The Miami-Dade Board of County Commissioners approved LAN Cargo's plans to build the facility, and MDAD finalized the agreement with LAN. "We're thrilled that LAN has chosen to grow their already-strong local presence at MIA," Miami-Dade County Mayor Carlos A. Gimenez said. "All parties stand to benefit from this project, particularly the residents who will gain employment as a result of LAN's new facility."

LAN Cargo and its affiliates handle more freight at MIA than any other airline, moving approximately 380,000 tonnes of goods through the global gateway in 2013. In total, MIA handled a record-breaking 2.1 million tonnes of freight in 2013.

Based in Latin America, LAN had originally planned to build its new facility in Bogotá, Colombia. MDAD officials - with the support of local and state leaders and agencies including Gimenez, Florida Governor Rick Scott, The Beacon Council and Enterprise Florida - convinced the airline to instead build its Western Hemisphere fleet maintenance hangar in Miami.

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