Weather disrupts Central American air travel: Guanacaste Airport (LIR) reopens in Costa Rica after maintenance and rain delays, while Belize’s Philip S.W. Goldson Airport (BZE) extends closure until Monday due to Tropical Storm Sara’s approach.
Severe weather conditions continue to impact air travel across Central America this weekend, with two major airports facing contrasting situations. While Costa Rica’s second-largest airport returns to operations after urgent runway repairs, Belize’s main international terminal remains shuttered as it braces for an approaching tropical storm.
Guanacaste Returns to Service After 48-Hour Shutdown
The Guanacaste International Airport in Liberia, Costa Rica, reopened this morning after a 48-hour closure. The airport will operate until 8:00 PM tonight, handling 64 flights, including 17 rescheduled from Friday and Saturday.
“Operations are resuming with 64 different aircraft arriving throughout the day. We ask for patience and understanding,” said César Jaramillo, the General Manager of Guanacaste Airport. The closure, triggered by runway maintenance issues exacerbated by heavy rainfall, led to the cancellation of 86 international flights and 20 domestic operations over two days.
Philip Goldson Airport Extends Closure as Tropical Storm Sara Approaches
In Belize meanwhile, the Philip S.W. Goldson International Airport will remain closed until tomorrow morning as Tropical Storm Sara approaches landfall. The airport, which initially limited operations yesterday, will not resume normal operations until 6:00 AM tomorrow (Monday, November 18).
The extended closure in Belize forms part of broader emergency measures, with the government also ordering the suspension of water taxi and bus services. Authorities have discouraged nighttime travel due to poor visibility as the country braces for what local meteorological officials describe as a historically unusual November tropical storm.
Tropical Storm Sara’s primary threat to Belize comes from extreme rainfall, with some areas already recording between 6 to 12 inches of precipitation and localized maximum amounts reaching almost 18 inches. Meteorologists forecast an additional 2 to 4 inches through Sunday evening, with higher amounts possible in some areas. Strong winds of 20 to 40 miles per hour with higher gusts are creating hazardous conditions across the region.
Travel Advisory and Impact
Tourism officials in Costa Rica report significant economic impacts from their airport’s closure, which prevented approximately 5,000 visitors from arriving over the two-day shutdown. Airport authorities are advising travelers at both facilities to maintain close contact with their airlines regarding flight rescheduling and to monitor official airport social media channels for updates.
The contrasting situations at these airports reflect the broader weather crisis affecting Central America, where heavy rainfall and flooding have already claimed multiple lives and forced thousands to evacuate across the region.
