Airports In Jamaica: A Comprehensive Guide To All Ports

Jamaica is a Caribbean island with three international airports: Sangster International Airport in Montego Bay, Norman Manley International Airport in Kingston, and Ian Fleming International Airport in Ocho Rios. In addition, there are three domestic airports in Jamaica: Tinson Pen Aerodrome in Kingston, Negril Aerodrome in Negril, and Ken Jones Aerodrome in Port Antonio.

Airports in Jamaica

Sangster International Airport in Montego Bay

Jamaica has three international airports: Sangster International Airport in Montego Bay, Norman Manley International Airport in Kingston, and Ian Fleming International Airport in Ocho Rios. Of these three, Sangster International Airport is the most popular and busiest airport, serving as the primary point of entry for most tourists. It is located 3 miles (4.8 km) east of Montego Bay and is capable of handling nine million passengers per year. The airport is named after former Jamaican Prime Minister Sir Donald Sangster.

The history of Sangster International Airport dates back to 1936 when the site was identified as suitable for constructing an airport. The first international airline to fly into the Montego Bay Airport was Pan American Airways, which operated until 30 September 1949, when the Jamaican government took control. Over the years, the airport has undergone significant upgrades to accommodate increasing air traffic. One notable change was the relocation of the terminal building from the northern to the southern side of the runway.

Sangster International Airport has been continuously expanded and improved to enhance its facilities and infrastructure. In 2005, the new eastern concourse was opened, and phase two was accelerated due to favourable economic conditions and growing tourism in Jamaica. Plans for a 10,000-foot (3,000-meter) runway to accommodate large aircraft were unfortunately halted in 2012 due to unfavourable economic conditions. However, the airport consortium has undertaken projects to rehabilitate and renovate various areas, including the check-in area, aprons, taxiway, and runway.

The airport offers a range of dining and retail options for travellers, with well-known brands such as Starbucks, Auntie Anne's, Quiznos, and Wendy's. It also features a private jet area with immigration and customs processing for guests who prefer this entry method. Sangster International Airport is managed by MBJ Airports Limited, with Grupo Aeroportuario del Pacífico as the leading stakeholder and Vantage Airport Group as a minority owner. It is the preferred choice for tourists visiting the north coast of Jamaica and is easily accessible from cities like London, New York City, Philadelphia, and Miami.

Ian Fleming International Airport in Ocho Rios

Ian Fleming International Airport, named after the British author of the James Bond novels, is located in Boscobel, Saint Mary Parish, Jamaica. It is about 6 to 10 kilometres or a 20-minute drive from Ocho Rios, in the resort area of the island's picturesque northeast. The airport is about 90 feet above mean sea level and has one runway with an asphalt surface measuring 4,769 feet by 79 feet. It is designed to handle private and commercial aircraft as large as the Cessna Citation Excel.

Ian Fleming International Airport is Jamaica's newest airport, most recently renovated in 2011 to welcome international arrivals and handle small jets. It is a convenient entry point to the north coast of Jamaica, with many of the island's renowned villas and resorts only minutes away. The airport features a modern terminal, landing lights, a fire truck garage, and a fuelling station. Passenger amenities include customs and immigration services, a passenger lounge, and pilot briefing rooms.

The airport is also known as Ocho Rios-Boscobel Airport and was previously called Boscobel Aerodrome. It was originally a limited-service facility, processing about 20,000 passengers annually and serving the United States and other Caribbean islands. Local air carriers such as Air Jamaica Express, Jamaica Air Service, Jamaica Air Shuttle, and Trans Jamaican Airlines provided scheduled passenger service with small prop and turboprop aircraft.

The renaming of the airport was controversial, with some locals feeling that a prominent Jamaican should have been honoured instead of Ian Fleming. However, Prime Minister Golding acknowledged this controversy in his remarks at the opening of the airport, explaining that Ian Fleming gave Jamaica "an image much larger than it would otherwise have had".

Norman Manley International Airport in Kingston

Jamaica has three international airports: Sangster International Airport in Montego Bay, Ian Fleming International Airport in Ocho Rios, and Norman Manley International Airport in Kingston, the capital city. This article will focus on the latter airport.

Norman Manley International Airport, formerly Palisadoes Airport, is located on a southern peninsula in Palisadoes, Kingston, Jamaica. It is 12 miles away from the centre of New Kingston. The airport is named after Jamaican statesman Norman Manley. It is one of Jamaica's global gateways and is reputed to be the busiest airport for business travel. The airport is bordered by the Kingston Harbour, the seventh-largest natural harbour in the world, on one side and the Caribbean Sea on the other.

Norman Manley International Airport is the second busiest airport in Jamaica, recording 629,400 arriving passengers in 2020 and 830,500 in 2021. It is a hub for Caribbean Airlines and caters to over 1.7 million passengers annually. The airport's business network comprises over 70 companies and government agencies, with over 3,500 people directly employed at the airport.

The airport has a private jet area with immigration and customs processing for guests who choose this method of entry. Ground transportation can be arranged to take passengers to the Downtown and New Kingston business districts or to other parts of the island. Car rental, taxis, and tour operators are located in the Arrivals Ground Transportation Hall to help visitors get to their destinations.

Norman Manley International Airport has a significant place in aviation history. It was featured in the first James Bond film, Dr. No (1962). Additionally, on April 10, 1953, a Caribbean International Airways Lockheed Lodestar 18-56-23 crashed into the sea shortly after takeoff due to engine failure, resulting in 13 fatalities.

Domestic airports in Jamaica

Jamaica has three international airports, but there are also several domestic airports across the island. These domestic airports are useful if you want to avoid a long drive to your destination and save time.

There are three domestic airports in Jamaica:

• Tinson Pen Aerodrome is located in Kingston, the capital city of Jamaica.
• Negril Aerodrome is located in Negril. It is one of the best airports in Jamaica for tourists, but it does not offer night flights.
• Ken Jones Aerodrome is located in Port Antonio. It is a well-established airport that mainly serves tourists. It is less busy than Negril Aerodrome, making it a great alternative landing point.

In addition to these domestic airports, there are also some great airstrips in Jamaica, such as the one located 65 km from Sangster Airport, serving Mandeville City.

Direct flights to Jamaica from the US

Jamaica is a beautiful Caribbean island that attracts tourists from all over the world. The island boasts three international airports: Sangster International Airport in Montego Bay, Norman Manley International Airport in Kingston, and Ian Fleming International Airport in Ocho Rios. Of these, Sangster International Airport is the busiest, while Norman Manley International Airport is the most convenient for travellers headed to the southeastern coast of Jamaica, and Ian Fleming International Airport is the newest.

If you're travelling to Jamaica from the United States, you'll be pleased to know that direct flights are available. These flights depart from several cities in the US, including New York City, Philadelphia, Newark, Baltimore, Boston, Miami, Fort Lauderdale, Orlando, Atlanta, Chicago, Detroit, Dallas, Houston, Charlotte, and Wilmington.

A number of airlines offer direct flights to Jamaica, including American Airlines, Caribbean Airlines, Southwest, and JetBlue. Avelo Airlines is another option, with flights available from Charlotte, Concord, Wilmington, New Haven, Hartford, and Los Angeles/Burbank, among other cities.

When planning your trip, keep in mind that flight prices can vary depending on the airline and how far in advance you book. It's worth spending some time shopping around for the best deal. Additionally, if you're travelling from the west coast of the United States, you may need to factor in a connecting flight.

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