MIAMI-DADE COUNTY, Fla. — Miami-Dade County is considering building a new major commercial airport.

A 63-page report from the county mayor obtained by Local 10 News says Miami International Airport is reaching airfield capacity, currently at 80% full.

That’s when the FAA recommends adding more space, or there could be more travel delays.

“Capacity challenges could impact growth, create travel delays, and affect our competitiveness,” said Miami-Dade Commission Chair Anthony Rodriguez. “We have to act now and plan ahead.”

Commissioners have narrowed it down to three options.

The first is building a new airport somewhere in the county, while the others are expanding either Miami Executive Airport in southwest Miami-Dade or the Miami Homestead General Aviation Airport into a full-on major commercial airport.

The county board gave the mayor until early June to report how the county could pay for this.

If it’s approved, it would take 12 to 15 years to expand either of the airports, or at least two decades to build a brand new airport.

Officials in Miami-Dade weighing possibility of a second commercial airport

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Byron Tollefson