Parking at Miami-Area Airport May Slow Travelers' Flying Start.

Byline: Luisa Yanez

Nov. 26--With more than a half-million travelers expected to hit Miami International Airport for Thanksgiving week, the stage is set for one messy lesson on the law of supply and demand: Way too many cars. Not enough parking spaces.

The very thought of the potential traffic tangles sends shivers up the spine of many a seasoned MIA parker.

"I've heard parking is going to be a horror," said Bobbi Henry, a school counselor from Pinecrest who is flying to Atlanta on Thursday to spend the holiday with her children.

But even facing holiday mobs reminiscent of pre-Sept. 11 days, airport managers remain confident things will move smoothly -- at least in the parking garages.

"We are not anticipating any serious problems with parking," MIA spokeswoman Inson Kim said. "I think we'll be able to handle most of the traffic." Unlike Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport, which is opening another parking lot to accommodate turkey day travel, MIA officials believe their airport's existing 7,448 long- and short-term spaces will meet demand. If needed, officials said, satellite lots will be opened.

This will be the first week since Sept. 11, 2001, that MIA will experience big holiday crowds.