Revenue from Jamaica’s two major airports fell by US$8.1 million in the first quarter of 2026 as Hurricane Melissa continued to suppress hotel capacity and drain international passenger traffic, according to results released by the Mexican airport group that operates both facilities.
The Pacific Airport Group – known as GAP – which manages Norman Manley International in Kingston and Sangster International in Montego Bay, reported a US$6.3-million dip in revenue from flight operations to US$33 million, while revenue from food concessions and related services fell US$1.8 million to US$11 million.
The decline was driven by lower passenger traffic in Jamaica, “where the impact of Hurricane Melissa in the fourth quarter of 2025 continued to weigh on the recovery of hotel capacity along the tourist corridor between Negril and Ocho Ríos; as a result, passenger traffic has not yet fully recovered”. Passenger traffic at GAP’s Jamaican airports fell 24.6 per cent during the quarter.
The collapse was sharpest at Sangster, Jamaica’s main tourism gateway. International passengers through Montego Bay fell 31.5 per cent – from 1.34 million in the first quarter of 2025 to 917,400 – the steepest decline of any airport in GAP’s 14-airport network spanning Mexico and Jamaica.
Norman Manley, which serves a higher share of business and diaspora travellers, was more resilient, with international passengers declining 3.1 per cent to 414,800.
One tentative sign of recovery: Southwest Airlines launched a new weekly service between Sangster and Nashville, Tennessee, on March 7 – an indication that some carriers are willing to commit new capacity to Jamaica even as the broader tourism recovery from Melissa remains incomplete.
Despite the Jamaica drag, GAP’s group-level finances held firm. Earnings before interest, taxation, depreciation and amortisation rose 6.4 per cent to 5,988.8 million Mexican pesos, and comprehensive income increased 19.6 per cent, supported by strong flight and concession revenue growth across its Mexican airport network.
business@gleanerjm.com
