Jamaica Witnesses a Sharp Decline in Passenger Footfall at the Airport in First Half of 2026 as Tourism Industry Eyes Recovery, Tourism Officials Anticipate

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Jamaica’s aviation and tourism sectors continued to feel the lingering effects of Hurricane Melissa during the first six months of 2026, with the country’s two primary international airports recording lower passenger volumes compared to the same period last year. While Montego Bay experienced a significant downturn due to reduced hotel availability, Kingston remained comparatively resilient, and industry stakeholders remain optimistic that new airline services and the gradual reopening of accommodation properties will support a stronger recovery during the second half of the year.

According to traffic figures released by airport operator Grupo Aeroportuario del Pacífico (GAP), Sangster International Airport in Montego Bay processed approximately 1.91 million passengers between January and June 2026, representing a 26.7 percent decline from the 2.60 million passengers recorded during the corresponding period in 2025. Meanwhile, Norman Manley International Airport in Kingston handled around 850,200 passengers, down 3.6 percent from the previous year’s total of 881,500.

Montego Bay Bears the Brunt of Tourism Slowdown

The sharp decline at Sangster International Airport reflects the prolonged impact of Hurricane Melissa, which struck Jamaica in October 2025 and caused widespread disruption across the island’s tourism infrastructure.

Although airport operations resumed relatively quickly following the storm, many hotels along Jamaica’s popular northern tourism corridor—from Negril through Montego Bay to Ocho Rios—remain partially closed or are operating with reduced room capacity while extensive repairs continue. The shortage of available accommodation has significantly limited visitor arrivals despite sustained travel demand.

As Jamaica’s busiest airport and the principal gateway for international leisure travelers, Sangster International has been particularly vulnerable to the reduced hotel inventory. The airport typically handles the majority of overseas visitors arriving for vacations on the island, making it especially sensitive to fluctuations in the tourism sector.

June figures also reflected the ongoing challenges. Passenger traffic through Sangster declined by 23.4 percent year-on-year, with the airport processing approximately 336,300 travelers compared with 438,900 during the same month in 2025.

Kingston Records More Moderate Decline

While Kingston’s Norman Manley International Airport also experienced lower passenger traffic, the reduction was considerably smaller.

The airport registered a 3.6 percent decline during the first half of 2026, a performance largely attributed to weaker arrivals from selected markets in the United States, Jamaica’s largest source of international visitors.

Industry observers note that Kingston benefits from a more diversified passenger base that includes business travelers, members of the Jamaican diaspora, government officials and regional passengers. This broader mix has helped cushion the airport from the heavier tourism-related losses experienced in Montego Bay.

Traffic during June remained relatively stable, with passenger numbers slipping only marginally from about 152,200 to 151,000 travelers compared with the same month a year earlier.

Spirit Airlines Exit Has Limited Effect

Despite concerns surrounding the shutdown of low-cost carrier Spirit Airlines earlier this year, airport data indicate that its departure has had only a limited impact on Jamaica’s overall air connectivity.

Before ceasing operations in May 2026, Spirit accounted for approximately 3.5 percent of passenger traffic at Norman Manley International Airport and around 2.6 percent at Sangster International Airport. Those relatively modest market shares have enabled other airlines to absorb much of the affected demand without causing major disruptions to Jamaica’s international flight network.

Industry officials believe the country’s diverse airline portfolio has helped reduce dependence on any single carrier while maintaining access to key North American markets.

New Flight Routes Strengthen Recovery Outlook

Although passenger volumes remain below last year’s levels, Jamaica’s tourism sector is beginning to see encouraging signs of recovery.

One of the most significant developments is the introduction of Wingo’s new route connecting Montego Bay with Medellín, Colombia. The service expands Jamaica’s access to the growing Latin American travel market and provides an additional source of visitor arrivals beyond its traditional North American customer base.

Further optimism surrounds Porter Airlines’ planned expansion for the 2026–2027 winter tourism season. The Canadian carrier is scheduled to launch new non-stop services from Toronto, Ottawa and Hamilton, strengthening Jamaica’s connectivity with one of its most important international tourism markets.

These additional routes are expected to support visitor growth as accommodation capacity gradually returns across the island.

Hotel Reopenings Expected to Drive Visitor Growth

Tourism stakeholders remain confident that Jamaica’s recovery will accelerate during the coming months as more hotels complete renovation work and resume full operations.

Airport operators have also continued investing in infrastructure despite the temporary decline in passenger traffic, positioning facilities to accommodate future demand once visitor arrivals return to pre-hurricane levels.

Industry leaders believe that the combination of restored hotel inventory, expanded airline capacity and continued marketing efforts by Jamaica’s tourism authorities will help rebuild momentum ahead of the busy winter travel season.

While the first half of 2026 highlighted the challenges of recovering from a major natural disaster, current indicators suggest that Jamaica’s tourism industry is steadily moving toward normalization, supported by renewed airline confidence and improving tourism infrastructure.