Philip S. W. Goldson International Airport

Philip S. W. Goldson International Airport
Summary
Airport typePublic
ServesBelize City
LocationLadyville
Hub for
Elevation AMSL5 m (16 ft)
Coordinates17°32′21″N 088°18′30″W / 17.53917°N 88.30833°W / 17.53917; -88.30833
Websitepgiabelize.com
Map
MZBZ is located in Belize
MZBZ
MZBZ
Location in Belize
Runways
Direction Length Surface
m ft
07/25 2,950 9,678 Asphalt
Statistics (2024)
Total Passengers1,229,000
Aircraft movements34,187
Source: Passenger and aircraft movement statistics from PGIA airport[1]

Philip S. W. Goldson International Airport (IATA: BZE, ICAO: MZBZ) is an international airport that serves the nation of Belize's largest city, Belize City along the eastern coast of Central America. It was named after politician Philip S. W. Goldson, who died in 2001. The airport is at an elevation of 5 m (16 ft), which means both the airport and the entirety of Belize City are at risk of serious flooding due to its low elevation and coastal location. For this reason, Belize's capital has been moved to Belmopan, but the airport remains the largest and busiest in the country. With stable passenger growth, Philip S. W. Goldson International Airport is currently the fifth busiest airport in Central America. Belize Airport covers 457 acres (185 ha) of land and has one runway.[2]

The airport is about 30 minutes drive from Belize City's centre, in Ladyville. In mid-2020, a new paved access road was completed from the George Price Highway, eight kilometres north, across the Belize River, directly to the side of the airfield where the passenger terminal is located.

History

Gate 6
10 Cents Stanley Field, Belize airport British Honduras stamps. Queen Elizabeth II mint block of four right hand margin.

Belize airport, formerly called Stanley Field Airport was commemorated on British Honduras Queen Elizabeth II 10 Cents postage & revenue stamps. Then known as Belize International Airport it was renamed in honor of Philip S. W. Goldson on 7 February 1988.[3]

Military use

Philip Goldson International Airport, Belize

Due to the Belizean–Guatemalan territorial dispute, Philip S. W. Goldson International Airport has hosted several military units over the years since its construction. In 1984, a senior US Air Force General stated that it was "the best defended airfield in Central America".[4] Most notable residents have been Headquarters British Forces Belize, No. 1417 (Tactical Ground Attack) Flight RAF operating Harrier jump jets, No. 1563 (Helicopter support) Flight RAF, resident Anti-Aircraft Squadrons of the RAF Regiment, resident helicopter units of the Army Air Corps, HarDet Belize, Butcher Radar and Belize Defence Forces, among others. Price Barracks is a military installation located just north of the airport, which was formerly known as Airport Camp, the headquarters of British Forces Belize.

Historical airline service

In 1950, TACA Airlines (which is now Avianca Honduras) was operating weekly nonstop flights to New Orleans and San Salvador as well as weekly direct one stop service to Managua with Douglas DC-4 propliners.[5] TACA subsequently began operating Vickers Viscount turboprops on a weekly southbound service flying a routing of New Orleans - Belize City - Guatemala City - San Salvador - Tegucigalpa - Managua - San Jose, Costa Rica - Panama City, Panama.[6] In 1953, British West Indian Airways (BWIA, which is now Caribbean Airlines) in association with British Overseas Airways Corporation (BOAC, which is now British Airways) was operating one flight a week to Belize from Kingston, Jamaica via an intermediate stop in Grand Cayman with a Vickers VC.1 Viking twin-prop aircraft with this flight offering connecting service via Kingston from a BOAC flight that operated a routing from London, England via stops in New York City, Nassau, Bahamas and Montego Bay, Jamaica.[7] BWIA in conjunction with BOAC would later operate weekly nonstop service between the airport and Kingston with Vickers Viscount turboprop aircraft.[8] Thirty years later in 1983, four airlines were operating jet service into the airport according to the Official Airline Guide (OAG) including Air Florida with nonstop Boeing 737-200 flights from Miami and San Pedro Sula, Servicio Aereo de Honduras (SAHSA) with nonstop Boeing 727-100 flights from Houston (via Houston Intercontinental Airport), New Orleans and San Pedro Sula, TACA Airlines International with nonstop Boeing 737-200 and British Aircraft Corporation BAC One-Eleven flights from Houston (via Houston Intercontinental Airport), Miami, New Orleans and San Salvador, and Transportes Aereos Nacionales (TAN Airlines) with nonstop Boeing 737-200 flights from Miami and San Pedro Sula while local air carrier Maya Airways was operating domestic service in Belize with Britten-Norman Islander twin-prop aircraft.[9] Also according to the OAG, by 1989 TACA had introduced wide body Boeing 767-200 nonstop service to Miami in addition to its Boeing 737-200 flights with other service to Miami at this time being operated by Eastern Airlines with Boeing 727-200s as well as TAN with Boeing 737-200s.[10]

