Hurricane Melissa causes sharp decline in Jamaica air travel and airports

November 28, 2025 at 05:07 AM•2 min read•Steven Jackson

Hurricane Melissa severely impacted Jamaican air travel in October 2025, causing double-digit passenger declines at Sangster and Norman Manley airports.

Key Points

1Hurricane Melissa caused 74,300 fewer travelers in Jamaica during October 2025.
2Sangster International Airport and Norman Manley International Airport experienced double-digit passenger traffic declines.
3Both major Jamaican airports faced temporary closures, with Montego Bay requiring extensive repairs and support from Pacific Airport Group (GAP).
4A US State Department travel advisory and delayed hotel reopenings complicate Jamaica's vital winter tourism recovery.

Hurricane Melissa significantly disrupted air travel to Jamaica in October 2025, leading to substantial declines in passenger traffic at the nation's two largest international gateways. Despite making landfall just three days before month-end, the storm caused double-digit drops in passenger numbers at Sangster International Airport in Montego Bay and Norman Manley International Airport in Kingston. Pacific Airport Group (GAP), the Mexican operator of these airports, reported a combined loss of 74,300 travelers, with Montego Bay experiencing a 17.6 percent reduction and Kingston a 13 percent decrease compared to October 2024.

The severe weather necessitated temporary closures of both airports. Kingston's airport resumed operations on October 30 after thorough runway and terminal inspections, while Montego Bay, which sustained more significant damage, reopened on October 31. GAP swiftly responded by deploying a specialized technical and maintenance team from Mexico to Montego Bay. Additionally, the company dispatched five cargo aircraft carrying over 60 tons of essential materials and supplies to accelerate the recovery and facilitate the resumption of commercial flights.

The disruption occurred as Jamaica was preparing for its crucial winter tourist season, a period vital for the island's economy. The US State Department issued a travel advisory on November 3, urging citizens to "consider rescheduling planned travel to Jamaica," further complicating the sector's recovery. Some hotels have even delayed their reopening until 2026, extending beyond the traditional December 15 start of the winter season, impacting the lucrative resort market.

While October's figures show a sharp decline, year-to-date data presents a mixed picture. Kingston's passenger traffic saw a 4.5 percent increase from January to October, indicating steady growth prior to the hurricane. However, Montego Bay was already trending slightly lower, with cumulative arrivals down 2.5 percent before Melissa exacerbated the decline. The speed of infrastructure and hotel supply recovery will be a critical factor in the destination's overall economic and tourism reactivation.