Total freight at Miami International Airport grew by 2.2 percent in the first quarter of 2014 year over year.
The first quarter saw more than 500,000 tonnes of air cargo.
International freight shipments increased by 3.3 percent, a number buoyed by the annual influx of Valentine’s Day flowers that arrive at MIA on their way from the growing regions of Latin America to destinations across the U.S. In all, U.S. Customs and Border protection estimates that 398.5 million stems of cut flowers arrived at MIA between Jan. 27 and Feb. 14. Annually, more than 91 percent of all flower imports to the U.S. come through MIA.
The uptick in international freight offset a 5.2-percent dip in domestic freight, which accounted for just 12.5 percent of the total freight tonnage.
Meanwhile, total passenger traffic at MIA grew by 1.4 percent in the first quarter of 2014.
Aircargo World