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The Philip S. W. Goldson International Airport, often referred to as the Belize International Airport or PGIA, is the only international airport in Belize. It is located in Ladyville, a village approximately nine to ten miles outside of Belize City. The airport was established in 1943 and is named after Hon. Philip Stanley Wilberforce Goldson, a popular Belizean activist and politician who died in 2001.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Name | Philip S. W. Goldson International Airport |
| Other Names | Belize Airport, PGIA, Belize International Airport, Belize City Goldson Intl Apt |
| Location | Ladyville, a village 9-10 miles from Belize City |
| Year Established | 1943 |
| Named After | Philip Stanley Wilberforce Goldson, a Belizean activist and politician who died in 2001 |
| Elevation | 5 m (16 ft) |
| Risk | Serious flooding due to low elevation and coastal location |
| Runway Length | 9,700 feet |
| Airlines | Tropic Air, Maya Island Air, Maya Airways, TACA Airlines, British West Indian Airways, Caribbean Airlines, Air Canada, WestJet, Delta Airlines, American Airlines, United Airlines, Southwest Airlines, Air Florida, Servicio Aereo de Honduras, British Aircraft Corporation, Transportes Aereos Nacionales, Belize Airways Ltd., Avianca Honduras |
| Destinations | Atlanta, Charlotte, Chicago, Dallas, Denver, Ft. Lauderdale, Houston, Los Angeles, Newark, Miami, Toronto, Calgary, El Salvador, San Salvador, Panama City, Panama, Flores, Guatemala, San Pedro Sula, Cancun, Mexico, Merida, Guatemala City, Roatan, New Orleans, London, New York City, Nassau, Montego Bay, Kingston, Jamaica, San Jose, Costa Rica, Tegucigalpa, Managua |
| Military Presence | Hosted several military units due to the Belizean–Guatemalan territorial dispute |
| Visa Requirements | Most visitors don't need a visa prior to arrival and can get a 30-day visa on arrival. A notarized travel authorization letter is required for children not travelling with both parents. |
| Transportation | Airport shuttle, airport taxi, rental car, shared airport shuttle, private airport transfer |
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What You'll Learn
Philip S. W. Goldson International Airport
The airport is at an elevation of 5m (16 ft), which means that it, along with Belize City, is at risk of serious flooding due to its low elevation and coastal location. This has resulted in Belize's capital being moved to Belmopan. Despite this, Philip S. W. Goldson International Airport remains the largest and busiest airport in Belize, currently ranked as the fifth busiest airport in Central America. The airport covers 457 acres (185 ha) of land and has one runway.
Due to the Belizean-Guatemalan territorial dispute, the airport has hosted several military units over the years since its construction. In 1984, a senior US Air Force General stated that it was "the best-defended airfield in Central America". Notable residents have included Headquarters British Forces Belize, No. 1417 (Tactical Ground Attack) Flight RAF, and Belize Defence Forces, among others. Price Barracks, a military installation, is located just north of the airport.
In terms of airlines, Belize Airways Ltd. was a scheduled passenger airline based at the airport, offering flights to various destinations such as Miami, San Pedro Sula, and San Salvador. In 1983, four airlines were operating jet services into the airport, including Air Florida and TACA Airlines International. As of 2023, there are two domestic airlines operating from the airport: Maya Island Air and Tropic Air. These airlines primarily use Cessna Caravan planes and also offer regional flights to destinations like Cancun and Guatemala City.
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Military units hosted
Philip S. W. Goldson International Airport, often referred to as Belize International Airport or PGIA, is the only international airport in Belize. It is located in Ladyville, about 10 miles outside of Belize City. Due to the Belizean-Guatemalan territorial dispute, the airport has hosted several military units since its construction.
The airport has been described as "the best-defended airfield in Central America" by a senior US Air Force General in 1984. Notable military units hosted include Headquarters British Forces Belize, No. 1417 (Tactical Ground Attack) Flight RAF operating Harrier jump jets, No. 1563 (Helicopter Support) Flight RAF, resident Anti-Aircraft Squadrons of the RAF Regiment, resident helicopter units of the Army Air Corps, HarDet Belize, Butcher Radar, and Belize Defence Forces, among others.
Price Barracks, a military installation located just north of the airport, was formerly known as Airport Camp and served as the headquarters of British Forces Belize. In 1972, the capacity of the garrison, then known as the British Honduras Garrison, was doubled to 550 troops due to a threat from Guatemala. The camp was renamed Price Barracks in 1981 after Belize gained independence, and it became the main base of the Belize Defence Force.
The Belize Defence Force includes the Belize Special Assignment Group, which is the BDF's special forces unit, and the Second Infantry Battalion, a combination of male and female soldiers formed in 1994. The Belize Defence Force also maintains three reserve companies and receives support from the Logistics Unit in Price Barracks.
In addition to the military units hosted at the airport, there have been several notable incidents involving the airport. In 1983, four airlines were operating jet service into the airport, including Air Florida, Servicio Aereo de Honduras (SAHSA), TACA Airlines International, and Transportes Aereos Nacionales (TAN Airlines). In 2025, a US national hijacked Tropic Air Flight 711, stabbing and injuring two passengers. The hijacker was shot and killed by another passenger after the aircraft made an emergency landing at the airport.
