Melissa-related disruptions cut Montego Bay arrivals; Kingston posts modest gain

Passenger arrivals at Jamaica’s two international airports declined in March, reflecting shocks from Hurricane Melissa at Sangster International Airport in Montego Bay, according to new disclosures by airport operator Pacific Airport Group (GAP).

Total passenger traffic at Montego Bay fell 25.7 per cent year-over-year in March 2026 to 358,400 passengers. In its filing with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission, GAP attributed the decline to disruptions caused by Melissa. The hurricane, which hit last October 28, continues to affect hotel demand, flight schedules and airport operations.

The performance at Montego Bay weighed heavily on overall arrivals to Jamaica, given the airport’s role as the island’s primary tourism gateway. For the first quarter ended March, passenger traffic through Sangster International was down 31 per cent, compared with the same period last year.

By contrast, Norman Manley International Airport in Kingston recorded a 1.0 per cent increase in passenger traffic in March to 140,600 passengers, providing limited offset to the steep declines in western Jamaica. On a year-to-date basis, however, Kingston’s arrivals remained below prior-year levels, slipping three per cent for the January–March period.

Jamaica’s results came amid broader weakness across GAP’s airport portfolio, which includes 12 airports in Mexico and two in Jamaica. Group-wide passenger traffic declined 8.9 per cent in March, driven largely by a 14.6 per cent fall in international travel, while domestic traffic eased 3.8 per cent.

Less passengers used airlines during March. GAP said available seat capacity fell 4.5 per cent, while average load factors declined to 75.5 per cent, down from 81.5 per cent a year earlier. The fall in load factors, despite reduced capacity, points to weaker demand conditions across the group’s network during the period.

Despite the March slowdown, the operator signalled growing airline engagement with Jamaica. A new non-stop route between Montego Bay and Nashville, to be operated by Southwest Airlines, was announced in the filing.

GAP operates Sangster International through its majority-owned subsidiary MBJ Airports Limited and has managed Norman Manley International Airport since assuming the concession in 2019.

carolyn.guniss@gleanerjm.com