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Jamaica Closes Airports as Category 5 Melissa Nears

Jamaica airports closed as Category 5 Hurricane Melissa nears, with storm rain and travel warnings visible at the terminal
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3 min read

Key points

  • Hurricane Melissa strengthened to Category 5 with Jamaica impacts peaking through Tuesday, October 28 local
  • Kingston's Norman Manley International Airport (KIN) and Montego Bay's Sangster International Airport (MBJ) are closed
  • Jamaica's seaports are suspended and the National Emergency Operations Centre is fully active with shelters open
  • Mandatory evacuations are in place for high risk communities including Port Royal and Old Harbour Bay
  • Airlines have issued waivers for KIN and MBJ with some allowing rebooking through October 31
  • Expect multiday operational recovery due to flooding, landslides, and power interruptions

Hurricane Warning, seaports shut, waivers widen; multiday disruption likely

Jamaica remains under a Hurricane Warning as Category 5 Hurricane Melissa approaches, with destructive winds, life-threatening storm surge, and 15 to 30 inches of rain, isolated 40, forecast from today into Tuesday. Authorities have closed Norman Manley International Airport (KIN) in Kingston and Sangster International Airport (MBJ) in Montego Bay, suspended seaport operations, and activated hundreds of shelters across the island. Travelers should expect rolling cancellations and a slow operational restart even after the core of the storm moves away.

Related

With both international airports and island seaports shut and airline waivers in effect, anyone booked through Kingston or Montego Bay this week should rebook now and plan for multiday disruption.

Jamaica's government has ordered mandatory evacuations for specific high-risk communities, including Port Royal, Old Harbour Bay, sections of Bull Bay, and parts of St. Andrew, as officials warn of catastrophic flooding and landslides. The National Emergency Operations Centre is fully active, and the Jamaica Information Service reports shelters open and receiving residents. Visitors should follow local directives and monitor official channels for any additional movement restrictions.

At the airports, operators confirmed phased wind-downs through the weekend followed by full closure ahead of the storm's closest approach. With winds and rainfall intensifying, airfield inspections, staff availability, and power reliability will govern reopenings, not the calendar. Even once weather clears, expect backlogs, crew time-outs, and aircraft repositioning to extend delays.

Major U.S. carriers have posted and, in some cases, expanded change-fee waivers for Kingston and Montego Bay. Delta's policy covers travel October 25-28 with rebooking through October 31 in the same cabin without fare difference; American and JetBlue have active alerts covering Jamaica in the same window. Always check the stated time zone on waiver deadlines and compare to Jamaica time, which stays on Eastern Standard Time year-round.

Cruise lines are adjusting Western Caribbean itineraries to avoid Jamaica and adjacent seas, with added sea days and port swaps likely while swells and winds remain elevated. Guests should watch for revised arrival windows and refund guidance for canceled excursions once lines confirm final routes.

For airline-specific policies, recent cancellations, and airport status changes, see our continuing coverage: Hurricane Melissa Waivers and Airport Closures.

Sources