AmbergrisCaye.com Home Forums Talk Belize Travel International Airport to re open Aug. 15, Tourism restart

i am flying Delta in Nov I just checked online I am still good to go

Delta has notified Tropic that they will start flights September 3. They have canceled flights that were booked prior to that. And future flights might be canceled as they get closer to the date depending on how many reservations they have.

From Tropic Air...

We are getting a lot of "what airlines will be flying to Belize when it reopens" and "what routes will be available" comments on this page. Hopefully the below helps to answer.

So far, this is what is confirmed.
United daily from Houston IAH - resumes August 15
American Airlines daily from Miami - resumes August 18
Delta Air Lines 3Xweek from Atlanta - resumes September 3
Sun Country Airlines 1Xweek from Minneapolis - resumes December 19

Of course, Tropic Air will have connecting domestic flights available at the Belize International Airport to these flights, and to those that get added over the coming months. You can book them via tropicair.com or via any of our reservations channels.

It is important to note that most of our carriers have indicated their intention to restart service, expand service or add additional routes as the year comes to a close, but dates have not been firmed as yet and it is (in the word of the year) #fluid.

We also have no firm date on our own resumption of service to Canc�n, Roatan Island or Flores, Guatemala. We are monitoring developments closely and fully intend to resume service to those destinations once conditions allow.

We are excited to see you all in Belize, whenever that may be. Belize is ready, our partners are ready, and we are ready.

New Arrival Protocols

Wondering what the new international arrival protocols and procedures for your visit will be? We have a created a page that combines all the information you need and we will post updates / amendments as they are made official.

The Prime Minister of Belize has announced that the Belize International Airport will reopen to international traffic on August 15, 2020. While exact protocols are still being finalized, an outline of the arrival process has been released by Government. We are sharing it below.

We encourage everyone to check this page, and the Belize Tourism Board's website, a few days before departing for Belize, for any updates. We also strongly encourage everyone to contact their hotels/resorts prior to travelling to ensure there are no additional location specific requirements or protocols.

The arrival protocol is:

• 1. All travelers shall download the "Belize Health App" and fill out a form on it prior to traveling. As soon as the link to the app is released, we will post here.
• 2. All arriving passengers will have to adhere to current safety and health protocols. This will include screening, wearing of masks and social distancing.
• 3. All arriving passengers must either be in possession of a Covid-19 PCR test (with a negative result), taken no more than 72 hours prior to departure for Belize, or shall be subject to a Covid-19 rapid test upon arrival. If the test is taken upon arrival, this will be done at the passengers own expense. A negative result will allow the passenger to be cleared, but they may be subject to additional screenings by local health officials. Any positive test results will necessitate the passenger being placed in mandatory quarantine.
• 4. All baggage will be sanitized and scanned upon arrival.
• 5. Belize International Airport will be implementing enhanced protocols. This will include floor spacing markers, thorough and frequent sanitization of passenger areas, and mandatory wearing of masks of all employees and workers.
• 6. A safe corridor methodology will be used at the arrivals area of the airport. This will make any needed tracing and mapping exercises easier.
• 7. Only ticketed passengers will be allowed in the check-in areas of the Belize International Airport. We strongly encourage you to book your connecting flights prior to your arrival to ensure a smooth transfer.

In addition to the above, Tropic Air has taken additional proactive and voluntary steps to help customers have a safe and healthy flying experience.

These can be found here:

We ask you to help us support healthy flying for everyone by bringing your own masks from home and to review your local orders for any additional travel guidelines.

The above is Phase 3 of a larger reopening process outlined in the chart below.

In addition, Belize has adopted The Gold Standard Certificate of Recognition- meaning that hotels/resorts/restaurants/tour operations must develop and maintain sanitization and cleanliness standards.

Hotels are being also being reopened by phase. The first ones being allowed to open are the ones that have received the Gold Standard Certification. They will also include the ones who can provide full services and amenities for guests including pickup and drop off to airport, provision of isolated tours, and in-house restaurants/entertainment.

Additional information can be found on the FAQ page of the Belize Tourism Board's website. https://belizetourismboard.org/belize-covid-19-update-for-travellers/

Information from Tropic Air

The flights to resume service in Belize are as follows:

United Airlines
United Airlines flights will resume on August 15th with five flights per week from Houston (IAH).

American Airlines
American Airlines flights will resume on August 18th with daily flights from Miami (MIA).

Delta Airlines
Delta Airlines flights will resume on September 3rd three times per week from Atlanta (ATL).

Sun Country Airlines
The seasonal airline will operate round trip flights on December 19th once a week on Saturdays between Minneapolis/St. Paul (MSP) and Philip S. W. Goldson International Airport in Belize City (BZE).