Belize Airways Ltd. was a scheduled passenger airline based at the airport which operated flights to Miami, San Pedro Sula, San Salvador and La Ceiba with Boeing 720 and stretched British Aircraft Corporation BAC One-Eleven series 500 jetliners operated at various times during its existence from 1977 to 1980 according to its timetables.[11][12]

Airlines and destinations

Passenger

AirlinesDestinations
Air Canada Rouge Seasonal: Montréal–Trudeau,[13] Toronto–Pearson[14]
Alaska Airlines Los Angeles[15]
Seasonal: Seattle/Tacoma[16]
American Airlines Dallas/Fort Worth,[17] Miami[18]
Seasonal: Charlotte[19]
BermudAir Seasonal: Boston (begins 19 December 2026),[20] Fort Lauderdale (begins 20 December 2026),[20] Guatemala City (begins 19 December 2026),[21] Orlando/Sanford (begins 21 December 2026),[20] Raleigh/Durham (begins 20 December 2026),[20] St. Petersburg/Clearwater (begins 20 December 2026)[20]
Copa Airlines Panama City–Tocumen[22]
Delta Air Lines Atlanta[23]
Seasonal: Minneapolis/St. Paul[24]
Maya Island Air Caye Caulker,[25] Caye Chapel,[25] Dangriga,[25] Placencia,[25] San Pedro[25]
Southwest Airlines Houston–Hobby[26]
Seasonal: Baltimore,[27] Denver[28]
Sun Country Airlines Seasonal: Minneapolis/St. Paul[24]
TAG Airlines Guatemala City[29]
Tropic Air Cancún,[30] Caye Caulker,[31] Corozal,[32] Dangriga,[33] Placencia,[34] Punta Gorda,[35] Roatán,[36] San Pedro,[33] San Pedro Sula[37]
United Airlines Houston–Intercontinental[38]
Seasonal: Chicago–O'Hare,[38] Denver,[38] Los Angeles,[39] Newark,[38] San Francisco[38]
WestJet Seasonal: Calgary,[40] Toronto–Pearson,[40] Winnipeg (begins 14 December 2026)[41]
Domestic destinations map
Philip S. W. Goldson International Airport is located in Belize
Belize City Intl
Belize City Intl
Caye Caulker
Caye Caulker
Caye Chapel
Caye Chapel
Corozal
Corozal
Dangringa
Dangringa
Placencia
Placencia
San Pedro
San Pedro
Belize City Municipal
Belize City Municipal
San Ignacio
San Ignacio
Domestic destinations
Blue = Philip S. W. Goldson International Airport
Red = Year-round destination
Green = Seasonal destination
Central America destinations map
Philip S. W. Goldson International Airport is located in Central America
Belize City Intl
Belize City Intl
San Salvador
San Salvador
Panama City–PTY
Panama City–PTY
Flores
Flores
Guatemala City
Guatemala City
Roatán
Roatán
Central America destinations
Blue = Philip S. W. Goldson International Airport
Red = Year-round destination
Green = Seasonal destination
Canada, United States, and Mexico destinations map
Philip S. W. Goldson International Airport is located in North America
Belize City Intl
Belize City Intl
Toronto–YYZ
Toronto–YYZ
Dallas/Fort Worth–DFW
Dallas/Fort Worth–DFW
Los Angeles–LAX
Los Angeles–LAX
San Francisco–SFO
San Francisco–SFO
Miami
Miami
Charlotte
Charlotte
Atlanta
Atlanta
Houston–IAH
Houston–IAH
Minneapolis/St Paul
Minneapolis/St Paul
Chetumal
Chetumal
Cancún
Cancún
Chicago–ORD
Chicago–ORD
Newark
Newark
Seattle/Tacoma
Seattle/Tacoma
Calgary
Calgary
Denver
Denver
Canada, United States, and Mexico destinations
Blue = Philip S. W. Goldson International Airport
Red = Year-round destination
Green = Seasonal destination

