Originally Posted by
JAXBA
I did a little research on this a month or so ago and came across these reports on the MIA website. The first is a timeline of the planned completion of each phase and the second is a map of the completed terminal showing the new gates and planned completion dates. Not the most interesting reading perhaps - but it does give an idea of when BA will escape Concourse F.
Timeline: http://www.miami-airport.com/pdfdoc/...antt_Chart.pdf
Map: http://www.miami-airport.com/pdfdoc/NTD_Fact_Sheet.pdf
Note that on the map, all the gates are D numbered - no more A, B, C. The whole project is being referred to as the North Terminal and so (and here I'm guessing) the name 'Concourse D' (nevermind A, B, C) will probably disappear too.
Also note that where the BA lounge was in the old Concourse A, gates D10, D12 look like they will be for shorthaul/regional aircraft. Maybe it's just an artist's impression, or maybe gate D14 is going to be the nearest widebody stand.
Having said that, the whole concourse is going to share FIS facilities (Federal Inspection Station - Immigration/Customs) which will be located in the CD infill. I think (again, only a guess) that BA is more likely to relocate closer to that, than stay in old-A. Both the timeline and map don't have the FIS facilities opening until Mar 2011 - and BA can't move in until they are ready.
So, will BA keep the space it had in old-A and refurbish it Galleries style or start again afresh in a more central location? Or will the AA-BA-IB JV have started by then, resulting in a joint lounge? Who knows? Sadly, we still have at least 20 months left in Concourse F.
BA ( and other OW partners) will return use the original gates in the old "A"
not sure you arrive at that concourse being used for "short haul" by looking at the diagram.... in any event AE will be using some remote stands and gates D53/54.
A new BA lounge (or the old one revamped) will be the same general area as the old lounge along with a new AA Flagship lounge.
All gates will be connnected by a tram running the entire length on the concourse. The is tram which is currently under test runs is expected to start running from D24 to D5O as soon as possibly September and the baggage handling system was reported to be operational shortly thereafter.
mike