Earlier this month I was interviewed by XTV Belize about some exciting news for Belize’s tourism industry. Two new direct flights are being added to Belize’s schedule, making it easier for travelers from both the U.S. and Canada to visit.
Starting November 21, Spirit Airlines will launch a new direct service between Fort Lauderdale and Belize City. The bright yellow planes will run three times a week on Mondays, Fridays, and Saturdays. Flights leave Fort Lauderdale at 10:15 a.m. and arrive in Belize at 11:40 a.m., before turning back at 12:35 p.m. Introductory fares start at $85 one way, including taxes and fees, and can be booked now at spirit.com. This route was once operated by Southwest Airlines before the pandemic, so it’s a welcome return and a sign of continued demand from Florida. With nearly 24 million people living in Florida, including about 6 million in the Miami–Fort Lauderdale area, this is a strong market for Belize.
On the Canadian side, Air Canada has announced a new seasonal route between Montreal and Belize City. Beginning December 8, flights will depart Montreal on Mondays and return on Tuesdays. Quebec is home to 8.6 million people, and the greater Montreal area alone has about 4 million, so this opens Belize to a large new audience. Even though the flight is once a week, it could actually be a good thing since it encourages visitors to spend a full seven days in Belize, giving them more time to explore the country and support local businesses.
One important thing to keep in mind is that Montreal is in Quebec, where French is the primary language. While many Quebec travelers speak English, businesses in Belize can benefit by having French-language menus, marketing materials, and websites to make visitors feel more welcome. I also encourage Belize tourism professionals to travel to Montreal (one of my fav cities in Canada) to better understand the culture. This first-hand experience would give them an advantage when marketing to that audience.
These new routes are positive news for Belize’s tourism industry. More flight options mean more opportunities to attract visitors from major markets. Personally, I would still love to see a direct flight from Vancouver one day, but for now, these new connections are a big win.
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