Philip S. W. Goldson International Airport

Philip S. W. Goldson International Airport (IATA: BZE, ICAO: MZBZ) is an 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 about 30 minutes drive from Belize City's centre, in Ladyville. 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 it 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.

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
Websitewww.pgiabelize.com
Map
MZBZ
Location in Belize
Runways
Direction Length Surface
m ft
07/25 2,950 9,678 Asphalt
Statistics (2018)
Passengers1,130,000
Aircraft movements31,266
Source: Passenger and aircraft movement statistics from PGIA airport[1]

History

Originally known as Belize International Airport, the airport was renamed in honor of Philip S. W. Goldson on 7 February 1988.[2]

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".[3] 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.

Airlines and destinations

Passenger
AirlinesDestinations
Air Canada Rouge Seasonal: Toronto–Pearson
American Airlines Dallas/Fort Worth, Los Angeles, Miami
Seasonal: Charlotte
Avianca El Salvador San Salvador
Copa Airlines Panama City–Tocumen
Delta Air Lines Atlanta
Maya Island Air Caye Caulker, Caye Chapel, Corozal, Dangriga, Placencia, Punta Gorda, San Pedro
Sun Country Airlines Seasonal: Minneapolis/St. Paul
Transportes Aéreos Guatemaltecos Cancún, Flores, Guatemala City
Tropic Air Belize City–Municipal, Cancún, Caye Caulker, Chetumal, Corozal, Dangriga, Flores, Mérida, Placencia, Punta Gorda, Roatán, San Ignacio, San Pedro
United Airlines Chicago–O'Hare, Houston–Intercontinental, Los Angeles
Seasonal: Denver, Newark
WestJet Seasonal: Calgary, Toronto–Pearson

Cargo
AirlinesDestinations
Amerijet International Cancun, Ciudad del Carmen, Mérida, Miami

Future plans

Philip S. W. Goldson International Airport will have integrated access with proposed Belize City Central Railway Station.

References
  1. "Philip S.W. Goldson International Airport - About us". Belize Airport Concession Company Limited. Retrieved 23 June 2017.
  2. "Airport Gets New Name; Ground Broken for New Terminal Building". Belize Today. Belize Information Service. February 1988.
  3. "Belize". Armed Forces: 182. 1984. Retrieved 3 May 2018.
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