Belize City's Airport Options

Belize City is served by the Philip S. W. Goldson International Airport, located in the village of Ladyville, approximately 9-10 miles from Belize City. This airport is the only international airport in Belize and is used by 11 international airlines, including American Airlines, Copa Airlines, Delta, and United. There are also several domestic airports scattered across the country, primarily used by tourists during the high season. These include Belize City Municipal Airport, San Pedro Airport, and Caye Caulker Airport.

Philip S. W. Goldson International Airport is 10 miles from Belize City

Philip S. W. Goldson International Airport is the only international airport in Belize. It is located in Ladyville, a village/suburb that is 10 miles northwest of Belize City. The airport is named after Hon. Philip Stanley Wilberforce Goldson, a popular Belizean activist and politician who died in 2001.

The airport is the largest and busiest in the country, serving approximately 1.1 million passengers in 2018. It covers 457 acres of land and has one runway, which is large enough for full-size aircraft. The airport is at an elevation of 16 feet, which means it is at risk of serious flooding due to its low elevation and coastal location. This has resulted in the capital being moved to Belmopan.

The Philip Goldson International Airport terminal building is approximately 110,000 sq ft and includes Terminals 1 and 2, International Arrival and Departure Halls, a Domestic Arrival Hall, restaurants, bars, gift shops, duty-free shops, and various other services. Outside the terminal, there is a Rental Services Center, car parking lots, and a sea of Belize City taxis. The airport is open daily from 6 am to 6 pm.

It takes around 20 to 30 minutes to travel between the airport and Belize City by car. A taxi costs around $25 per trip. There are also shuttle and private car transfer services offered by hotels and private companies.

Domestic airports are scattered across Belize

Belize has one international airport and several domestic airports scattered across the country. The Philip S.W. Goldson International Airport (PGIA) is the only international airport in Belize and is located in Ladyville, just 10 miles outside of Belize City. It was established in 1943 and is named after Hon. Philip Stanley Wilberforce Goldson, a popular Belizean activist and politician who died in 2001. The airport has a 9,700-foot runway, enabling it to accommodate full-size aircraft for international flights.

Domestic airports in Belize are strategically located in the most populous areas of each district. These airports are frequently used by tourists during the peak tourism season. The five most popular domestic airports in Belize are:

• Belize City Municipal Airport: Serving the country's largest city, this airport handles domestic flights to and from Belize City.
• San Pedro Airport: Offering convenient access to Ambergris Caye, this airport is served by both Tropic Air and Maya Island Air.
• Caye Caulker Airport: This airport is located on the small island of Caye Caulker and is served by both Tropic Air and Maya Island Air.
• Placencia Airport: Placencia Airport is a popular gateway to the Placencia Peninsula, known for its beautiful beaches and coastal attractions.
• San Ignacio Airport: Maya Island Air operates from this airport, providing easy access to the town of San Ignacio and the surrounding area.

In addition to these, other domestic airports in Belize include the Hector Silva Airstrip, John Greif II Airport, Corozal Town Airport, Maya Flats Airstrip, and Sir Barry Bowen Municipal Airport. These airports play a crucial role in connecting different regions within Belize, catering to both locals and tourists alike.

Belize City Municipal Airport is a popular domestic airport

Belize City Municipal Airport is the main cargo operations hub in Belize and offers a convenient way to travel between ten destinations within the country. Tropic Air operates hubs at both of Belize City's airports, and offers an hourly flight schedule between Belize Municipal and San Pedro, Ambergris Caye. The airline also provides a robust timetable to destinations in the south and west of the country. Maya Island Air also operates from Belize City Municipal Airport, with multiple flights every day.

The airport mostly provides travel to Belize's cayes, allowing faster passage to these than by boat or water taxi. Destinations include Caye Caulker, Caye Chapel, Dangriga, Independence, Placencia, Punta Gorda, and San Pedro. Belize Shuttles and Private Transfers also provide regularly scheduled shuttle services from the airport to Placencia, San Ignacio, Hopkins, and water taxi terminals.

In 2012, a BZ$17 million project was initiated to upgrade and modernise the airport. Improvements included extending the runway, constructing a new access road, adding a taxiway, and installing a new lighting system. The project was completed in November 2016.

Philip S. W. Goldson is the only international airport in Belize

Philip S. W. Goldson International Airport (IATA: BZE), also known as PGIA, is the only international airport in Belize. It is located in Ladyville, a village/suburb that is 10 miles northwest of Belize City, and can be reached in 20 minutes by car. The airport is named after Hon. Philip Stanley Wilberforce Goldson, a popular Belizean activist and politician who died in 2001.

The airport is Belize's main airport and is the largest and busiest in the country. It covers 457 acres of land and has one runway, which is large enough for full-size aircraft. In 2018, the airport received over 5,000 international and 26,000 domestic flights, serving approximately 1.1 million passengers. Currently, 11 international and two domestic airlines operate from the PGIA with scheduled flights to the USA, Canada, Latin America, Mexico, the Caribbean, and Europe.

The Philip Goldson International Airport terminal building is approximately 110,000 sq ft. The building contains Terminals 1 and 2, International Arrival and Departure Halls, a Domestic Arrival Hall, restaurants, bars, snack outlets, gift/souvenir shops, duty-free shops, a bank, and various other services. Outside the terminal building, there are car parking lots and often a sea of Belize City taxis waiting to pick up passengers. There is also a Rental Services Center containing car rental, telephone, and travel agency services.

The airport has undergone significant improvements in recent years, including a $60 million Airport Improvements Project that included airport infrastructure expansion, a new Eastern Taxiway, a new car park facility, personnel training, new services, equipment upgrades, and many other improvements.

Local airlines Tropic Air and Maya Island Air serve domestic airstrips

Belize has one international airport, the Philip S.W. Goldson International Airport (PGIA), and several domestic airports scattered across the country. Local airlines Tropic Air and Maya Island Air serve a number of domestic airstrips and airfields. Both airlines primarily use Cessna Caravan planes, known colloquially as 'puddle jumpers', and operate from the Philip Goldson International Airport and other domestic airports across Belize.

Tropic Air is predominantly a domestic carrier in Belize, but it also provides regional flights from Belize City to Cancun, Guatemala City, and Roatan, using Beechcraft 1900 aircraft. Tropic Air has also recently introduced a new non-stop service between Belize City and San Pedro Sula in Honduras. The airline is committed to sustainability and has embarked on a strategic initiative to convert its fleet into net-zero emissions by utilising renewable energy sources.

Maya Island Air is Belize's most experienced airline, operating daily scheduled flights to destinations such as San Pedro, Dangriga (Hopkins), and Placencia. Maya Island Air also offers flights to the islands of Caye Caulker and Caye Chapel, and the seaside towns of Corozal and Punta Gorda. Maya Island Air provides a convenient gateway to the many private islands, seaside resorts, and mainland activities unique to Belize.

Both Tropic Air and Maya Island Air offer ticketing within the main terminal of the Philip Goldson International Airport.

Frequently asked questions