Jamaican Airports Aim for Reopening After Hurricane

Officials coordinate relief flights and recovery efforts following the island’s most powerful storm on record.

Matt Ryan

Thursday, October 30, 2025 at 02:44 PM ET

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Edited By:

Travis Tingle

Sangster International Airport in Montego Bay, Jamaica, in the aftermath of Hurricane Melissa [Credit: @KarenC461288377 via X]

Key Takeaways:

Jamaica's main airports (Norman Manley and Sangster International) remain closed to most traffic following Category 5 Hurricane Melissa, which caused 185 mph winds, record rainfall, and widespread damage.
Authorities are assessing major damage and plan to reopen airports later this week, initially for humanitarian and relief flights, with smaller airfields like Ian Fleming International supporting early relief staging.
The rapid reopening of airports is deemed critical not only for delivering essential relief supplies but also for the recovery of Jamaica's vital tourism sector, which accounts for a significant portion of the island's revenue.

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Jamaica’s airports remain closed to most traffic following the passage of Hurricane Melissa, the Category 5 storm that brought 185 mph winds and record rainfall across the island on Tuesday.

Norman Manley International Airport (MKJP) in Kingston has been closed since Saturday night, and Sangster International in Montego Bay since Sunday afternoon, after aviation authorities ordered suspensions ahead of the hurricane’s landfall.