KINGSTON, Jamaica — Sangster International Airport (SIA) has seen a resurgent rebound in air traffic as it processed 358,400 passengers in March.

The airport which normally handles more than 400,000 passengers on a monthly basis during the winter tourism season was processing less than 285,000 passengers each month after the passage of Hurricane Melissa.

However, the month of March saw the country welcome more than 300,000 visitors despite some hotels being closed.

Although air traffic remained down 25.7 per cent lower than the 482,600 passengers processed in March 2025, the surge in visitor arrivals at the country’s largest airport represents a glimmer of hope after the category five storm impacted western Jamaica.

SIA has processed 917,400 passengers for the first three months of 2026, a 31 per cent decline compared to the 1.34 million passengers in 2025. There are currently 19 hotels which remain closed until later in 2026.

Some hotels have adjusted their original opening dates as renovation work continues on the various properties.

The Norman Manley International Airport (NMIA) saw a one per cent increase in air traffic to 140,600 passengers in March 2026. Notwithstanding, there was a three per cent dip in air traffic from 428,100 passengers in 2025 to 415,500 passengers in 2026 for the comparative three month period.

Grupo Aeroportuario del Pacífico, SAB de CV (GAP or Pacific Airport Group) manages the operations of SIA and NMIA.

It publishes a monthly traffic report of both airports and the other 12 airports it manages in Mexico.