Sangster International named Caribbean’s Leading Airport at World Travel Awards

ST JAMES, Jamaica -- Less than a year after Hurricane Melissa forced its closure, Sangster International Airport (SIA) has been named the Caribbean's Leading Airport 2026 by the World Travel Awards (WTA). The award, presented at the WTA Caribbean & The Americas Gala Ceremony at Princess Grand Jamaica, on Sunday, extends the airport's winning streak to 18 consecutive years and brings its total to 19 titles. The recognition comes weeks before the first anniversary of the Category 5 hurricane - the strongest ever to make landfall in Jamaica on October 28, 2025.

“Last October, we were navigating a very challenging, life-changing period in the aftermath of the hurricane. This October, we are accepting the region's leading airport award,” said Shane Munroe, Chief Executive Officer of MBJ Airports Limited (MBJ), in a press release. “We accept this unprecedented honour with great humility, especially after being able to quickly restore the facilities and experience for passengers after Hurricane Mellissa.

This is a result of the incredible collaborative work done by all members of our Team Sangster family - our team, our airlines, government agencies and the partners who stood with us.” SIA handles over 70 percent of Jamaica's passengers, and its reopening was central to restarting the tourism economy in Montego Bay and surrounding parishes. Since the storm, MBJ has worked with airline partners to restore and grow service, with 26 airlines now serving 47 destinations, the operator said in the release. It added that, over the past year, MBJ’s commitment to growing air service connectivity has been reflected in several key route developments, including Wingo Airlines’ services from Bogotá and Medellín, Colombia; Flair Airlines from Toronto; and WestJet from Québec City and Montréal, Canada.

These additions strengthen Jamaica’s air connectivity with Canada and South America, creating new opportunities for tourism, trade and regional travel. Additional services are scheduled to commence before the end of 2026, further strengthening SIA’s route network. These include Porter Airlines’ services from Hamilton, Ottawa, and London, Canada; and Breeze Airways from Tampa, Florida.

These new connections will broaden travel options between Jamaica, Canada and the United States while supporting continued market diversification and growth. Through strategic collaboration with airl…