Maya Island Air resumes flights to Punta Gorda

After a several-year hiatus, Maya Island Air resumed service to Punta Gorda Town, Toledo, on November 1, after Tropic Air withdrew from the route. The return maintains an important air connection for southern Belize, where residents and tourism stakeholders had raised concerns about the impact of losing scheduled flights.
Prime Minister Honorable John Briceño confirmed the arrangement on October 29, saying Maya Island Air would receive fuel concessions rather than a direct operating subsidy. Government support is also expected to include airport infrastructure and tourism marketing for Punta Gorda.
Tropic Air’s final scheduled service to and from Punta Gorda was October 31. Its departure prompted concerns among residents and businesses that depend on air connectivity for tourism, commerce, and access to health services. Throughout October, stakeholders called for a solution, with the Toledo branch of the Belize Tourism Industry Association holding public meetings to highlight the consequences of losing the route.
Following negotiations with the government, Maya Island Air agreed to return to Punta Gorda, a destination it had stopped serving several years earlier.
Tropic Air announced its withdrawal in a September 30th press release, citing sustained financial losses, rising operating costs and the route’s long-term commercial unviability. In an October 28th interview, Chief Executive Officer Maximillian Greif said the airline had incurred substantial losses while maintaining the service.
Greif also linked the decision to the government’s proposed replacement of the downtown San Pedro airport with a new facility in northern Ambergris Caye. He said uncertainty surrounding the relocation had forced the airline to reassess routes that historically operated at a loss. According to Greif, Tropic Air had told the government it would maintain the Punta Gorda service if it received reassurance that the existing San Pedro airport would remain open beyond 2030.
Briceño, meanwhile, defended the proposed airport development, saying the current San Pedro facility cannot be expanded to accommodate larger aircraft. He said both domestic airlines had participated in discussions about the future of aviation on Ambergris Caye.
While acknowledging Tropic Air’s financial concerns, the prime minister said he was disappointed that its management had not approached the government to discuss possible solutions before announcing its withdrawal. Greif, however, said the airline met with the minister responsible after announcing its intention to leave Punta Gorda and communicated its concerns about the San Pedro airport proposal.
Briceño welcomed Maya Island Air’s decision to restore service. Beyond fuel concessions, government assistance is expected to include support for a hangar and terminal building at the Punta Gorda airport, along with marketing efforts to encourage more visitors to Toledo.