Strong demand drives Jamaica’s 85% airline load factor
Key Points(5)
- Strong demand for Jamaica helped push the average airline load factor to 85% between January and August 2026, even as the number of available seats fell compared with the same period last year.
- Phillip Rose, deputy director of tourism for the Americas, said the figures reflect continued interest in Jamaica as airlines expand or introduce services from key source markets.
- Rose was speaking at the recently concluded Jamaica Product Exchange (JAPEX) at Moon Palace Jamaica in Ocho Rios, St.
- “There are strong levels of confidence from the global airline partners,” Rose said.
- “I keep telling everyone that the job of any destination is not to convince an airline to fly to that destination.
Strong demand for Jamaica helped push the average airline load factor to 85% between January and August 2026, even as the number of available seats fell compared with the same period last year.
Phillip Rose, deputy director of tourism for the Americas, said the figures reflect continued interest in Jamaica as airlines expand or introduce services from key source markets.
Rose was speaking at the recently concluded Jamaica Product Exchange (JAPEX) at Moon Palace Jamaica in Ocho Rios, St. Ann.
“There are strong levels of confidence from the global airline partners,” Rose said. “I keep telling everyone that the job of any destination is not to convince an airline to fly to that destination. The job of the destination is to create so much demand that you force the airlines to not introduce capacity but then to increase capacity.”
Just under 1.9 million airline seats were available to Jamaica between January and August, according to Rose.
Although available seats were down 22% from the corresponding period in 2025, load factors increased by 3.8 percentage points, he said.
Several new and expanded services are being introduced from Jamaica’s traditional source markets, while the destination is also gaining greater air connectivity with Europe and Latin America.
Among the new services is Breeze Airways’ twice-weekly route from Tampa, Florida, which is expected to begin later this year.
In Canada, Porter Airlines is adding nearly 5,000 seats for the winter season, with service from Toronto, Ottawa and Hamilton. Air Canada also serves Jamaica from Halifax, Ottawa, Edmonton and Winnipeg.
Rose also announced enhanced connectivity from Guadeloupe with LIAT.
From Europe, World2Meet (W2M) is expected to operate summer service from Lisbon to Montego Bay, adding approximately 6,300 seats. Virgin Atlantic is expected to operate seven weekly flights from London Heathrow, while British Airways is expected to operate four weekly flights from Gatwick.
Jamaica expands Latin American connections
Jamaica is also adding and expanding service from Latin America.
Copa Airlines is expected to increase its service between Panama and Montego Bay to 10 weekly flights, while its service between Panama and Kingston will increase to five flights per week.
New year-round Wingo service from Bogota and Medellin is also strengthening Jamaica’s air connectivity with Colombia.
Rose said the increased service reflects the level of demand for the destination.
“The appetite for Jamaica is rich. It is quite robust and so, proudly, we can announce expanded and new service,” he said.
“Jamaica is vogue. Jamaica is in demand… and the flights are full coming in,” Rose added.
