Jamaica Flights Resume, Montego Bay Limits Persist

Published on Nov 10, 2025, 11:27 am CST

5 min read

Key points

Montego Bay's Sangster International is operating with seven gates out of service after storm damage
Kingston's Norman Manley continues to handle heavier rotations as carriers rebalance schedules
Major airlines issued Jamaica flexibility and waivers, with rolling gate swaps and timing changes likely
Regional carriers, including LIAT, have signaled readiness to resume Jamaica service pending clearances
Travelers should prioritize Kingston routings when available and add wide connection buffers through November 13

Impact

Plan Wider Buffers: Allow extra time for check in, security, and connections at Montego Bay and Kingston through November 13
Prefer Kingston Routings: When options exist, route via Kingston to reduce risk from the Montego Bay gate shortfall
Monitor Airline Alerts: Watch for day of gate shuffles and departure time adjustments, and accept proactive rebookings
Use Waivers Early: If your itinerary is flexible, move flights while Jamaica waivers remain active to secure better timings
Confirm Downline Links: Reconfirm hotel transfers and tour pickups due to potential late arrivals and carousel changes

Commercial flying has resumed across Jamaica after Hurricane Melissa, and operations are stabilizing. Sangster International Airport in Montego Bay is open for commercial service with seven damaged gates still offline, which reduces gate availability and increases the likelihood of last minute swaps. Norman Manley International Airport in Kingston is carrying heavier rotations while carriers rebuild rosters and aircraft positioning, which makes the capital the more resilient entry point for many itineraries this week. Travelers should keep wide buffers, expect gate changes, and select Kingston when possible through Thursday, November 13.

Montego Bay and Kingston, what changed

Montego Bay reopened for limited commercial flights at the start of November. The remaining gate outages, seven in total, are tied to concourse damage from Melissa. That constraint affects how many aircraft can park at once, which pushes some arrivals to remote stands or later holds, and in turn creates more gate reassignment during peak banks. Kingston resumed commercial flights earlier and has been absorbing additional traffic while Montego Bay ramps, so many carriers are leaning on Kingston for schedule reliability.

Latest developments

U.S. Embassy Kingston has repeatedly confirmed that both airports are open for commercial operations, while urging travelers to confirm flight status with their airlines before heading to the airport. The Embassy's November notices align with reports from airport authorities and transport officials about staggered recovery at Montego Bay and steady throughput at Kingston. Regional connectivity is also returning. LIAT has stated it is prepared to resume operations into Jamaica, subject to local clearances, which would restore more intra Caribbean options as schedules firm up.

Airline waivers and interim schedules

U.S. and regional carriers issued flexibility for Jamaica itineraries as airports reopened. These waivers allow one time changes without fees within defined windows, which is useful if you want to shift to Kingston or move to earlier flights with better connection cushions. As airlines rebuild rotations, interim schedules can feature aircraft substitutions and frequency adjustments, so the flight you booked last week may change aircraft type or depart slightly earlier or later than planned. Expect a higher than normal rate of day of reassignment at Montego Bay until the seven closed gates return to service. Check your reservation the evening before departure, again four hours before you leave for the airport, and once more at check in.

How the constraints show up at the airport

Gate shortages ripple through the day. When an arrival needs to wait for a free stand, the inbound turn may run long, which leaves less slack for the next departure. Ramp crews and gate agents can recover some of that time, but a run of tight turns will still produce creeping delays. You will see this as gate changes on the departures board, calls to board by rows in tighter windows, and occasional bus gate operations that add a few minutes each way. Kingston's larger available gate set and steadier staffing make those ripples smaller right now, which is why routing through Kingston can reduce risk even if the published block time looks similar.

Practical guidance for the week

If you must fly to the north coast in the next four days, compare total journey risk rather than headline flight time. A Montego Bay nonstop can still be the fastest option if it operates on time, but a one stop to Kingston plus a ground transfer may beat a delayed Montego Bay arrival when gates are backed up. If you are ticketed to Montego Bay, ask your airline whether a voluntary move to Kingston is permitted under current waivers. Build generous buffers for connections, at least two and a half hours on domestic links and three hours on international to international or international to domestic pairs, because boarding may begin later than scheduled if a gate opens late. Reconfirm airport transfers, especially shared shuttles and hotel pickups, since late evening arrivals can push past some vendors' standard windows.

Background

Sangster International Airport in Montego Bay is the country's busiest tourism gateway, with a layout that relies on a limited number of jet bridges and contact stands along a concentrated concourse. Damage to a subset of gates reduces the ability to process simultaneous turns during peak hours. Norman Manley International Airport in Kingston serves the capital and handles a mix of international and regional flights, with more even gate availability this week as repairs in Montego Bay continue. When one node is constrained, airlines rebalance capacity to the other to protect completion rates, then add back Montego Bay flights as infrastructure returns. Embassy advisories and transport updates provide the most reliable day by day signal of status during these recovery periods.

Final thoughts

Jamaica flights are back, but Montego Bay's seven gate outage keeps pressure on the schedule. Choose Kingston when it makes sense, accept proactive rebookings, and keep your buffers wide through November 13. Expect a cleaner operation once additional Montego Bay gates return to service and regional links, including LIAT, fully slot back in.