Jamaica Airports Partially Back, Buffers at MBJ and KIN

Published on Nov 9, 2025, 12:10 pm CSTUpdated on Nov 9, 2025, 12:17 pm CST

5 min read

Key points

Sangster International reopened for limited commercial flights on November 1, with seven gates still offline for repairs
Norman Manley resumed commercial service on October 30, providing an alternative while MBJ ramps
American, Delta, JetBlue, and Southwest published waivers or flexibility for Jamaica itineraries
Rolling cancellations and gate changes continue as carriers rebuild aircraft rotations and crews
Travelers should pad connections, recheck status the morning of travel, and consider earlier flights

Impact

Allow Extra Time: Arrive earlier than usual at Montego Bay and Kingston, and avoid tight connections until gate capacity normalizes
Use Waivers Now: Leverage fee waivers and bag-fee relief windows from American, Delta, JetBlue, and Southwest before they expire
Verify Gate Changes: Seven gates at MBJ remain offline which is driving stand changes and remote boarding in some cases
Consider Kingston: If MBJ options are limited, look at KIN flights while MBJ works through repairs and schedule rebuilds
Watch Day-Of Counts: Expect rolling cancellations as airlines rebalance aircraft and crews across Jamaica and nearby hubs

Sangster International Airport (MBJ) in Montego Bay and Norman Manley International Airport (KIN) in Kingston are back to commercial operations after Hurricane Melissa, but capacity remains constrained and schedules are still unstable. MBJ resumed limited service on November 1 with damage that keeps seven gates offline, while KIN restarted commercial flights on October 30 and has been carrying more of the load as airlines rebuild rotations. Travelers should pad connections, recheck gates often, and use flexible rebooking policies while the ramp up continues.

Airport status and reopening timeline

Kingston moved first. American Airlines operated two round trips between Miami and Kingston on October 30 as commercial flying resumed, with additional extra sections added as operations allowed. Those flights were scheduled the same day that Jamaica's authorities and the carrier confirmed KIN's restart. The U.S. Embassy also advised that Norman Manley was open for commercial operations by November 3 to 4.

Montego Bay followed after damage assessments. Aviation Week reported MBJ expected to reopen for limited commercial flights on October 31 and noted that seven gates would remain closed for repairs. The airport then moved into limited commercial service by November 1, with officials and carriers cautioning that capacity would be curtailed while terminal fixes progressed. The U.S. Embassy reiterated MBJ's limited status in early November.

What this means on the concourse is simple. At MBJ, fewer available jet bridges and stand changes are creating last minute gate swaps and some remote boarding. At both airports, rolling cancellations are likely as airlines reposition aircraft, requalify crews, and unwind maintenance backlogs that built during the closure.

Remaining constraints by airport

Sangster International, Montego Bay. Seven gates remain out of service pending repairs tied to terminal damage from Melissa. Limited stands mean tighter push windows and more conflicts during peak banks, which can cascade to delays when a tow or catering run backs up. Expect sporadic remote stands and bus boardings during heavy periods, plus longer lines at concessions and restrooms in affected concourses while construction areas are cordoned off. Airport and operator advisories emphasize a phased restoration plan.

Norman Manley, Kingston. KIN is functioning as the more stable alternative while MBJ ramps, though day to day cancel counts still fluctuate as carriers finish repairs and staffing resets. U.S. government notices flagged KIN as open for commercial operations during the first week of November, a useful fallback if MBJ inventory is thin or heavily delayed.

Carrier waivers and flexibility

American Airlines. AA published a Jamaica travel alert with multiple date windows and also offered a temporary bag-fee waiver across Kingston, Montego Bay, and Ocho Rios through November 9. American staged extra sections to KIN on October 30 and resumed limited MBJ service shortly thereafter as conditions allowed. If your tickets fall inside the alert windows, you can move travel without change fees and, in some cases, benefit from the bag-fee waiver. Check the exact dates for your fare class and purchase date on AA's alert page.

Delta Air Lines. Delta issued a Hurricane Melissa exception policy covering Kingston and Montego Bay with impacted travel dates from late October into early November, and later posted additional flexibility specific to MBJ infrastructure recovery in early to mid November. These policies waive change fees within the defined windows and booking rules.

JetBlue. JetBlue's Travel Alerts page includes Jamaica flexibility tied to Melissa repairs, and the carrier publicized additional temporary baggage relief for Jamaica while recovery continues. Confirm your flight eligibility and dates on JetBlue's alerts page before you change.

Southwest Airlines. Southwest posted a Montego Bay travel advisory for infrastructure challenges through mid November that allows customers to rebook or travel standby within 14 days without a fare difference between original city pairs.

Analysis

If you are booked to, from, or through Montego Bay this week, assume longer minimum connection times than you would normally accept. Thirty minutes of buffer on paper can disappear quickly when a departure is moved to a remote stand or when a jet bridge outage forces a tow sequence change. Consider earlier departures into Jamaica or rerouting via Kingston if MBJ inventory is tight. When you rebook, move to a bank that is less exposed to peak-hour conflicts to reduce the odds of a rolling delay.

Background. After a hurricane closure, airports typically reopen in phases once runway, lighting, and ARFF requirements are met, then work through terminal and ramp constraints over days to weeks. Airlines rebuild rotations as aircraft, crews, and maintenance slots realign. During that period, carriers issue travel alerts or exception policies that let you switch flights without fees inside defined date windows, and some offer temporary baggage flexibility to support recovery.

Final thoughts

Jamaica's two main gateways are open again, but Montego Bay is still operating with reduced gate capacity. Until all seven MBJ gates return, expect rolling schedule friction. Use the waivers while they are active, consider Kingston as a backstop, and keep checking for gate changes on the day of travel. That is the fastest path to a smooth trip while Montego Bay finishes repairs.