Hurricane Melissa Shuts Jamaica Airports, Waivers Expand

Published on Oct 26, 2025, 8:40 pm CDT

4 min read

Key points

Jamaica closed Norman Manley International and Sangster International on October 26
Hurricane Melissa strengthened to Category 4 with 140-145 mph winds
National Hurricane Center warns of 15 to 30 inches of rain with isolated 40 inches
American Airlines and JetBlue expanded change-fee waivers for KIN and MBJ
Cruise lines adjusted itineraries across the Western Caribbean
Core impacts for Jamaica expected Monday night into Tuesday, October 27-28

Hurricane Melissa intensified into a major storm and prompted Jamaica to close both international gateways on October 26, as authorities warned of life-threatening flooding and landslides. The National Hurricane Center said rainfall could reach 15 to 30 inches, with isolated totals near 40 inches, raising the risk of prolonged airport and road disruptions. Airlines activated and expanded flexible rebooking for Kingston and Montego Bay, and cruise lines began rerouting vessels away from Jamaica and nearby ports. Travelers with trips early this week should expect significant schedule changes and limited on-island services.

Hurricane Melissa in Jamaica: Travel Impact

Jamaica's government confirmed closures at Norman Manley International Airport in Kingston and at Sangster International Airport in Montego Bay on October 26 as Melissa's outer bands arrived. Officials also activated hundreds of shelters and urged evacuations from flood-prone areas while utilities prepared for outages.

Latest developments

As of Sunday evening, October 26, National Hurricane Center advisories described Melissa as a Category 4 hurricane, with forecasters highlighting extreme rainfall and the potential for catastrophic flooding in Jamaica and southern Hispaniola. Watches and warnings extended to parts of Cuba and the Bahamas as the storm's slow movement increased the risk of multi-day impacts. Core effects in Jamaica are expected Monday night into Tuesday, October 27-28.

Airlines including American and JetBlue posted or expanded fee-waived rebooking windows for Jamaica, with date ranges generally spanning October 25-29 for original travel and rebooking through the first days of November on some carriers. Check your carrier's alert for eligible tickets, covered airports, and reissue deadlines.

Multiple cruise operators adjusted itineraries to avoid Jamaica and nearby Western Caribbean ports, swapping calls for Belize and Honduras on select sailings and revising Eastern versus Western routings on new departures. Expect additional changes if port assessments reveal damage or if marine conditions remain hazardous.

Analysis

For air travel, the two biggest variables are runway conditions and staffing once winds and visibility allow safe operations. Even after the eyewall passes, field inspections, debris clearance, crew duty-time limits, and displaced aircraft can delay restarts. If your trip is discretionary, moving it outside the peak impact window is the lowest-stress option. If you must travel, build in flexibility and pack for interruptions in power and communications on arrival.

Background: Hurricane categories describe peak sustained wind, but water drives most damage. Melissa's slow forward speed amplifies rainfall, river rises, and landslide risk, which can sever road links between resorts, airports, and cruise terminals even if winds ease. That is why official guidance emphasizes flood safety and why waivers focus on broader date ranges rather than a single day.

For continuity and earlier context on airline policies and Jamaica's airport posture before closures, see our prior coverage: Melissa Intensifies, Waivers Issued for Jamaica, Hispaniola and Tropical Storm Melissa Puts Jamaica, Hispaniola on Watch.

Final thoughts

Hurricane Melissa is a high-end wind event paired with an extreme flood threat. With both Jamaica airports closed and waivers active, the practical move is to rebook outside the near-term window and wait for ground conditions to stabilize. Keep plans flexible and monitor official advisories until airports reopen and schedules normalize.