Jamaica Airport Now Reopens, Yet Flight Cancellations And Delays Persist After Hurricane Melissa

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Published on October 31, 2025

Airport

The 2 main world airports successful Jamaica, Sangster successful Montego Bay and Norman Manley successful Kingston, are gradually reopening aft Hurricane Melissa resulted successful monolithic destruction. While these airports are reopening, delays and cancellation of flights are being reported. Consequently, a wide scope of travelers is reported, and nan authorities is facing nan threat of instabilities while listening, food, water, shelter and basal needs.

Airports Reopening Status and Operational Disruption

Norman Manley reopened for alleviation flights connected Wednesday and resumed constricted commercialized work connected Thursday morning. However, Sangster successful Montego Bay remains closed to each commercialized traffic, pinch officials stating that a broad structural appraisal is required earlier afloat resuming operations.

Passengers departing Jamaica are powerfully advised to cheque their formation position pinch airlines earlier travelling to nan airport, get earlier than usual, and let further clip for check-in and information procedures.

Impact connected Travellers and Tourism

At nan clip Hurricane Melissa made landfall connected 28 October, Jamaica had astir 25,000 world visitors connected nan land each of whom person reportedly been accounted for and are successful bully health, according to nan Ministry of Tourism. Nonetheless, galore travellers stay stranded, including those connected package holidays. Major circuit usability TUI has cancelled holidays to Jamaica until astatine slightest 2 November. Cruise lines person besides removed Jamaica from itineraries arsenic ports stay closed.

Wider Infrastructure and Weather Concerns

Hurricane Melissa struck Jamaica arsenic nan strongest large wind of nan twelvemonth globally, causing extended flooding, upwind damage, and powerfulness outages crossed ample areas of nan island, arsenic good arsenic neighbouring countries.
With upwind conditions still unstable successful nan weeks pursuing nan storm’s passage, authorities counsel travellers to enactment wherever they are and debar relocating until each clear is given. The Jamaican authorities has published a database of charismatic hurricane shelters for travellers concerned astir information aliases accommodation.

Official Travel Advice and Services

The UK’s Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) has cautioned that airdrome and carrier services whitethorn stay disrupted for immoderate time. Travellers are advised to hole for shortages successful food, water, and accommodations and are encouraged to travel their circuit operator’s guidance.
Airlines specified arsenic American Airlines person resumed constricted operations to Kingston, delivering alleviation supplies and coordinating departure flights arsenic soon arsenic conditions allow.

Assistance, Refunds, and Insurance Information

Travel packages aliases flights cancelled by airlines aliases circuit operators owed to nan hurricane should mostly beryllium eligible for a afloat refund aliases rebooking. However, travellers who take to cancel their travel without charismatic recreation advisories whitethorn not beryllium automatically eligible for reimbursement nether modular security policies. Insurance providers whitethorn exclude costs specified arsenic hotels and meals aft nan carrier disruption.

Looking Forward: Recovery successful Jamaica’s Tourism Sector

As Jamaica moves into nan betterment phase, restoring afloat operations astatine Sangster International and reopening nan ports will beryllium captious for nan island’s tourism industry, which relies heavy connected world arrivals done Montego Bay. The Government of Jamaica is coordinating pinch airlines, circuit operators, and world assistance organisations to expedite nan resumption of services and mitigate further disruption for visitors.

The reopening of Norman Manley marks a first measurement toward normalcy, but afloat betterment will require phased restoration of infrastructure, power, and carrier links to guarantee safe and businesslike travel. Visitors readying to depart nan land should show updates from airlines, airports, and circuit operators and support elastic recreation arrangements until services are afloat restored.

Safety Guidance for Travellers

Despite Hurricane Melissa moving distant from Jamaica, residual large wind conditions and dense rains whitethorn persist. Travellers are advised to:

  • Monitor charismatic updates from nan Meteorological Service of Jamaica and nan US National Hurricane Center.
  • Follow guidance from nan Jamaican Office of Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Management (ODPEM) regarding removal routes and shelter information.
  • Keep successful interaction pinch airlines and embassies for assistance and recreation position updates.
  • Stay indoors aliases successful designated safe zones until authorities state recreation safe.


Outlook

Hurricane Melissa has near important harm crossed Jamaica, Haiti, Cuba, and nan Dominican Republic. Jamaica’s tourism and carrier sectors are focusing connected accelerated restoration while prioritising traveller safety. With collaborative efforts betwixt authorities agencies and world partners, nan island’s cardinal infrastructure is expected to retrieve steadily, paving nan measurement for a gradual return to normal tourism operations complete nan coming weeks.

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