Roberta Aguirre
Belize has a small but busy international airport, Philip S.W. Goldson International Airport (PGIA), located in the village of Ladyville, about nine miles from Belize City. The airport is the size of a typical regional airport in the US, with one runway, one arrival terminal, and one departure terminal. All international flights to Belize arrive at this airport, and some domestic flights depart from here, while others leave from the Sir Barry Bowen Municipal Airport in Belize City.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Name of the airport | Philip S.W. Goldson International Airport |
| Other names | Belize Airport, PGIA, BZE, Belize City Airport |
| Location | Ladyville, Belize, approximately 9-10 miles from Belize City |
| Facilities | Free Wi-Fi, air conditioning, waiting chairs, restrooms, restaurants, ATM |
| Airlines | Maya Island Air, Tropic Air, Alaska, United Airlines, JetBlue, Delta, Sun Country Airlines, Southwest Airlines, American Airlines, Copa Airlines, TACA, United, U.S. Airways |
| Destinations | Atlanta, Charlotte, Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles, Newark, New York City, San Francisco, Seattle, Miami, Cancun, Flores, Mexico, San Salvador, El Salvador, Panama City, Panama, Toronto, Calgary, Roatan, Honduras, Guatemala, San Pedro Sula, Guatemala, Merida, Mexico, Guatemala City, London |
| Fees | Departure tax of $35 BZD for locals and $37.50 for non-Belizeans, $0.75 USD security screening fee, $2.50 BZD border development fee, $7.50 BZD conservation fee, $18 BZD for overnight parking |
| Visa requirements | No visa required for stays under 30 days for visitors from the US, Canada, the UK, and the EU. No visa required for stays under 24 hours for all nationalities. |
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What You'll Learn
- Philip S.W. Goldson Airport is Belize's main airport
- It is located in the village of Ladyville, nine miles from Belize City
- The airport has one runway and one arrival and departure terminal
- Domestic flights are provided by local airlines Tropic Air and Maya Island Air
- There are no pre-checks with TSA, so arrive at least two hours before your flight
Philip S.W. Goldson Airport is Belize's main airport
Philip S.W. Goldson International Airport, often simply referred to as the "Belize Airport", is the country's main airport. It is located in the village of Ladyville, approximately nine miles from Belize City. All international flights to Belize arrive at this airport, which has a long main runway measuring 9,700 feet, able to accommodate full-size aircraft.
The airport has direct connections to several cities in the United States, Canada, and Central America. It serves as a hub for local airlines such as Tropic Air and Maya Island Air, which operate dozens of domestic flights daily to destinations across Belize. The airport is small, with just one runway and one arrival and departure terminal, but it is bustling with activity.
For individuals who spend less than 24 hours in Belize, there is no conservation fee. However, any visitor spending more than 24 hours in the country must pay a conservation fee of BZD 7.50 upon exiting. All travellers departing from the airport, including those who have spent less than a day in Belize, must pay a departure tax. This tax varies depending on residency status, with non-citizens and non-residents paying the highest amount at $35.50 USD plus a $0.75 USD security screening fee.
Upon arrival at the airport, passengers will go through immigration and customs inspections. The baggage claim area is located immediately in front of the immigration check, and it is important to pay attention as it can get confusing if multiple flights arrive simultaneously. There are only two baggage carousels. After collecting luggage, passengers will proceed to the customs inspection station, located at the top-right side of the room. It is worth noting that customs officers manually inspect a lot of luggage, which can result in long lines.
While waiting at the airport, passengers can access free WiFi throughout the terminals. Restrooms are available upstairs next to the Global Spice restaurant and downstairs to the far right when entering the building. The airport also provides overnight parking for 18 Belizean dollars per night. Additionally, there is an ATM located within the airport that dispenses American currency, which is useful as any departure tax must be paid in cash and in American currency.
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It is located in the village of Ladyville, nine miles from Belize City
Belize has a small but bustling international airport, which is often simply referred to as the "Belize Airport". The official name of the airport is the Philip S. W. Goldson Airport, and it is located in the village of Ladyville, approximately nine miles from Belize City. The airport is about the size of a typical regional airport in the US. It has one runway, one arrival terminal, and one departure terminal. All international flights to Belize arrive at the Philip Goldson International Airport on the outskirts of Belize City. The airport has a long main runway measuring 9,700 feet, which is able to receive full-size aircraft.
The Philip S. W. Goldson Airport is the largest airport in Belize and is the country's main international airport. It serves the area of Belize City and offers non-stop passenger flights to 28 destinations in 6 countries. There are also 6 domestic flights from Belize City. The airport has direct connections to the United States (Atlanta, Charlotte, Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles, Newark, Miami, Minneapolis, New York, San Francisco, and Seattle), Canada (Toronto and Calgary), and several cities in Central America (Cancun and Flores in Mexico, San Salvador in El Salvador, Panama City in Panama, Flores and Guatemala City in Guatemala, and Roatan in Honduras).
