FedEx Express, the largest express transportation company in the world, has reportedly completed a crucial expansion of its air cargo hub situated at the Miami International Airport (MIA). The expansion will increase capabilities and capacity at its Americas gateway, which connects Canada and the U.S. to the Caribbean and Latin America.
The USD 72.2 million expansion includes an addition of over 138,000 sq. ft. to the primary sort facility which brings it to a total of over 282,000 square feet. The improvements comprise a new customs clearance area along with a new cold chain facility of 70,000 square feet which is the largest in the global network of FedEx. The expansion will generate hundreds of new jobs at the hub during the shipping season in the holidays.
According to Richard W. Smith, the Executive Vice President of Global Support and Regional President of The Americas of FedEx Express, this expansion highlights the company’s commitment to serving Latin America, South Florida, and the wider world.
Smith noted that the hub expansion better places the company to efficiently move increased e-commerce volume and cater to growing consumer demand through its vast network.
The customs clearance area expansion will help expedite international operations as it will reduce the times throughout the entire process of customs clearance. The cold chain facility includes various rooms ranging from -13 degrees Fahrenheit to 77 degrees Fahrenheit that will address the growing demand for transportation of perishables like food and flowers along with therapeutics and pharmaceuticals.
Juan Cento, the Regional President of FedEx Express Caribbean and Latin America expressed that the added capacities of the cold chain will allow the company to expand sectors in the Latin American region that need refrigeration, while the new customs clearance sector will help accelerate trade through the busy air cargo port.
The shipping volume of FedEx through Miami-Dade County, Fla increased by nearly 30.9 % between 2019 and 2020. Planned capital enhancement projects like this air cargo expansion help the company in keeping pace with demand while generating economic activity in the region.
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