Placencia Airport (MZPL)
Medium airport · Placencia, Stann Creek District, Belize
Airport data
| Name | Placencia Airport |
|---|---|
| ICAO | MZPL |
| IATA | PLJ |
| Elevation | 3 ft (1 m) above mean sea level |
| Coordinates | N 16°32'13" W 88°21'41" 16.53696, -88.36151 |
| Location | Placencia, Stann Creek District, Belize |
| Scheduled service | Yes |
Runways
| Runway | Length | Width | Surface | Lighted |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 08/26 | 2,133 ft (650 m) | 65 ft | Asphalt | No |
Placencia Airport at a glance
Placencia Airport is a medium airport in Placencia, Stann Creek District, Belize, known to airline systems as PLJ. The field elevation of 3 ft (1 m) is the number every arriving pilot dials against QNH — circuit heights and initial approach altitudes at MZPL are all figured from it. The airport handles scheduled commercial service, so expect controlled procedures, published approaches and commercial traffic in the pattern.
The single runway, 08/26, offers 2,133 ft (650 m) of asphalt surface, without recorded lighting. Runway numbers give magnetic orientation: runway 08 points roughly 80° magnetic.
For the weather side of planning, the live METAR and TAF page for MZPL shows the current observation decoded line by line — wind on an instrument dial, visibility, cloud layers and the resulting flight rules — refreshed continuously from official sources.
Nearest airports to Placencia Airport
Distances are great-circle, measured from the field reference point — planning distances along airways or roads will run longer.
| Airport | Code | Distance |
|---|---|---|
| Dangriga Airport | MZPB | 51 km (28 NM) |
| Puerto Barrios Airport | MGPB | 93 km (50 NM) |
| Sir Barry Bowen Municipal Airport | MZBE | 110 km (59 NM) |
| Philip S. W. Goldson International Airport | MZBZ | 112 km (60 NM) |
| Tela Airport | MHTE | 127 km (69 NM) |
Flight-planning notes for Placencia Airport
Density altitude is the quiet performance-killer at any field: on a hot day the 3 ft field elevation of Placencia Airport can translate into a substantially higher density altitude, stretching take-off rolls and flattening climb rates — run the numbers rather than trusting the feel of a standard day. Expect published instrument procedures, controlled airspace and clearance requirements; slots and handling may apply to general aviation traffic.
This entry is one of 9 airports and airfields we list for Belize — the country index on the airports hub links the rest. Coordinates above are given in both DMS and decimal degrees so they can go straight into a GPS, a flight planner or a chart plot without conversion.
Where this data comes from
The reference layer behind this page builds on the OurAirports dataset — a public-domain, community-maintained register of the world's airports that many flight planners and apps rely on — with equity records preserved from documented historical listings where the dataset is silent. Figures are carried as published: elevations as surveyed, coordinates as filed, runway dimensions as recorded. Nothing is estimated to fill a gap, and the whole layer regenerates from source on every site build, so corrections upstream arrive here automatically.
Frequently asked questions about Placencia Airport
What is the ICAO code of Placencia Airport?
The ICAO identifier of Placencia Airport is MZPL, and its IATA code is PLJ. The ICAO code is the one used in flight plans, METAR reports and aeronautical charts.
How high is Placencia Airport above sea level?
Placencia Airport sits at an elevation of 3 feet (1 metres) above mean sea level. Field elevation is the reference for pattern altitudes and for setting the altimeter on the ground.
Where exactly is Placencia Airport located?
The airport lies at 16.5370, -88.3615 — in Placencia, Stann Creek District, Belize, in the northern hemisphere. The closest listed field is Dangriga Airport, about 51 km away.
Does MZPL publish METAR weather reports?
Where the station reports, the current METAR and TAF for MZPL appear on its live weather page on this site, refreshed continuously from the US NWS Aviation Weather Center feed.
How long is the runway at Placencia Airport?
Placencia Airport has one runway. The longest, 08/26, measures 2,133 ft (650 m) with a Asphalt surface.