Travel Brands Rally for Jamaica After Hurricane Melissa

Published on Nov 2, 2025, 2:29 pm CST

4 min read

Key points

American is resuming service into Jamaica and nearby islands and is offering AAdvantage miles for Red Cross donations
Delta, Southwest, United and others issued fee waivers covering Jamaica, Bermuda and Turks and Caicos
Carnival Corporation, the Arison Family Foundation and the Miami HEAT donated $1 million to Direct Relief
Holland America will direct upcoming On Deck for a Cause 5K walks to Direct Relief's Melissa fund
Royal Caribbean pledged air and sea delivery of relief supplies to Jamaica
Jamaica targets a December 15 tourism restart with new task forces coordinating recovery

Impact

Change Fees And Flexibility: Major U.S. carriers activated waivers for Jamaica, Bermuda and Turks and Caicos
Donation Matching And Miles: Travelers can leverage corporate gifts and AA's 10x miles offer to amplify relief
Service Resumption: Flights are ramping back at Kingston, Montego Bay and Ocho Rios with constraints
Cruise Itinerary Adjustments: Expect near-term port tweaks while lines route aid and support
Recovery Timeline: Jamaica is targeting December 15 for full tourism operations pending repairs

Hurricane Melissa, a Category 5 at landfall on October 28, struck Jamaica with record strength, disrupting air travel and tourism across the northern Caribbean. Within days, airlines began restoring limited service, cruise companies pledged cash and logistics support, and hotel groups activated guest-care and community relief measures. Jamaica's tourism ministry has set a target of December 15 for a full sector restart, aligning government and private-sector efforts through dedicated task forces.

Airlines

American Airlines restarted operations in Jamaica and nearby islands as airports reopened, including initial flying into Ocho Rios with broader resumptions for Kingston, Holguín, and Providenciales tied to airport readiness. The carrier also detailed relief flying and customer-care steps in a rolling operations update. Separately, American and its AAdvantage members launched a fundraising drive that awards 10 miles per dollar donated to the American Red Cross through November 11, with a $25 minimum.

Delta, Southwest, and United issued flexible rebooking policies that waive change fees and, in many cases, fare differences within defined travel windows for Kingston, Montego Bay, Providenciales, and Bermuda. Travelers should verify current eligibility and dates on each airline's advisory page before making changes.

Airport capacity is coming back in phases. Kingston and Ocho Rios reopened earlier for relief and limited commercial flights, and Montego Bay is expanding operations as repairs progress. Schedules remain irregular, so day-of-travel app checks are essential.

Cruise lines

Carnival Corporation, the Micky & Madeleine Arison Family Foundation, and the Miami HEAT committed $1 million to Direct Relief for medical supplies and recovery support in Jamaica. Holland America Line will dedicate its upcoming On Deck for a Cause 5K walks to Direct Relief's Hurricane Melissa fund. Royal Caribbean's CEO Michael Bayley said the line is coordinating air and sea shipments of relief supplies to communities hardest hit. Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings pledged up to $100,000 to the American Red Cross, combining an immediate donation with a public and employee match.

Hotels & resorts

Sandals Resorts reported that all guests and team members in Jamaica are safe, with comprehensive property assessments underway and flexible options for disrupted travelers. The Sandals Foundation initiated island-wide relief efforts and is accepting donations.

Other travel brands and destinations

The Bahamas Ministry of Tourism expressed solidarity with neighbors, confirmed all-clear conditions following the storm's passage, and noted ongoing coordination with emergency agencies. Turks and Caicos' tourism authority reported the destination "open for business," with airports and hospitality services operating normally.

Government & timeline

Jamaica's tourism minister Edmund Bartlett established a Hurricane Melissa Recovery Task Force and a Donation/Resilience coordination track, targeting a full tourism restart by December 15, 2025, subject to infrastructure restoration and safety checks. Travelers should expect staged reopenings and incremental improvements in air and cruise operations as repairs complete.

Final thoughts

Relief is moving on two tracks, immediate care for communities and a careful aviation and tourism restart. If you are booked to Jamaica or nearby islands in November, use airline waivers early, watch for schedule changes in your app, and consider channeling aid through reputable partners like the Red Cross or Direct Relief while Jamaica works toward its December 15 goal.