Passenger traffic at Jamaica’s two international airports started to recover in the latest quarter from the impact of Hurricane Melissa, with combined revenue of roughly US$53 million from aeronautical and commercial services across Sangster International and Norman Manley International from April to June, about 6.0 per cent less than a year earlier, according to quarterly results from operator Pacific Airport Group (GAP).
The revenue decline in the quarter has attenuated to single-digit levels, but over six months, from January to June 2026, the two airports generated roughly US$105 million in combined revenue, down 10.8 per cent from US$117 million in the prior-year period.
The financial results explained that “revenues from the Jamaican airports decreased” mainly due to a “16.9 per cent decrease in passenger traffic during the quarter, resulting from the impact of Hurricane Melissa”. In addition, the appreciation of the Mexican peso against the US dollar negatively affected the translation of revenues. The traffic, although down, marked an improvement from the 20.8 per cent decline recorded over the full six-month period, suggesting the worst of the Melissa-related fallout may be easing.
Hurricane Melissa hit the island last October and led to damage equivalent to over half the island’s total output.
Montego Bay, Jamaica’s main tourism gateway, bore the brunt of the impact. Total passengers fell 21.6 per cent to just under one million in the quarter, compared with a steeper 26.7 per cent drop over six months. Kingston fared better, with traffic declining 4.0 per cent in the quarter and 3.5 per cent over the half-year.
Aeronautical revenue from the Jamaican airports fell 18.3 per cent in the quarter in peso terms, an improvement over the 22.4 per cent half-year decline. But non-aeronautical revenue — the fees generated from duty-free shops, food outlets, car rentals and other terminal concessions — fell sharply in the quarter. GAP attributed the revenue weakness to the passenger traffic drop and a 10.9 per cent appreciation of the Mexican peso against the US dollar, which reduced the translated value of dollar-denominated Jamaican earnings.
Montego Bay’s EBITDA fell 28.8 per cent in the quarter and 30.3 per cent over six months.
Despite the near-term pressure, GAP is investing heavily in the island. Capital spending on improvements to concession assets at the Jamaican airports surged 190.7 per cent in the first half, driven primarily by investments at Norman Manley International. A new route — Wingo’s thrice-weekly Montego Bay to Medellín service — launched in late June, adding a South American connection to the resort airport’s network.
GAP’s revised 2026 guidance projects group passenger traffic between flat and a 3 per cent decline for the full year.
business@gleanerjm.com