Accidents and incidents

On 17 April 2025, a US national hijacked Tropic Air Flight 711 flying from Corozal to San Pedro, stabbing and injuring two passengers. He was shot dead by another passenger after the aircraft made an emergency landing at the airport.[42]

Statistics

PassengersYear0200,000400,000600,000800,0001,000,0001,200,0002007201020132016201920222025PassengersAnnual passenger traffic

References

  1. ↑ "Philip S.W. Goldson International Airport - About us". Belize Airport Concession Company Limited. 28 February 2024. Retrieved 9 March 2024.
  2. ↑ "Belize Airport Facts and Figures". pgiabelize.com. Retrieved 20 October 2023.
  3. ↑ "Airport Gets New Name; Ground Broken for New Terminal Building". Belize Today. Belize Information Service. February 1988.
  4. ↑ "Belize". Armed Forces: 182. 1984. Retrieved 3 May 2018.
  5. ↑ "TACA International Airlines International Schedule". Airline Timetable Images. 19 October 1950.
  6. ↑ "TACA International Airlines timetable". Airline Timetable Images. 1 December 1962.
  7. ↑ "BWIA Timetable". Airline Timetable Images. 1 July 1953.
  8. ↑ "British West Indian Airways Fall/Winter Schedules". Airline Timetable Images. 1 September 1963.
  9. ↑ "Airlines and Aircraft Serving Belize City Effective July 1, 1983". Departed Flights. Archived from the original on 11 March 2015.
  10. ↑ "To Miami International Airport (Page 1 of 2) Effective January 15, 1989". Departed Flights.
  11. ↑ "Belize Airways, Ltd. International Schedule". Airline Timetable Images. 1 December 1977.
  12. ↑ "Belize Airlines Ltd. Timetable". Airline Timetable Images.
  13. ↑ "Air Canada to resume nonstops to Lima, adds new routes to Central America and Mexico". 9 July 2025.
  14. ↑ Cowo, Janelle (10 December 2025). "New Air Canada Route Opens Same-Day European Connections to Belize". The San Pedro Sun. Retrieved 5 April 2026.
  15. ↑ "Alaska Airlines Boosts Non-Stop Flights from LA to Belize in Nov 2023!". Belizehub. 28 April 2023. Retrieved 5 April 2026.
  16. ↑ "Alaska Airlines Heads to Central America with New Service to Belize". Business Traveller. 1 June 2021. Retrieved 5 April 2026.
  17. ↑ Berg, Bailey (20 June 2023). "This Major Airline Just Added Numerous Flights to the Caribbean and Latin America—Here's Where". AFAR Media. Retrieved 5 April 2026.
  18. ↑ Bell, Jonathan (3 April 2023). "Bermudians unfazed by aircraft engine fire in Belize". Retrieved 5 April 2026.
  19. ↑ Berg, Bailey (20 June 2023). "This Major Airline Just Added Numerous Flights to the Caribbean and Latin America—Here's Where". AFAR Media. Retrieved 5 April 2026.
  20. 1 2 3 4 5 "BermudAir Adds New Routes from U.S. to Caribbean, Central America". AirlineGeeks. 3 June 2026. Retrieved 3 June 2026.
  21. ↑ "BermudAir expanding services into destinations south". The Royal Gazette. 3 July 2026. Retrieved 15 July 2026.
  22. ↑ "Copa Airlines Expands Service to Belize, Boosting South American Tourism". Belize Hub. 2024.
