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Belize adds new nonstop flights from JFK, FLL, SFO

Aircraft tails from JetBlue, Spirit, and United on the Belize City ramp, illustrating new Belize flights from New York, Fort Lauderdale, and San Francisco.
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5 min read

Belize will be easier to reach from the United States with three new and returning nonstop options this winter. Spirit Airlines will debut service from Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport (FLL) to Philip S. W. Goldson International Airport (BZE) on November 21, 2025. JetBlue Airways has introduced year-round service from John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) operating three times weekly. United Airlines will resume seasonal nonstop flights from San Francisco International Airport (SFO) to Belize on December 20, 2025, running on select Saturdays through August 15, 2026.

Key points

  • Why it matters: More nonstop choices shorten total trip time to Belize and broaden fare competition.
  • Travel impact: South Florida, New York City, and Northern California travelers gain simple, one-plane access.
  • What's next: United's SFO flights operate on select Saturdays into summer 2026.
  • Spirit enters Belize with a thrice-weekly FLL service beginning November 21, 2025.
  • JetBlue's JFK route runs year-round on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Saturdays.

Snapshot

Spirit will fly Fort Lauderdale to Belize three times weekly on Mondays, Fridays, and Saturdays, offering an affordable gateway and connections across its network. JetBlue's New York service operates year-round three times weekly, linking one of the world's busiest hubs to Belize's beaches, reef, and rainforest. United returns with seasonal San Francisco service once weekly on Saturdays starting December 20, 2025, with select-period operations through August 15, 2026. Together, these routes improve schedule flexibility for families, divers, and adventure travelers, reduce total journey times versus connections, and diversify fares across value, hybrid, and legacy brands.

Background

Belize's gateway, Philip S. W. Goldson International Airport (BZE), serves the country's Caribbean coast and cayes, and it sits about two hours by flight from Miami. Tourism has grown steadily since 2023 as airlines rebuilt networks and travelers returned to Central America for reef, jungle, and culture. JetBlue launched JFK service on December 6, 2023, making it the first and only nonstop from New York City to Belize. United previously offered seasonal San Francisco flights starting in December 2024, giving Northern California divers a one-stop hop to the barrier reef via a short transfer or a nonstop during peak periods. Spirit's Fort Lauderdale entry adds an ultra-low-cost option with gate-to-gate connectivity across Florida and the Caribbean.

Latest developments

Spirit adds Fort Lauderdale to Belize, three times weekly

Spirit will officially enter the Belize market on November 21, 2025, with FLL flights operating Mondays, Fridays, and Saturdays. The schedule is designed to capture weekend and long-weekend demand from South Florida and to feed Spirit's broader network across the Southeast and Caribbean. Introductory pricing and à la carte options position the route as one of the most budget-friendly paths to the Jewel, while Airbus A320 family aircraft offer consistent cabin commonality for crews and operations.

JetBlue's JFK service runs year-round, three days a week

JetBlue operates Belize flights from JFK on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Saturdays using A320 aircraft. The carrier's move in late 2023 established the only nonstop link from New York City, with free high-speed Wi-Fi and live TV as onboard differentiators. For Northeast travelers, the year-round pattern makes winter reef escapes and shoulder-season rainforest trips simpler, and it supports connections from New England and upstate New York via JFK.

United resumes seasonal San Francisco flights into summer

United will again connect San Francisco and Belize, flying once weekly on Saturdays beginning December 20, 2025. Operations continue during select periods through August 15, 2026, aimed at peak holiday and summer demand. The SFO nonstop trims total journey time for Bay Area travelers and syncs with United's long-haul bank for convenient returns from Belize to Asia, Europe, and the South Pacific via its San Francisco hub.

Analysis

For U.S. travelers, these additions rebalance Belize access across three distinct catchment areas: South Florida, the New York metro, and Northern California. Spirit's Fort Lauderdale entry intensifies price competition and widens weekend options for budget-minded travelers and VFR demand, which typically spikes around holidays and school breaks. JetBlue strengthens the Northeast pipeline with a reliable year-round schedule, pairing premium-leaning onboard features with competitive fares, a mix that appeals to couples, families, and remote workers planning longer stays. United's seasonal SFO return, though weekly, is strategically timed. It reduces connection friction for Northern California divers and adventure travelers, and it adds a West Coast schedule that many tour operators and live-aboard dive boats can package around Saturday rotations.

The combined effect is better geographic balance, more inventory in peak windows, and a healthier mix of price points. Expect incremental lift for Belize's coastal resorts and cayes during winter and spring, and more even demand into summer thanks to United's select-period extension. Travelers should still compare total trip costs, including bags and seat fees on ultra-low-cost carriers, but increased nonstop supply generally narrows price gaps. For Belize, sustained air access from three major U.S. gateways supports record arrivals and encourages new product, from boutique jungle lodges to expanded dive operations.

Final thoughts

With Spirit entering from Fort Lauderdale, JetBlue maintaining year-round New York service, and United resuming San Francisco seasonals, Belize's air map gets smarter and simpler. If you are planning a reef, jungle, or culture-rich getaway, nonstop choices from the Northeast, South Florida, and the Bay Area now reduce travel time and improve schedule control. Watch for holiday and spring break inventory to move first, then look to summer windows tied to United's schedule extension. The bottom line, Belize flights just got better.

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