Jamaica Recovery: Flights Resume at Kingston and Montego Bay

Published on Nov 1, 2025, 10:19 am CDT

4 min read

Key points

Commercial service has resumed at Kingston with Montego Bay ramping up on a limited gate plan
Major resorts around Montego Bay and along Jamaica's north coast report phased reopenings with cleanup ongoing
Road repairs, intermittent power and port assessments may affect cruise calls, shore excursions and airport turnarounds
Airlines are restoring schedules in waves with change-fee flexibility varying by carrier
Travelers should confirm hotel utilities, ground transport and excursion viability 24-48 hours before arrival

Impact

Flights: Expect rolling schedule restorations with occasional day-of retimings and equipment swaps
Airports: Kingston open and Montego Bay operating with fewer gates which can lengthen turns and taxi times
Resorts: Most north coast properties cleaning and reopening in phases, services may be reduced
Cruise & Ports: Port Authority conducting assessments, watch for altered calls and shorter call windows
Ground Transport: Allow extra time due to debris clearance, localized flooding and signal outages
What To Do: Reconfirm flight, hotel utilities and transfer one day prior, monitor official travel alerts

Commercial flights are returning to Jamaica as recovery accelerates after Hurricane Melissa. Kingston's Norman Manley International Airport reopened for commercial service first, with Montego Bay's Sangster International Airport following on a reduced-gate plan while repairs continue. Airlines have begun restoring Miami-Kingston and other core links, and resorts around Montego Bay and the north coast report phased reopenings as cleanup advances. Travelers should still expect pockets of disruption tied to power, roads and port operations over the next several days.

Airport status and airline operations

Kingston, Jamaica, saw the earliest restart of scheduled flights. American Airlines operated initial Miami-Kingston roundtrips as the first commercial service back on the island, signaling a broader ramp-up in the coming days. Expect additional U.S. carriers to reconnect through Miami and other Southeast hubs as aircraft and crews cycle in, but plan for day-of retimings while ground handling and utilities stabilize.

At Montego Bay, Sangster International Airport is open with capacity constraints. Aviation industry guidance indicates a limited-operations plan at MBJ, with several gates temporarily offline for repairs, which may lengthen turn times and create bank-peak bottlenecks at security and immigration. If you are connecting or meeting a cruise charter at Montego Bay, allow extra margin.

Jamaica's tourism authority continues to coordinate traveler support through its Tourism Emergency Operations Centre, and the country's primary airports are prioritizing stable commercial schedules following earlier relief flights. Monitor your airline's travel alerts for fee-flexible options if your itinerary changes as the ramp-up proceeds.

Resort operations snapshots

Along the north coast, many flagship resorts report that guests and staff are safe and that properties are progressing through cleanup and service restoration. Half Moon in Montego Bay has published rolling updates noting active restoration, with teams verifying utilities and amenities before bringing inventory back online. Round Hill has reported minimal cosmetic damage and is re-opening services in phases. Property-level timelines will vary by power restoration, staffing, and supplier deliveries, so reconfirm spa, golf, kids' clubs, and dining hours directly with your hotel 24-48 hours before arrival.

Trade updates from major resort groups earlier in the week emphasized storm preparation and post-storm assessments across Jamaica, with advisors coordinating alternatives for displaced guests. Expect continued staggered reopenings across Negril, Montego Bay, and Ocho Rios through the coming week, with housekeeping and beach operations normalizing as debris removal finishes.

Infrastructure pinch points affecting travel days and shore time

Roads and public services absorbed significant storm impact, and that footprint drives most remaining friction. Travelers should budget additional time for airport transfers, particularly on segments where debris clearance and localized flooding continue. Intermittent power in some districts can affect traffic signals and hotel services, which in turn can slow check-ins, housekeeping cycles, and restaurant hours. These pinch points are improving daily but can cascade into late-evening flight delays if turnarounds slip.

For cruise travelers, the Port Authority of Jamaica is conducting ongoing assessments at Montego Bay, Falmouth, and Ocho Rios. Lines already altered itineraries during the storm and may continue to adjust call windows or excursion menus while piers, tour routes, and attractions are inspected. If your ship plans a call in the next few days, watch your line's app and email for any timing changes or port swaps.

Background

Hurricane Melissa struck Jamaica earlier this week with destructive winds and flooding, damaging infrastructure across multiple parishes before weakening and moving on toward the Bahamas. The government, airports, and tourism partners opened with relief flights and assessments, then began phased commercial restarts as utilities and staffing stabilized. This sequence, relief then limited commercial operations, is typical after severe Caribbean storms and often produces a week of rolling adjustments as the network re-balances.

Final thoughts

Jamaica's recovery is well underway, with Kingston fully back to commercial flying and Montego Bay building capacity each day. The path from limited operations to normal schedules should be steady, but travelers will still feel the downstream effects of storm-strained infrastructure for several days. Reconfirm flights, hotel services, and transfers, and pad your schedule where possible while the island finishes cleanup and repair.