BELIZE · TRAVEL
Key Facts
- The country Belize is a small English-speaking nation of about 419,000 people that depends heavily on tourism.
- Why it matters San Pedro, on Ambergris Caye, is a leading Belize beach destination, reached by small plane or boat.
- Why now The Prime Minister discussed the idea on 29 October 2026; Tropic Air leaves Punta Gorda on 1 November.
- What happened The government is studying a new airport for the island, and no decision has been made yet.
- What it means for you No change to San Pedro flights has been announced; a new airport is only a proposal.
Belize’s government is studying whether to replace the San Pedro airport on Ambergris Caye, a leading beach destination, with a new airport. Prime Minister John Briceño, who is also the minister of civil aviation, said on Thursday, 29 October 2026, that “no decision has been made as yet” and that a study by the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) is still to be finished.
Tropic Air, which calls itself Belize’s largest airline, cites uncertainty over proposed changes to domestic aviation infrastructure as one reason it will close its Punta Gorda station on Sunday, 1 November 2026. Maya Island Air, a rival domestic airline, is to take over that route, and the Prime Minister said it will get duty-free diesel rather than a cash subsidy.
In Plain English
The Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) is a regional lender that gave technical support for the government’s Strategic Plan for Ambergris Caye, a development plan to 2045. The Belize Tourism Board (BTB) is the government agency that promotes tourism and helps track visitor numbers.
The ATR 72 is a 70-seat twin-engine turboprop, far larger than the Cessna Grand Caravan aircraft that Tropic Air flies today. The Belize dollar is pegged at BZ$2 to US$1, and every conversion in this article uses that rate.
What the Government Is Studying
Briceño said the San Pedro Municipal Airport “cannot be expanded”, so larger planes cannot use it, and that the IDB has been studying “how and where best” to put a new station. He said the study will come to him as the minister for civil aviation and finance, then go to the airlines and the Town Council, adding that “we’re not there yet”.
The government’s Strategic Plan for the Sustainable Development of Ambergris Caye, launched on Wednesday, 7 May 2025, lists new airport and transportation infrastructure among its strategic investments. The plan runs to 2045, estimates needs of more than US$300 million over 20 years and had technical support from the IDB.
What the Airlines Say
Tropic Air chief executive Max Greif said the airline has asked the government for data showing that the San Pedro airport is overly congested, and called the airport safe. He said a proposal to close it and open a new northern airport by 2030 “creates a tremendous amount of uncertainty”.
Greif said the government has encouraged airlines to consider ATR 72 aircraft, which he put at US$25 million (BZ$50 million) each against US$3.5 million (BZ$7 million) for the Cessna aircraft Tropic Air flies today. He said such a plane is not built for 15-minute hops and “the economics do not support it”.
Greif said Tropic Air is in a “much more cautious and conservative position” than a month or two ago and is “reevaluating long-term investments”. He added that the airline has “a strong balance sheet” and access to cash reserves.
Punta Gorda Flights Change
Tropic Air announced on Wednesday, 30 September 2026, that its Punta Gorda station would close effective 1 November 2026 because operations there were “no longer commercially viable”. Passengers with affected bookings were told to contact customer care for confirmed rebooking or a refund.
Briceño said Maya Island Air has agreed to take over the route and that tickets can be bought online now, with the government providing duty-free diesel instead of paying a subsidy. Evan Tillett, director of tourism at the BTB, said “air connectivity is key to growing any destination, including internally”.
Tourism Softens Before the Winter Season
Central Bank of Belize figures show 359,243 stay-over visitors from January to August 2026, down 1.9% on the same period of 2025, after a 0.3% rise through June and a 0.8% fall through July. Air arrivals slipped 0.7% to 301,937, land arrivals fell 10.1% to 44,164 and sea arrivals were nearly unchanged at 13,142.
Cruise ship disembarkations rose 10.3% to 631,128 over the same eight months, with ship calls up by 42 to 245; background on the sector is in this guide to the Belize tourism economy. Tillett said bookings for the winter high season look strong, that the industry hopes to “make up back some ground”, and that the softness is “not where we want it to be”.
What It Means for You
For US travelers, no change to flights to San Pedro has been announced, and any new airport remains a proposal that needs a finished study, talks with the airlines and a government decision. Visitors to Punta Gorda after 1 November are to fly with Maya Island Air, whose website states its prices in US dollars, and the Belize news page tracks further changes.
Property buyers and investors on Ambergris Caye should watch the IDB study, because the location of the island’s main airport would shape access to it. Airlines are already planning around the proposal, with Tropic Air saying it is reviewing long-term investments.
What Is Not Known
It is not known where a new airport would be built, what it would cost or when a decision will come, because the Prime Minister said the IDB study is unfinished. The 2030 date was given by Tropic Air’s chief executive, and the Prime Minister did not mention a date in the remarks broadcast on 29 October.
It is also unknown how long the duty-free diesel arrangement for Maya Island Air will last. Central Bank arrival figures for September and October have not yet appeared in its monthly reports.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the San Pedro airport in Belize closing?
No decision has been made. Prime Minister John Briceño said on 29 October 2026 that the IDB study is unfinished and that the government is “not there yet”.
Can US visitors still fly to Punta Gorda?
Yes, Maya Island Air is taking over the route after Tropic Air closes its Punta Gorda station on 1 November 2026. Tickets can be bought online, and the airline’s website shows prices in US dollars.
Are tourist arrivals to Belize falling?
Stay-over arrivals fell 1.9% to 359,243 from January to August 2026, the Central Bank of Belize reports. Cruise passengers rose 10.3% to 631,128 over the same period.
Who is studying a new Belize airport?
The Inter-American Development Bank is studying where and how a new station could be built, the Prime Minister said. The results go first to him as civil aviation and finance minister, then to the airlines and the Town Council.
Sources: Tropic Air, press release on the closure of its Punta Gorda station, 30 September 2026; Government of Belize Press Office, Strategic Plan for Ambergris Caye, 7 May 2025; Central Bank of Belize, Monthly Economic Highlights, August 2026; Central Bank of Belize, Monthly Economic Highlights, July 2026; Central Bank of Belize, Monthly Economic Highlights, June 2026; Maya Island Air, website.
This article was produced by The Rio Times’ automated newsroom system. How we use AI · Report an error · Editorial responsibility: Matthias Camenzind, Editor-in-Chief