NASSAU, BAHAMAS — Grand Bahama tourism stakeholders are welcoming the news of increased airlift to the islands this fall, with foreign air arrivals to the island over the first five months showing an eight percent year-over-year increase.
The Ministry of Tourism, Investments, and Aviation recently announced that Grand Bahama Island is poised to receive more airlift boosts this fall 2024. At the end of 2023, Grand Bahama experienced a 33 percent growth in foreign air arrivals—the largest year-over-year percentage growth compared to all the islands of The Bahamas. For the first five months of 2024, the island’s foreign airlift arrivals had already outperformed the same period in 2023 by some eight percent, putting the island on a trajectory to exceed pre-Dorian figures.
“Our priority to focus on increasing airlift into Grand Bahama is a sign of our commitment to this community and our product partners, as we continue to position the island to benefit from the significant investments in its project pipeline,” said Chester Cooper, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Tourism, Investments & Aviation.
Starting at the end of August, travelers can expect a new inaugural service by Western Air between Fort Lauderdale and Freeport to support the growing demand for South Florida travel by residents and visitors.
From September 6 through October 3, 2024, Bahamasair is set to increase capacity on its Freeport to Fort Lauderdale route. This move ensures continued airlift into the island from the Florida market, following a decision by American Airlines to briefly suspend its Miami-Freeport service during that period due to the peak of the hurricane season.
American Airlines will return to Freeport after October 3 with daily service and will ramp up its Miami-Freeport offerings to twice daily in November, providing a significant boost to fall travel. Additionally, the airline will offer a Saturday service between Charlotte and Freeport.
