ECNETNews, New York, NY, July 17, 2024: Grand Bahama Island is gearing up for a substantial increase in airlift this fall, reinforcing a remarkable tourism growth trend that has characterized 2024 as a year of revival. Following a record-breaking 2023, the island recorded a 33% rise in foreign air arrivals, the highest improvement among all Bahamian islands.
Commencing in late August, Westernair will introduce new flights connecting Fort Lauderdale and Freeport, catering to the growing travel demand from South Florida. Bahamasair will augment its Fort Lauderdale to Freeport route from September 6 to October 3, 2024, ensuring consistency in airlift during American Airlines’ temporary suspension of its Miami-Freeport service due to the peak hurricane season.
American Airlines plans to resume daily flights to Freeport on October 3, increasing to twice-daily service from Miami in November, along with a new Saturday route from Charlotte.
Enhancing airlift options, Bahamasair will launch a new route between West Palm Beach and Freeport on November 17, 2024, perfectly timed for the Thanksgiving holiday. This service will complement the existing twice-weekly nonstop flights between Orlando and Freeport, which began on June 17 and will continue through September 3, 2024.
In the first five months of 2024, foreign air arrivals to Grand Bahama exceeded figures from the same period in 2023 by 8%, paving the way for a robust year that surpasses pre-Hurricane Dorian levels.
“Our emphasis on enhancing airlift into Grand Bahama reflects our dedication to supporting the community and our partners,” stated the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Tourism, Investments & Aviation. “We are strategically positioning the island to harness significant investments and an increasing demand for tourism. We consistently seek new markets and are committed to restoring services with both local and international airlines.”
This June marked the return of Sunwing Airlines’ nonstop service from Montreal, Neos/Alpitour Airlines from Milan, and Bahamasair’s Freeport-Orlando route. Additionally, interline agreements between Bahamasair and various airlines will provide seamless connectivity for travelers from the UK and the West Coast via Nassau, with a forthcoming partnership with Turkish Airlines in September to further broaden travel options to Grand Bahama.
“As the volume of foreign airlift arrivals and seat capacity continues to expand, we remain dedicated to attracting visitors from emerging markets and enhancing existing connections,” the Deputy Prime Minister added. “This includes vital links from Charlotte, Durham, Fort Lauderdale, Miami, Milan, Montreal, and Toronto.”
The growing airlift to Grand Bahama reflects a promising recovery and growth path for the island’s tourism sector, offering increased connectivity and economic advantages for the local community.
