By Breaking Belize News Staff: Prime Minister John Briceño says San Pedro’s tourism industry has outgrown the existing municipal airstrip, warning that increasing aircraft traffic, congestion and safety concerns make long-term planning for a new airport necessary.
Speaking to reporters on Wednesday, Briceño defended his administration’s exploration of a new airport on Ambergris Caye, amid opposition from tourism stakeholders and residents concerned about the future of the existing facility.
The Prime Minister clarified that his previous reference to increasing aircraft activity was not a claim that the island’s visitor arrivals had surpassed pre-pandemic levels.
Instead, he said that during peak tourism periods, the existing airport experiences exceptionally heavy aircraft movements, with as many as 55 landings per hour at certain times.
Briceño warned that such concentrations of aircraft could present safety challenges, particularly as tourism continues expanding.
He explained that one possible solution would be to accommodate larger aircraft capable of transporting more passengers per flight, but the existing municipal airstrip is physically constrained and cannot accommodate the required expansion.
The Prime Minister also highlighted concerns about nearby schools, saying that during a survey, students expressed fears that an aircraft could one day crash into their school.
He said government must consider not only the future of tourism but also congestion, aircraft noise, the impact on schoolchildren and the safety of passengers.
Briceño stressed that the proposed airport remains in the planning stage and that government is working with airlines to assess possible solutions.
He also confirmed that the plans would be made public once completed.
The proposal has generated considerable opposition on Ambergris Caye.
As BBN previously reported, tourism stakeholders have opposed the proposed construction of a new airport near Secret Beach and urged government to prioritize existing infrastructure, traffic congestion, waste management and other pressing island needs.
The San Pedro Town Council has also formally voted against closing the current John Greif II Airstrip.
Briceño previously confirmed that the government has not made a final decision on constructing the new facility, with technical studies being undertaken with assistance from the Inter-American Development Bank.
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By Breaking Belize News Staff: Prime Minister John Briceño says San Pedro’s tourism industry has outgrown the existing municipal airstrip, warning that increasing aircraft traffic, congestion and safety concerns make long-term planning for a new airport necessary. Speaking to reporters on Wednesday, Briceño defended his administration’s exploration of a new airport on Ambergris Caye, amid
The post PM Briceño warns San Pedro airstrip has been outgrown, says schoolchildren fear planes could crash into their school appeared first on Belize News and Opinion on www.breakingbelizenews.com.
