Sangster International Airport (MBJ) is Jamaica’s largest airport and the best one to fly into for easy access to the island's north coast. It is located about 5 kilometers north of Montego Bay, Jamaica’s third biggest city and a popular tourism destination. This is why it’s sometimes referred to as Montego Bay Airport.
In 2024, the airport handled just over 5 million passengers, ranking as the third busiest airport in the Caribbean.
Major Airlines - American Airlines, Delta Air Lines, United Airlines
Sangster International Airport is a hub for a small domestic air charter called AirLink Express.
Other than that, most incoming flights originate in the USA and are served by American airlines like Delta, United, JetBlue, and American Airlines.
On the low-cost front, Southwest Airlines and Spirit Airlines provide direct flights to the Western US, whereas Sunwing Airlines flies to Canadian cities.
Other prominent international airlines include LATAM Peru, TUI Airways, and Copa Airlines.
See all airlines that operate at Sangster International Airport.
Terminal Layout
Sangster is a relatively small airport with a single terminal divided into two concourses:
Concourse A: Handles only international flights from gates 1 through 12.
Concourse B: Caters to both international and domestic flights, encompassing gates 13 through 19.
The airport has undergone several updates and revamps in recent years, including to its duty-free and retail areas in 2018.
Wi-Fi at MBJ
The airport offers a complimentary Wi-Fi network called "MBJ Free Wi-Fi".
To connect, select it from the list of available networks, then follow the on-screen instructions.
This wifi network is available throughout the terminal buildings and is not limited in duration.
Dining Options at Sangster Airport
Albeit the small size, Sangster has no shortage of dining options, including international and local brands.
Many of these establishments are gathered in a central food court rotunda on the first floor. Some of them are:
Domino’s Pizza: Offers a menu full of different pizza options.
Margaritaville: A sit-down Caribbean restaurant with a vibrant atmosphere.
Bob Marley – One Love: A mix of Jamaican and International cuisines in a setting celebrating the island's musical heritage.
Dunkin' Donuts: Serves coffee, donuts, and other quick bites.
Quiznos: Fast food sub sandwiches, salads, and wraps.
If you’re looking for alcoholic beverages, the best place at MBJ is the Guitar Bar in the Central Concourse.
Lounges at MBJ
Sangster International Airport has 3 airports on its premises - 2 before Security and 1 in the airside zone.
Club Mobay stands out as the only lounge in the departures area of the airport. It offers great food, complimentary drinks, strong wifi, and comfy chairs. The added fast track through Customs and Security is an especially handy perk too.
In the arrivals area, you can choose between two lounges:
Another branch of Club Mobay that is unfortunately not as good as the one in Departures.
Sandals Lounge which makes for a great place to stay while waiting for transportation to your resort.
Transportation to and from the airport
Public transportation at Sangster Airport is served by Knutsford Express with daily scheduled service to all the island's resort areas as well as Port Antonio, Kingston, Mandeville, Negril, Montego Bay, and Ocho Rios. To take one of those buses, go to the Knutsford Express airport bus station just 200 meters from the Terminal building.
For private transport, you have the following options:
Transfers and tour operators: Located in the Ground Transportation Arrivals Hall from where a representative will take you to your organized transport.
Taxis: The two official airport taxi companies are JUTA Taxi and JCAL Taxi. They share a common Authorised Airport Taxi Desk located just outside the exit. Fares are fixed based on destination zones.
Car Rentals: At least 10 car rental companies operate on-site, with offices located in the Ground Transportation and Arrivals Hall.
Parking at Sangster Airport
Airport Parking is available 24/7 just outside the terminal.
The parking rate is 250 JMD per hour and a maximum of 1000 JMD per day. An additional 1000 JMD for every started 24-hour period.
Upon entering the car park, take a ticket from the parking ticket terminal. Lost tickets carry a hefty fine of 1000 USD, so don’t lose it.
When you come back, take the parking ticket to a self-service station (SIA Self) and make payment using the terminal no more than 15 minutes before leaving the parking lot. You can pay in cash or by card. The pay stations accept USD and JMD bills but change is given only in JMD.
There are 3 self-service pay stations located in:
Arrivals Terminal
Departure Terminal (Door 4)
Public car park
Hotels near Sangster Airport
There are no hotels inside the terminal or on the airport’s property
Several accommodations are close enough to call them airport hotels. Note that on the west side of the airport is Sunset Beach, a small resort area where you can find very good resort-hotels like the SeaGarden Beach Resort. It’s just a 5-minute drive away from the airport.
Also in proximity are Hotel Montego - a small 3-star hotel just meters from the airport’s entrance and The Blue Orchid - an upscale but affordable place to stay about a 5-minute drive from the terminal.
Montego Bay, Jamaica
