The plane drops toward the coast, the water turns from deep blue to pale green, and the flat land around Belize City comes into view. Every traveler to Belize meets the same question at that moment: where exactly does this plane land, and what comes next?
The country’s international gateway is Philip S. W. Goldson International Airport, in Ladyville just outside Belize City, and it handles arrivals, departures and the small domestic flights to the cayes.
Where is Belize’s international airport?
Belize’s international airport is Philip S. W. Goldson International Airport, in Ladyville in the Belize District, and it serves Belize City, the largest city in the country. Until February 7, 1988, it was known as Belize International Airport, which is why you still hear the old name and why the code BZE sticks. The airport sits on the eastern coast of Central America, on low ground close to the sea.
The drive into the center of Belize City is about 30 minutes, and the airport lies 10 miles from downtown. The site covers 457 acres and has a single asphalt runway. It is a hub for Tropic Air and Maya Island Air, the two carriers that run domestic flights within Belize, so the same terminals that receive your flight from the States also send people off to the islands.
Terminals and airlines
There are two terminals, and check-in counters for all airlines are in Terminals 1 and 2. Terminal 1 is home to COPA, Sun Country, Transportes Aereos Guatemaltecos (TAG), Maya Island Air and Tropic Air. Terminal 2 serves Air Canada, Alaska Air, American, Delta, Southwest, United and Westjet.
In practice that means a traveler connecting to a caye on Tropic Air or Maya Island Air works from Terminal 1, while most flights from the U.S. and Canada use Terminal 2. Both terminals have taxis waiting outside, and shops are spread between them, the Arrival Hall and the Departure Lounge.
Who flies here and when
Some routes run all year and others come with the winter season. The airport lists the following flights to Belize.
| Airline | From | Season |
|---|---|---|
| American Airlines | Miami | Year-round |
| Delta Airlines | Atlanta | Year-round |
| Southwest Airlines | Houston | Year-round |
| Copa Airlines | Panama | Year-round |
| Alaska Air | Seattle | November through April |
| Air Canada | Toronto | December through April |
| Sun Country Airlines | Minneapolis | December through April |
The airport publishes a PDF schedule of arrivals and departures that is updated through the year, and a version for October 2026 is available to download. It also offers a route map of the airlines flying to Belize, which opens larger when you click it.
The airport call center answers at +(501) 225-2045, and the contact email is [email protected]. The airport’s daily opening hours run from 6:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., with services beyond those hours available upon request.
What happens when you arrive?
You step off the plane, walk to Immigration, answer a few questions, then collect your bags and pass through Customs before reaching the Arrival Hall. The Immigration officers are the part worth preparing for, because they are the ones who decide whether your answers satisfy the rules.
At Immigration
Non-resident passengers must show at least US$60.00 per day for the length of their stay. Passengers must also satisfy Immigration Officers of a specific address or hotel reservation, so have the name of your hotel or lodge ready rather than a vague plan to figure it out later.
The airport states these two points as arrival requirements. The passport, visa and onward ticket rules are set by Belize’s Immigration Department and belong to the entry requirements for U.S. citizens, so confirm them there before you fly.
Customs and the Arrival Hall
You fill out a Customs Declaration Form. One form may be completed for family members traveling together when the children are under 18, while passengers over 18 need to complete their own. If you carry items that attract tax or duty, you can pay in cash, with VISA or MASTER cards, or by certified cheque.
Once through, you land in the Arrival Hall, where two shops, Lauren Duty Free and Premier Duty Free, sit ready for last-minute purchases. Terminal 1 also has Belizean Vibes and Toucan Gift Shop, handy if you want a souvenir the moment you land or an item for the person picking you up.
Lost something?
Items left or found in the Terminal Building are turned over to the Security Office in Terminal 1. They are kept for 60 days before being donated or destroyed, so a forgotten jacket or phone charger is worth reporting quickly.
How do you get from the airport to your hotel?
From the airport you can take a taxi, drive a rental car, or continue onward by a domestic flight, and the drive to central Belize City takes about 30 minutes. Which one suits you depends on where the night’s bed is.
