Jamaica's Airports Resume Limited Operations Following Hurricane Melissa

Montego Bay’s Sangster International Airport (MBJ) expects to reopen for limited commercial flights on Oct. 31, but seven gates will remain closed for repairs after sustaining damage from Hurricane Melissa.

Two relief flights did land at MBJ on Oct. 30. Both relief and commercial flights arrived at Jamaica’s two other international airports, Kingston’s Norman Manley International Airport (KIN) and Ocho Rios’ Ian Fleming International Airport (OCJ).

KIN “is back up for all intents and purposes,” Jamaican Transport Minister Daryl Vaz said at a press briefing. KIN received nine relief flights on Oct. 30, while two relief flights landed at OCJ.

Seven gates at MBJ have “some roof damage and flood damage,” Vaz said. “So we will take those out of service and use [the other 11 gates], which should be more than sufficient, based on the fact that we don't expect a large influx of flights outside of relief and limited passenger flights.”

Vaz said a total of 10 airline flights landed at KIN and OCJ on Oct. 30. Air Canada, American Airlines, Cayman Airways and JetBlue Airways operated flights to Jamaica, he noted.

American said it operated two flights to KIN from Miami on Oct. 30 with Boeing 737 aircraft. The first carried 1,600 lb. of relief supplies as well as American staff to “assist on the ground and support evacuation efforts.” The second flight also had relief cargo as well as passengers. Return flights carried passengers to Miami.

Hurricane Melissa caused extensive damage across much of Jamaica. “There are people who still have not been able to make contact with their families, their loved ones, their friends, and road access is still impossible,” Vaz said. “So you can imagine a deep, deep sense of worry that is widespread across Jamaica.”