As hurricane Melissa is approaching Jamaica, officials have announced that a major international airport to be closed on Saturday night.
Norman Manley International Airport in Kingston will be shut at 9 p.m. with the departure of the last scheduled flight of the night.
Transport Minister Daryl Vaz stated that Sangster International Airport in Montego Bay is currently open for now, but may be closed later today.
It is uncertain about the information on opening and its operations, as Melissa will be witnessing landfall anytime this weekend.
However, a spokesperson of JetBlue Airways confirmed that all flights booked to and out of Montego Bay Sangster International Airport, as well as Kingston Norman Manley International Airport on Sunday and Monday, have been canceled.
According to a press release issued on Saturday morning that Sangster International Airport, which had been experiencing many cancellations, has stated that further flight sections have been introduced to meet the demand of those traveling out of the island.
At least seven Air Canada flights scheduled between Saturday and Tuesday were canceled, and 14 JetBlue flights between Sunday and Tuesday have been canceled. Therefore, the Caribbean airlines have aborted two flights on Saturday and Sunday.
Eventually, the Southwest also canceled eight flights scheduled to take place on Sunday. Depending on conditions and airport operations, cancellations may vary.
A spokesperson for the carrier, Laura Masvidal, reported that American Airlines intends to cancel all the flights between Kingston and Jamaica on Sunday.
The flights in and out of Montego Bay are likely to operate regularly. Masvidal added that “We have a travel alert in place for those traveling to and from Jamaica.”
Air Canada has scheduled two additional flights on Saturday to help impacted passengers, and American Airlines has added capacity on two of its Saturday flights.
Miami International Airport’s spokesperson said that there was one flight delayed to Montego Bay, which “isn’t necessarily because of the storm.”