Health Minister Says P.G.I.A. Will Be Ready for Reopening

We also asked Health Minister Pablo Marin about the reopening of the Philip Goldson International Airport. Commercial flights are expected to land starting August fifteenth. The Ministry of Health is working with the departments of immigration and customs to make sure that the airport is fully ready to receive tourists and that all healthcare protocols are being adhered to ensure maximum safety and protection for the staff.� Minister Marin says he believes that everything will be in place for August fifteenth.

Pablo Marin, Minister of Health

"We are trying our best. I think we have done as much as we can. I think the final touches are coming. The rapid tests are here. We are doing the test to see if the rapid tests are good enough. So all of that is in place. So I think yes, I think we will be ready."

Hipolito Novelo

"What is your opinion that after August fifteenth that Belizeans here will be on a flight to go to the US for shopping and stuff like that?"

Pablo Marin

"I think those people should hold on a little bit and just say let me wait, let me wait and see what will happen after the reopening. Let me see if we will have an outbreak. It is just for us to be conscience again about the situation we are in and the situation that we when we go out there, there is no control and then you can bring that to the country back."

Channel 5

Traveller Classifications and Entry Requirements as of August 15, 2020

Take a look at this infographic if you are seeking to come home to Belize after the international airport opens up on August 15th.Traveller Classification Entry Requirements - No change for tourists but more info for business and home owners. Note that as of now, the App is still not available.

Citizens and PRs Apply for repatriation here:
https://repatriation.covid19.bz/Forms/Landing

Today, the Government Of Belize Press Office released the updated COVID-19�traveler classifications and entry requirements effective August 15, 2020.

Travelers are classified in four different groups;

• Belizean and Residents
• Persons with business concerns in Belize (non-work permits)
• Foreign second home owners, Qualified Retired Persons (QRP’s), and long stay non-nationals
• Foreign Tourists

The updated COVID-19 entry requirements include the download of the new Belize Health App, a PCR test (or rapid test prior to arrival for foreign tourists) at the traveler’s expense, and restricts the movement within the country foremost for foreign tourists.

Prior To Arrival

Belizean and Residents:

• Apply through existing controlled repatriation process
• Download Belize Health App and complete the required information.

Foreign second home owners, Qualified Retired Persons (QRP’s), and long stay non-nationals

• Application to visit must be accompanied by proof of homeownership / lease agreement or QRP ID card.
• Download�Belize Health App and complete the required information.

Persons with business concerns in Belize

• Application to visit during this phase must include proof of investments in Belize and an itinerary for the duration of the visit.
• Download Belize Health App and complete the required information.
• The stay must be booked at an approved Gold Standard hotel, or the application must include the proof of homeownership, if applicable.

Foreign Tourists

• Download Belize Health App and complete the required information.
• Book your stay at an approved Gold Standard Hotel
• Take PCR test within 72 hours of boarding the flight. Negative results will provide fast-track arrival process. However, depending on health screening results, a random secondary test may be required.�

Restriction Of Movement

Foreign Tourists have the most restrictions while in Belize and the restrictions include transportation to an approved Gold Standard hotel, by approved ground/air transportation, and participation in approved tours with approved Gold Standard tour operators and guides.

Persons with business concerns in Belize have to spend one day in mandatory quarantine at an approved hotel at the travelers expense. Followed by adherence to an approved itinerary including use of monitoring bracelet and/or geo fence, use of one vehicle and a trained driver.

Belizean and Residents , and� Foreign second home owners, Qualified Retired Persons (QRP’s), and long stay non-nationals have to adhere to the same restrictions of movement, starting with one day in mandatory quarantine at an approved hotel at the traveler’s expense. If the test results are negative, these two groups of travelers are required to self-quarantine at home for 13 days with a monitoring bracelet and/or geo fence. Ministry of Health clearance is required thereafter, prior to being allowed to move freely.

What If Test Results Are Positive?

If the test results are positive, travelers of all groups will be placed under a mandatory quarantine at an approved quarantine hotel for a minimum of 14 days at the traveler’s expense.

Prime Minister Dean Barrow: "If we reopen the PGIA on August 15th, we will be ready! We insult those that have been working overtime to get this thing together. And indeed, you talk about what is happening in Jamaica or what happened in the Bahamas - our people look at the experiences there and see what went wrong, and we are trying to close those gaps. So, Madam Speaker, be assured: there will be no reopening on the 15th, except we are completely ready; and if even we are completely ready, I am telling you, if there turns out to be a community spread in Ambergris Caye, that's going to be it, we will pull the trigger. Can't work. So, Madam Speaker, I hope for the best, but to use that cliched phrase, we hope for the best, but we are preparing for the worst."