A 2025 Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) document outlines a plan for a new airport near Secret Beach, north of San Pedro Town, to replace the John Greif II Municipal Airport in downtown San Pedro. The proposed timetable calls for construction to begin in 2027 and completion in 2029, with an expected closure date for the existing airport set for 2030.
Once the new facility is completed, the current airport site could be used for real estate development. The government could use the proceeds to finance additional airport connectivity investments or reimburse investments in the new airport.
The request for expressions of interest seeks consultants to assess private-sector interest in developing and financing the airport through a public-private partnership. A 2025 business case identified a financing gap requiring government support and assessed potential funding options. The document does not confirm that construction financing has been secured.
The business case identified Secret Beach as the preferred location. The proposal also anticipates an expansion in 2041 to accommodate some international traffic currently handled by the Philip S.W. Goldson International Airport located north of Belize City.
The airport project aligns with Ambergris Caye Vision 2045, which promotes sustainable development, resilient infrastructure, economic opportunities, and the preservation of cultural identity.
The property identified for the airport belongs to the Belize Social Security Board. Government officials have previously said the IDB secured funding, but that statement does not establish whether the financing covers studies and project preparation or construction of the facility.
Area Representative Honorable Andre Perez told the media in June that the IDB had accepted the airport design submitted by the Government of Belize and that it met International Civil Aviation Organization requirements. Perez said the proposed airport is expected to attract high-end tourism, including visitors arriving on private aircraft.
The total project cost has not been disclosed. According to Perez, the facility would provide services associated with an international airport and would be managed by the Belize Airports Authority. Speculation suggests it could be managed through a concession agreement under the Belize Airport Concession Company Limited.
The development could also affect domestic airlines Tropic Air and Maya Island Air, including potential fleet upgrades. Neither airline had publicly commented on the proposal at the time of reporting.
Some Ambergris Caye residents have opposed the project, citing its potential environmental impact. Their concerns include increased carbon dioxide emissions from additional air traffic and possible effects on the fragile marine resources that support the island’s fisheries and tourism industries.
The proposed relocation also raises questions about the economic impact on downtown San Pedro. The existing airport brings passengers directly into town, supporting taxi operators, restaurants, shops, and other nearby businesses. Moving air arrivals to northern Ambergris Caye could shift visitor spending and transportation demand away from the town center. The extent of that potential impact would depend on ground transportation arrangements, visitor travel patterns and the eventual redevelopment of the current airport site.
Questions also remain about how downtown businesses would be supported during the transition and how the redevelopment would benefit the wider community.
Meanwhile, the existing airport continues to serve tourists and Belizeans traveling between San Pedro and the mainland, primarily aboard small aircraft such as Cessna Caravans. Its downtown location leaves limited room for expansion, a constraint the proposed northern airport is intended to address.