Some upcoming construction milestones for the American Airlines north terminal at MIA:

-Last month a 150,000-square-foot area of renovated space with new escalators opened in the North Terminal, which reconnects the airport’s Central and North terminals pre-security.

-New curbside areas for arrivals and departures and additional ticket counters are slated to open Jan. 31 in the North Terminal.

- A fourth security checkpoint will open in May.

- A 400,000-square-foot, 72-lane federal inspection and international arrivals area set to open in the second half of 2012, which will have the capacity to serve 3,600 arriving international passengers an hour. This new arrivals area will feature an eight-lane re-check area for connecting international passengers and a new greeter’s lobby.

This sign was put up this week.... Not too specific about completion date:



New Passport Control - Opening Soon 2012

That summarizes it pretty well.

Anyone who has been following this from the beginning knows that AA has been doing everything in their power to stall the NTD project, and to make it as expensive and delayed as possible.

Expensive and delayed means that they keep competitors out of MIA.

Posted on Mon, Mar. 05, 2012
American Airlines, MIA settle feud over new baggage-handling system

By MARTHA BRANNIGAN
mbrannigan@MiamiHerald.com

Miami International Airport and its dominant carrier, American Airlines, have settled a feud over a new baggage-handling system, agreeing to begin using the new system within a month, both sides said.

According to airport director José Abreu, the two sides agreed that if the new baggage system fails to meet certain performance criteria — like getting bogged down with too many jammed or cascaded bags — they’ll go back to the old system while allowing American to upgrade the software and programming. Airport officials agreed not to take down the old system until the new one has demonstrated it’s up to the job.

Abreu said the parties still have to work out more details, such as how the airline will gradually shift its flights over to the new system.

American spokeswoman Martha Pantin said in a statement the parties “agreed to conduct a live bag test later this month on the new baggage handling,’’ adding: “Details are being finalized.’’

http://www.miamiherald.com/2012/03/05/2676254/american-airlines-mia-settle-feud.html

here is the correspondence between MIA and AA from last month: http://www.scribd.com/doc/85371038

Amazing how AA's contractor was somehow allowed back in, and managed to screw up the BHS. Memo to MIA: do not permit AA to bring in their own contractors ever.

The new baggage handling system in the North Terminal is in service today. Seems to be running smoothly, and the check in area is calmer and less chaotic than normal, despite it being a busy day.

finally.