Soaring Cargo Growth Lifts Miami Internationa Airport To No. 1 In The U.S., No. 3 In The World

Miami International Airport has reached a major milestone in global aviation, rising to the top cargo airport in the United States and the third-busiest freight airport worldwide, according to new rankings from Airports Council International.

Cargo volume at MIA surged 13.6% in 2025, reaching nearly 3.5 million tons and making it the busiest freight airport in the Western Hemisphere. The airport surpassed both Louisville and Memphis — the primary hubs for UPS and FedEx — to claim the top U.S. ranking. Globally, only Hong Kong and Shanghai handled more freight traffic.

The new rankings were announced on April 27 during the World Trade Center Miami’s Annual State of the Ports luncheon by Miami-Dade County Mayor Daniella Levine Cava and MIA Director and CEO Ralph Cutie.

In a post on X, Mayor Levine Cava praised the achievement, calling it MIA’s highest global ranking ever in both cargo and passenger traffic. She credited the airport’s continued growth to the collaboration of airlines, federal agencies, cargo logistics providers, and community partners, while emphasizing MIA’s expanding role in global trade and emerging markets.

Passenger traffic also climbed sharply in 2025, with MIA serving more than 55.3 million travelers. That growth moved the airport up two spots to become the eighth-busiest passenger airport in the United States, while also ranking eighth nationally in total flight operations.

MIA also improved across several international aviation categories, rising from:

• 6th to 4th worldwide in total cargo volume (freight and mail combined)
• 5th to 4th in international freight traffic
• 13th to 11th globally in total flights

The momentum has continued into 2026. During the first quarter alone, freight shipments increased another 15.7% compared to the same period last year, reinforcing MIA’s growing position as one of the world’s leading cargo gateways.

Source: MIA News