Durrant Pate/Contributor

Thousands of travellers were grounded across the Caribbean as Hurricane Melissa caused widespread air travel disruptions, resulting in 167 flight cancellations and 96 delays at the affected regional airports and harbours. 

These numbers reflect the massive impact of the storm on travel in the region. The disruptions include both domestic and international flights, as well as ferry services in key locations. The powerful Category 5 storm, which is the most severe to hit Jamaica on record, stranded passengers and delayed travel plans. Among the airlines to be affected are JetBlue, Copa, Southwest, Air Canada, and Seaborne, along with regional carriers like Caribbean Airlines, which have all been heavily impacted. 

The storm has affected major airports in Jamaica, The Bahamas, Barbados, Haiti, and the US Virgin Islands. 

At Sangster International Airport in Jamaica, for example, 72 flights were cancelled, and no delays were reported. Norman Manley International Airport in Kingston saw 35 cancellations and 28 delays, causing significant travel headaches for passengers trying to get in or out of Jamaica. Similarly, Lynden Pindling International Airport in Nassau reported four cancellations and 28 delays, while Grantley Adams International Airport in Barbados saw seven cancellations and seven delays.

Some lingering uncertainty 

Hurricane Melissa impacted several airports and harbours across the Caribbean, including some of the region’s busiest hubs. Among the most affected are:

·      Sangster International Airport in Montego Bay, Jamaica

·      Norman Manley International Airport in Kingston, Jamaica

·      Lynden Pindling International Airport in Nassau, Bahamas

·      Grantley Adams International Airport in Barbados

·      Piarco International Airport in Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago

·      Providenciales International Airport in the Turks and Caicos Islands

·      Les Cayes Airport in Haiti

·      Port-au-Prince International Airport in Haiti

·      Cap-Haïtien International Airport in Haiti

·      Charlotte Amalie Harbor in St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands

·      Christiansted Harbor-Ssb in  St. Croix, U.S. Virgin Islands