by Brian Major
Last updated: 12:55 PM ET, Wed July 17, 2024
Grand Bahama Island’s international air arrivals were eight
percent higher in the first five months of this year compared with the same
period in 2023, Bahamas Ministry of Tourism and Aviation officials said this
week.
The Bahamian island’s 2024 air arrivals are on track to
exceed visitor totals attained prior to Hurricane Dorian in 2019, which
devastated Grand Bahama Island and is regarded as the worst natural disaster in
the Bahamas' recorded history.
The island is poised to significantly increase its airlift
in the second half of 2024, said officials. Beginning in August, Westernair will
launch new flights between Fort Lauderdale and Freeport.
Additionally, from September 6 through October 3,
Bahamasair will increase capacity on its flights between Fort Lauderdale and Freeport.
The increase follows American Airlines’ decision to briefly suspend flights between
Miami and Freeport during the same period, which coincides with the peak of Atlantic
hurricane season, said Bahamas officials.
Bahamasair will also inaugurate service between West Palm
Beach, Fla. and Freeport beginning November 17. The service will complement the
resumption of Bahamasair’s twice weekly nonstop
flights between Freeport and Orlando, which launched June 17 and continue
through September 3.
After October 3, American Airlines will resume daily flights
between Miami and Freeport, and subsequently will increase the frequency of the
flights with twice-daily service launching in November. American will also offer
Saturday flights between Charlotte and Freeport beginning October 3.
“Our priority to focus on increasing airlift into Grand
Bahama is a sign of our commitment to this community,” said Chester Cooper, the Bahamas’ deputy prime minister and minister
of tourism, investments & aviation.
Said Cooper, “We continue to explore new markets for Grand
Bahama, as well as position the island for returned service from both local and
legacy airlines.”
Cooper added that recent interline agreements between
Bahamasair and both Virgin Atlantic and Alaska Airlines will provide “a
seamless travel experience for visitors from the U.K. and the West Coast
seeking to travel into Freeport” via connecting flights in Nassau, Bahamas.
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