Taxis
Taxis operate from 6:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. daily and wait outside both Terminals 1 and 2. Those are the same hours as the airport itself, so a late landing deserves a plan made in advance with your hotel or a pickup service. The airport also lists All in One Travel Service, a travel agency on site, which can be reached at +(501) 225-2016 or +(501) 620-2267.
Rental cars
Two rental companies are listed at the airport. Hertz/Safari Belize can be reached at +(501) 225-3300. Crystal Auto Rental answers at +(501) 223-1600 and by email at [email protected].
The airport access road
Roadwork and dredging are underway on the access road leading to the airport. The result is slower traffic and uneven road surfaces, so leave extra time for any trip to or from the terminals, whichever way you travel.
Drivers should reduce speed and follow flaggers in the work zone, and watch for dredging equipment and workers near the roadway.
Flying on to the cayes
Because the airport is a hub for Tropic Air and Maya Island Air, you can connect to domestic flights within Belize without leaving the airport grounds. Both carriers check in at Terminal 1, so a traveler arriving on a Terminal 2 airline walks over to the other building to continue.
What happens when you leave?
Leaving Belize means arriving early, checking in at Terminal 1 or 2, paying the departure fees and then waiting in the Departure Lounge. The airport expects passengers at least 3 hours before the scheduled departure, and encourages 3 to 4 hours.
That cushion matters even more with the roadwork on the access road. Leave your hotel with room to spare, because slow traffic and uneven surfaces can stretch the trip to Ladyville.
Departure fees
| Fee | Amount |
|---|---|
| Passenger Service Fee | US$53.50 |
| Protected Areas Conservation Trust (PACT) Fee | US$20.00 |
Both fees are charged at Philip S. W. Goldson International Airport. TSA PreCheck is not available here, so plan for the standard screening lines.
Shopping before the gate
The Departure Lounge has three duty free shops: Duty Free of Belize, Galleon Duty Free and Ueta of Belize. It is the place for rum, chocolate or a last gift once your bags are checked and your boarding pass is in hand. If you drove to the airport and leave a car, overnight parking costs US$9.00, and the cost per day for parking is US$2.00.
Good to know before you go
The U.S. State Department rates Belize Level 2, “Exercise increased caution”, because of crime, and says the south side of Belize City has historically had the highest concentration of violent crime.
The Atlantic hurricane season runs from June 1 to November 30, so flights in those months can be shaped by weather. The airport stands about 16 feet above sea level, which puts it and Belize City at risk of serious flooding.
In 2024 the airport handled 1,229,000 passengers, so the terminals are busy places even if the country feels small. Keep the airport call center number, +(501) 225-2045, handy if a flight changes.
Sources
- Philip S. W. Goldson International Airport (Belize), FAQ (https://www.pgiabelize.com/about-us/faq/), checked October 11, 2026
- Philip S. W. Goldson International Airport (Belize), Quick facts (https://www.pgiabelize.com/passenger-info/quick-facts/), checked October 11, 2026
- Philip S. W. Goldson International Airport (Belize), Travel and ground transportation (https://www.pgiabelize.com/passenger-info/travel-ground-transporation/), checked October 11, 2026
- Philip S. W. Goldson International Airport (Belize), Airlines flying to Belize (https://www.pgiabelize.com/passenger-info/airlines-flying-to-belize/), checked October 11, 2026
- Philip S. W. Goldson International Airport (Belize), Passenger info (https://www.pgiabelize.com/passenger-info/), checked October 11, 2026
- Philip S. W. Goldson International Airport (Belize), Shopping and dining (https://www.pgiabelize.com/passenger-info/shopping-and-dining/), checked October 11, 2026
- Philip S. W. Goldson International Airport (Belize), Arrival and departure (https://www.pgiabelize.com/arrival-departure/), checked October 11, 2026
- Philip S. W. Goldson International Airport (Belize), Route map (https://www.pgiabelize.com/route-map/), checked October 11, 2026
- Wikipedia, Philip S. W. Goldson International Airport (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Philip_S._W._Goldson_International_Airport), checked October 11, 2026
- U.S. Department of State, Belize Travel Advisory, Level 2, March 11, 2026 (https://travel.state.gov/), checked October 11, 2026
- NOAA National Hurricane Center, Climatology (https://www.nhc.noaa.gov/climo/), checked October 11, 2026