Jamaica’s two major airports lost US$8. 1 million in revenue in the first quarter of 2026 as Hurricane Melissa continued to hit hotel capacity and international passenger traffic. The Pacific Airport Group, which operates Norman Manley International in Kingston and Sangster International in Montego Bay, released the results showing the pressure on jamaica remained sharp at the start of the year. The decline was led by a steep drop at Sangster, the country’s main tourism gateway, even as one new airline route signaled cautious signs of recovery.
Revenue Pressure Spreads Across jamaica’s Airports
The group said revenue from flight operations fell by US$6. 3 million to US$33 million, while revenue from food concessions and related services dropped by US$1. 8 million to US$11 million. Passenger traffic at the Jamaican airports managed by the group fell 24. 6 per cent during the quarter, reflecting the wider slowdown in tourism-linked demand.
The company tied the weakness to the impact of Hurricane Melissa in the fourth quarter of 2025, saying it continued to weigh on the recovery of hotel capacity along the tourist corridor between Negril and Ocho Ríos. In its statement, the group said passenger traffic has not yet fully recovered. That delayed rebound has kept jamaica under pressure in a quarter that would normally be supported by steady travel flows.
Sangster Takes the Biggest Hit
International passenger traffic through Sangster International fell 31. 5 per cent, from 1. 34 million in the first quarter of 2025 to 917, 400. The airport posted the steepest decline in the group’s 14-airport network across Mexico and Jamaica. Norman Manley International was more resilient, with international passengers down 3. 1 per cent to 414, 800, helped by its stronger mix of business and diaspora travel.
One sign of forward movement came on March 7, when Southwest Airlines launched a new weekly service between Sangster and Nashville, Tennessee. The new route suggests some carriers are willing to add capacity to jamaica even while the broader tourism recovery remains incomplete.
Management Signals, but Recovery Is Not Even
The results show a mixed picture: traffic and revenue in jamaica remain softer than a year ago, yet the airport operator’s wider business is holding up. At the group level, earnings before interest, taxation, depreciation and amortisation rose 6. 4 per cent to 5, 988. 8 million Mexican pesos, while comprehensive income increased 19. 6 per cent, supported by stronger flight and concession revenue across its Mexican airport network.
That contrast matters. It suggests the Jamaican slump is real, but it is being offset elsewhere in the company’s portfolio for now.
What Comes Next for jamaica Travel Demand
For now, the key question is how quickly hotel capacity can rebuild along the tourist corridor and how fast airlines respond with more seats. The latest numbers show jamaica has not yet returned to normal passenger levels after Hurricane Melissa, and any deeper recovery will depend on whether tourism demand and airline confidence keep improving in the months ahead.
