal programs, including TSA PreCheck Touchless ID and U.S. Customs and Border Protection’s Enhanced Passenger Processing, designed to streamline security screening and processing of international arrivals.
Construction of the D60 expansion is expected to begin in 2027. A completion schedule has not yet been announced.