Overnight parking is available at the Philip Goldson Airport for 18 Belizean dollars (BZD) per night. Local airlines Tropic Air and Maya Island Air provide domestic service to more than a dozen airports. All non-residents are required to pay a departure tax of $56 when leaving the country, which must be paid in American currency. There is also a security fee of $0.75 that must be paid for a "security screening". There is an ATM located in the airport that dispenses American currency.
The immigration officer will provide visitors with a 30-day visa upon arrival. If you stay longer than 30 days, you will need to renew your visa. If you are travelling with children who are not your own or if both parents are not travelling, you must have a notarized travel authorization letter from the parents or the non-present parent. You could be denied entry or boarding at the airport just before departing to Belize. The baggage claim is immediately in front of you as soon as you are done with the immigration check. There are only two baggage carousels, so it can get confusing if multiple flights arrive at the same time.
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The airport has one runway and one arrival and departure terminal
Belize has one international airport, the Philip S.W. Goldson Airport, located in the village of Ladyville, approximately nine miles from Belize City. The airport is often simply referred to as the "Belize Airport". It is the largest airport in Belize and is the primary international airport of the country.
The airport is served by several airlines, including American Airlines, Copa Airlines, Delta, TACA, Southwest Airlines, United, and U.S. Airways. These airlines provide non-stop services to various destinations in the United States, such as Atlanta, Charlotte, Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles, Newark, New York City, Miami, and Seattle / Tacoma. There are also direct flights to several cities in Central America, including Cancun and Flores in Mexico, San Salvador in El Salvador, and Panama City in Panama.
The airport offers various facilities and services for passengers. Overnight parking is available at the airport for 18 Belizean dollars per night. There is also an ATM located within the airport that dispenses American currency, which is useful for non-residents who need to pay the departure tax of $56 when leaving the country. The airport terminals have free WiFi, and there are waiting areas with air conditioning and chairs. Restrooms are located upstairs beside the Global Spice restaurant and downstairs to the far right when entering the building.
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Domestic flights are provided by local airlines Tropic Air and Maya Island Air
Domestic flights in Belize are provided by local airlines Tropic Air and Maya Island Air. Both airlines offer daily scheduled flights to destinations across Belize.
Tropic Air, founded in 1979, has grown from a single plane to a fleet of 17 light aircraft, now offering over 200 daily scheduled flights to 13 destinations in Belize and beyond. The airline flies to popular destinations such as San Pedro, Placencia, Dangriga, Caye Caulker, Belize City, Corozal, and Punta Gorda. Tropic Air also offers private charters and sightseeing tours. Safety is a top priority for the airline, as demonstrated by their commitment to sustainability and their heroic pilot who safely landed a plane during an unprecedented in-flight emergency.
Maya Island Air, Belize's most experienced airline, operates daily scheduled flights to destinations such as San Pedro, Dangriga (Hopkins), Placencia, Caye Caulker, Corozal, and Punta Gorda. They offer convenient access to private islands, seaside resorts, and unique mainland activities. In November 2018, a Maya Island Air Cessna 208B Caravan flight aborted takeoff from Corozal Airport but was unable to stop on the runway, resulting in substantial damage to the aircraft.
Both Tropic Air and Maya Island Air typically use small planes with a capacity of 15 or fewer passengers, so booking ahead is recommended. These airlines provide a convenient way to explore the beauty, culture, and adventures that Belize has to offer.
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There are no pre-checks with TSA, so arrive at least two hours before your flight
Belize has a small but bustling international airport, Philip S.W. Goldson International Airport (also known as Belize Airport or Belize City Airport), located in the village of Ladyville, approximately nine miles from Belize City. All international flights to Belize arrive at this airport, which is about the size of a typical regional airport in the US. It has one runway, one arrival terminal, and one departure terminal.
When travelling to Belize, it is important to note that Philip S.W. Goldson Airport does not do pre-checks with TSA. Therefore, it is recommended that you arrive at the airport at least two hours before your flight. This will give you ample time to navigate the airport and complete any necessary security checks and procedures.
Upon arrival at the airport, you will need to go through immigration and customs inspection. If you are a non-resident, you must pay a departure tax of $56 when leaving the country, in cash and in American currency. There is also a security fee of $0.75 that must be paid for the "security screening". If you have checked luggage, the baggage claim area is located immediately in front of the immigration counters. Keep in mind that there are only two baggage carousels, and it can get confusing if multiple flights arrive simultaneously.
After collecting your luggage, you will need to go through the customs inspection. There may be a long line as customs officers need to manually inspect many bags. Once you have cleared customs, you can proceed to the check-in counters for your connecting flights. If you are heading to Belize City, you can find airport taxis outside the arrivals terminal. If you are travelling with children who are not your own, or if one or both parents are not present, don't forget to carry a notarized travel authorization letter from the parents or the non-present parent.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, the Philip S.W. Goldson International Airport (PGIA), is the primary international airport of Belize.
The airport is located in the village of Ladyville, approximately nine miles from Belize City.
Locals are required to pay a departure tax of 35 Belizean dollars and all non-Belizeans must pay a departure tax of 37.50 US dollars.
