Somewhere in a Dallas kitchen, a laptop is open to a map of the Caribbean coast and a half-finished list of reef tours, jungle lodges and rum punch. Then the practical question lands: which airline actually gets you there? The answer runs through the U.S. cities that have their own routes into Belize City, and the airport on the other end is a small one with its own rhythm.
Which airlines fly from Dallas to Belize?
The airlines serving Belize City are listed by the cities they fly from, and the U.S. gateways on that list are Houston, Miami, Atlanta, Seattle and Minneapolis. For a traveler starting in Dallas, the trip is planned around one of those gateways, picked by the airline you prefer and the season you are going. Each carrier below is described exactly as its route is known.
Year-round routes from U.S. gateways
Southwest Airlines flies from Houston to Belize year-round. Houston is the gateway closest to Texas on the list, and Southwest is a name Dallas travelers already know well, so it is a natural place to start your search.
American Airlines flies from Miami to Belize year-round, and Delta Airlines flies from Atlanta to Belize year-round. Both cities are large hubs, which makes them practical starting points when your dates are fixed by a school break or a wedding rather than by the season. Whichever you choose, the check-in counters on arrival day are the same ones that handle every other airline.
Seasonal routes, November to April
Alaska Air flies from Seattle to Belize seasonally from November through April. Sun Country Airlines flies from Minneapolis to Belize seasonally from December through April. Air Canada flies from Toronto seasonally on the same December to April pattern.
These seasonal flights follow the winter months, when North Americans trade snow for sea air. If your Belize vacation falls in the rest of the year, the year-round routes from Houston, Miami and Atlanta are the ones to build on.
Other carriers on the airport’s list
Copa Airlines flies from Panama to Belize year-round. United and Westjet also operate from the airport, alongside Transportes Aereos Guatemaltecos, which works from the first terminal. Tropic Air and Maya Island Air run domestic flights within Belize, and Belize City’s airport is a hub for both.
That domestic network matters if your plans include a caye or a lodge after you land. The same airport that receives your international flight is where those small planes begin, so a connection to the islands starts under the same roof.
Where do you land?
You land at Philip S. W. Goldson International Airport, the international airport serving Belize City, the largest city of Belize, on the eastern coast of Central America. The airport sits in Ladyville, which is a short way outside the city rather than in the middle of it. It was renamed in honor of Philip S. W. Goldson on February 7, 1988, and was known before that as Belize International Airport.
It is a compact, low-lying place. The airport is at an elevation of just 16 feet, and it has a single asphalt runway of 9,900 feet. Its passenger traffic in 2024 reached 1,229,000 travelers, which is a lot for a country of this size, and you notice it in the arrivals hall when several flights land together.
Terminals and check-in
Check-in counters for all airlines are in Terminals 1 and 2. Airlines in Terminal 1 include COPA, Sun Country, Transportes Aereos Guatemaltecos, Maya Island Air and Tropic Air. Terminal 2 handles Air Canada, Alaska Air, American, Delta, Southwest, United and Westjet.
So a Southwest, American or Delta passenger from the Dallas side of the map uses Terminal 2, while a Sun Country passenger uses Terminal 1. When you fly home, passengers are expected to arrive at least three hours before departure. TSA-Pre-Check is not available at this airport, so plan on the standard screening line.
Getting from the airport to Belize City
The airport is 10 miles from downtown Belize City, and the drive to the center is approximately 30 minutes. In mid-2020 a new paved access road was completed, running eight kilometers north of the George Price Highway, across the Belize River and straight to the passenger terminal. Roadwork and dredging are currently underway on the airport access road, causing slower traffic and uneven road surfaces.
Taxis wait outside both Terminals 1 and 2. Because the road is under work, the ride into town can feel slower than the map suggests, and the surface may be bumpy in places.
| Service | Open |
|---|---|
| Airport, daily | 6:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. (services beyond normal hours available upon request) |
| Taxis outside Terminals 1 and 2 | 6:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. daily |
Those taxi hours shape how you book your arrival. A flight that lands within the taxi window is simple to connect, and for anything later it is worth knowing in advance how you will reach your lodging.
Low ground and wet seasons
The airport’s low elevation puts both it and Belize City at risk of serious flooding. That is the reality of a coastal gateway, and it is a reason to keep your onward plans loose during the stormy part of the year. Dallas travelers used to wide, high prairie skies will find the horizon here much closer to the waterline.
What do you need for entry?
U.S. citizens need a U.S. passport valid for the length of their stay, and tourists staying less than 30 days do not need a visa. Beyond the passport, immigration officers ask for a few things, and all of them are easy to prepare before you leave Texas.
The papers at the immigration desk
All travelers must show proof of an onward or return ticket when entering Belize. Travelers must also have sufficient funds to cover the cost of their entire stay, and non-resident passengers arriving at the airport must present at least US$60.00 per day for the duration of their stay.
Passengers must also satisfy immigration officers of a specific address or hotel reservation. Have the name of your lodge, hotel or rental written down, because a general answer like “somewhere on the coast” will not do. Belize does not require special immunizations for visitors.
The customs form
One Customs Declaration Form may be filled out for family members traveling together where children are under 18 years of age. Passengers over 18 need to complete their own form, so a group of adult friends or grown children fills out one each.
Items that attract tax or duty may be paid for in cash, VISA and MASTER cards or certified cheques. Keep this in mind if you are carrying gifts for a host family or equipment for a dive trip.
If you cross by land instead
If you enter Belize by land, different fees are charged depending on whether your stay is less than or more than 24 hours. That rule belongs to land crossings, so it does not touch a traveler who lands at the airport in Ladyville. A Dallas traveler flying in goes through the airport process described above.
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, which covers a large part of the calendar when you pick dates. The airport’s contact details are a phone call or an email away: the call center number is +(501) 225-2045 and the email is [email protected]. If you drive to the airport on departure day, parking is charged by the day, and the airport’s fees at departure are shown here.
| Fee | Amount | Who pays |
|---|---|---|
| Passenger Service Fee | US$53.50 | Travelers using the airport |
| Protected Areas Conservation Trust (PACT) fee | US$20.00 | Travelers using the airport |
| Parking, per day | US$2.00 | Drivers parking a car |
| Parking, overnight | US$9.00 | Drivers parking overnight |
Sources
- 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), 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
- 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), Passenger info (https://www.pgiabelize.com/passenger-info/), checked October 11, 2026
- U.S. Department of State, Belize Travel Information, Entry and exit requirements (https://travel.state.gov/), checked October 11, 2026
- Philip S. W. Goldson International Airport (Belize), FAQ (https://www.pgiabelize.com/about-us/faq/), 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