  23. ↑ Britell, Alexander (2 May 2025). "Delta Is Doubling Its Belize Flights From Atlanta for the Holidays". Caribbean Journal. Retrieved 5 April 2026.
  24. 1 2 Sego, Alyxandra (30 October 2025). "Delta, Sun Country revive seasonal routes from MSP, adding warm getaways and ski destinations". Minneapolis / St. Paul Business Journal. Retrieved 5 April 2026.
  25. 1 2 3 4 5 "Flights from Belize City (BZE)". www.flightconnections.com. Flight Connections. 2 July 2026. Retrieved 23 July 2026.
  26. ↑ "Southwest Adds Baltimore-Belize Flights | More Houston Options". Belizehub. 9 March 2024. Retrieved 5 April 2026.
  27. ↑ "All Southwest Airlines International Flight Destinations". Retrieved 22 February 2024.
  28. ↑ Gentle, Khaila (3 August 2023). "Southwest Airlines Announces New Service to Belize from Baltimore". Caribbean Culture and Lifestyle. Retrieved 5 April 2026.
  29. ↑ "Spirit Opens Up New Route to Central America Despite Continued Downsizing". English Version - Periódico Digital Centroamericano y del Caribe. 9 December 2025. Retrieved 5 April 2026.
  30. ↑ "Living in Belize is Like Living in the Wild West". tacogirl Belize. 22 February 2015. Retrieved 5 April 2026.
  31. ↑ Cowo, Janelle (21 November 2024). "Tropic Air adds a new Cessna Grand Caravan EX to its fleet". The San Pedro Sun. Retrieved 5 April 2026.
  32. ↑ "Inside the Tropic Air Hijacking: Three-Hour Hostage Standoff in the Skies". Love FM Belize News & Music Power. 17 April 2025. Retrieved 5 April 2026.
  33. 1 2 "Navigating Beautiful Belize: Your Guide to Domestic Flights". Belizehub. 12 May 2024. Retrieved 5 April 2026.
  34. ↑ "The Best Readers a Girl Could Hope For". tacogirl Belize. 20 July 2018. Retrieved 5 April 2026.
  35. ↑ "Tropic Air Intends to Fly Separate International and Domestic Networks in August - Ambergris Today". 14 July 2020. Retrieved 5 April 2026.
  36. ↑ "Tropic Air's San Pedro Sula, Honduras Connection - Ambergris Today". 16 November 2022. Retrieved 5 April 2026.
  37. ↑ Karp, Aaron (6 September 2022). "Tropic Air Belize Adds Service To San Pedro Sula". Aviation Week. Retrieved 5 April 2026.
  38. 1 2 3 4 5 "United Airlines Expands Flights to Belize for High Season Travel". Love FM Belize News & Music Power. 23 September 2025. Retrieved 5 April 2026.
  39. ↑ "Spirit Opens Up New Route to Central America Despite Continued Downsizing". English Version - Periódico Digital Centroamericano y del Caribe. 9 December 2025. Retrieved 5 April 2026.
  40. 1 2 Sullivan, Caitlin (9 September 2025). "It's Getting Easier for Canadians to Fly to Belize". Caribbean Journal. Retrieved 5 April 2026.
  41. ↑ Kayla Rosen (20 July 2026). "WestJet adding new non-stop flights from Winnipeg to these destinations". Retrieved 20 July 2026.
  42. ↑ "Plane passenger shoots, kills US hijacker on Belize flight". Agence France-Presse. New Zealand Herald. 17 April 2025. Retrieved 17 April 2025.
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