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Airlines and destinations
Philip S. W. Goldson International Airport (IATA: BZE, ICAO: MZBZ), often referred to as the Belize International Airport or PGIA, is the only international airport in Belize. It is located in Ladyville, a village approximately nine to ten miles outside of Belize City. The airport is the largest and busiest in Belize, with stable passenger growth, and is currently the fifth busiest airport in Central America.
International Airlines and Destinations
As of 2025, eleven international airlines operate from Philip Goldson International Airport, with scheduled flights to the USA, Canada, Latin America, and Mexico. These include:
- American Airlines: Charlotte, Dallas, Miami, and Los Angeles
- Delta Airlines
- United Airlines
- Southwest Airlines
- Air Canada
- WestJet
- Tropic Air: San Salvador, San Pedro Sula, Roatán, and Cancún
There are direct connections to the following cities:
- United States: Atlanta, Charlotte, Chicago, Dallas, Denver, Fort Lauderdale, Houston, Los Angeles, Newark, and Miami
- Canada: Toronto and Calgary
- Central America: El Salvador, San Salvador, Panama City, Panama, Flores, Guatemala, San Pedro Sula, Guatemala, Cancun, Mexico, Merida, Mexico, Guatemala City, Guatemala, and Roatan, Honduras
Domestic Airlines and Destinations
Belize has two domestic airlines: Maya Island Air and Tropic Air. These airlines primarily use Cessna Caravan planes, operating from Philip Goldson International Airport and domestic airports across Belize. Maya Island Air offers domestic service to more than a dozen airports across Belize. Tropic Air provides regional flights from Belize to Cancun, Guatemala City, and Roatan, using Beechcraft 1900 aircraft. Local air carrier Maya Airways also operates domestic service within Belize.
Historical Airlines and Destinations
Historically, the airport has been served by the following airlines:
- Belize Airways Ltd.: Miami, San Pedro Sula, San Salvador, and La Ceiba
- TACA Airlines (now Avianca Honduras): New Orleans, San Salvador, Managua, and San Jose, Costa Rica
- British West Indian Airways (now Caribbean Airlines): Kingston, Jamaica, with a connecting service via London, England
- Air Florida: Miami and San Pedro Sula
- Servicio Aereo de Honduras (SAHSA): Houston, New Orleans, and San Pedro Sula
- Transportes Aereos Nacionales (TAN Airlines): Miami and San Pedro Sula
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Arrival and departure procedures
Philip S. W. Goldson International Airport, often referred to as Belize International Airport or PGIA, is the only international airport in Belize. It is located in Ladyville, a village approximately nine to ten miles outside of Belize City.
When arriving at Philip S. W. Goldson International Airport, you will deplane via a stairway onto the tarmac and enter the arrival terminal. You will then proceed to the immigration check, where you will need to present your passport and any necessary paperwork. It is recommended to fill out any required paperwork before arrival, as this can be obtained on the plane. After clearing immigration, you will proceed to baggage claim, which is located immediately in front of the immigration area. If you have a connecting flight, you will need to clear customs inspection before proceeding to the check-in counters for local airlines.
For departing passengers, it is recommended to arrive at the airport two hours before your international flight. You will check in at the far-right end of the building when you drive into the compound. After checking in at your airline counter, you will need to clear immigration by presenting your passport and signed departure form. All non-residents are required to pay a departure tax of $56 when leaving the country, payable in American currency. This must be paid in cash, and there is an ATM located in the airport that dispenses American currency.
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Domestic airports
Philip S. W. Goldson International Airport, often referred to as Belize International Airport or PGIA, is the only international airport in Belize. It is located in Ladyville, a village approximately nine to ten miles outside of Belize City. The airport was established in 1943 and is named after Hon. Philip Stanley Wilberforce Goldson, a popular Belizean activist and politician who died in 2001.
Belize has two domestic airlines: Maya Island Air and Tropic Air. These airlines primarily use Cessna Caravan planes, colloquially known as puddle jumpers. They operate from Philip Goldson International Airport and domestic airports scattered across the country. Maya Island Air and Tropic Air offer dozens of flights daily to destinations across Belize. While the flying time is less than an hour, the planes are small, accommodating 15 or fewer passengers, so booking ahead is recommended. Tropic Air also provides regional flights from Belize to Cancun, Guatemala City, and Roatan, using Beechcraft 1900 aircraft.
The five most popular domestic airports in Belize are:
- Belize City Municipal Airport (Sir Barry Bowen Municipal Airport)
- San Pedro Airport
- Caye Caulker Airport
- Placencia Airport
- San Ignacio Airport
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Frequently asked questions
The airport in Belize is called the Philip S. W. Goldson International Airport. It is often referred to as the Belize International Airport or PGIA.
The airport is located in Ladyville, a village approximately 9 to 10 miles outside of Belize City.
The airport is about a 15-minute, 30-minute, or 30-minute drive from Belize City, depending on the source.
Here are some key points to note when flying into the Philip S. W. Goldson International Airport:
- All international flights into Belize land at this airport, and it is the only international airport in the country.
- The airport is at a low elevation, and both it and Belize City are at risk of serious flooding due to their coastal location.
- There are no jetway bridges, so deplaning is done via a stairway onto the tarmac.
- All arriving international passengers must clear customs and immigration at the airport.
- Most visitors do not need a visa prior to arrival and will be provided with a 30-day visitor visa upon arrival.
- There is an exit immigration process when leaving the country, and a departure tax of $56 must be paid in American currency.
