DESTINATIONS bahamas air-travel-149

TRAVEL TIPS

Air Travel

Most international flights to the Bahamas connect through airports in Florida, New York, Charlotte, or Atlanta. The busiest airport in the Bahamas is in Nassau, which has the most connections to the more remote Out Islands. If you're traveling to these more remote islands, you might have to make a connection in both Florida and Nassau—and you still may have to take a ferry or a water taxi to your final destination.

A direct flight from New York City to Nassau takes approximately three hours. The flight from Charlotte to Nassau is two hours, and the flight from Miami to Nassau takes about an hour. Most flights between the islands of the Bahamas take less than an hour. You'll probably spend more time on the ground waiting than in the air.

Airline Security Issues

Transportation Security Administration. www.tsa.gov.

Airports

The major gateways to the Bahamas include Lynden Pindling International Airport (NAS) on New Providence Island, and Freeport Grand Bahama International Airport (FPO) on Grand Bahama Island. There are no hotels near either airport.

Airport Information

Grand Bahama International Airport. 242/352–2205.

Lynden Pindling International Airport. 242/702–1010.

Flights

Air service to the Bahamas varies seasonally, with the biggest choice of flights usually available in the Christmas to Easter window.

Local carriers come and go, especially in the Out Islands, which are served mostly by smaller commuter and charter operations. Schedules change frequently. The smallest cays may have scheduled service only a few days a week. In the Out Islands, ask your hotel for flight recommendations, as they are likely to have the most up-to-date information on carriers and schedules; some can even help you book air travel.

Major Airlines

American Airlines. 800/433–7300.

Delta Airlines. 800/221–1212.

JetBlue. 800/538–2583.

Southwest. New Providence Island. 800/435--9792.

United. 800/864–8331.

US Airways. 800/428–4322.

Smaller Airlines

Apollo Jets. Fort Lauderdale, Florida. 888/908--5934 ; www.apollojets.com.

Bahamasair. 242/702–4140; 800/222–4262.

Bahamas Express. 754/200--0005; flybahamasexpress.com.

Bill Air. Flies between Nassau and Chub Cay on Friday and Sunday for $75 each way. Chub Cay. 242/434--0374.

Cherokee Air. 242/367–1920; www.cherokeeair.com.

Dave Harmon's Bahamas Helicopters. North Palm Beach County Airport, 11550 Aviation Rd #1, West Palm Beach, Florida, 33412. 561/625--1900; www.oceanhelicopters.com.

Eastern Air Express. 954/772-3363; www.easternairexpress.com.

Flamingo Air. 242/351–4963; www.flamingoairbah.com.

Glen Air. Captain Glen Pratt operates a 5-passenger, fixed wing, twin-engine Piper Aztec that departs from the General Aviation Centre in Andros Island. He charges $400 per charter, not per passenger. Andros Town, Andros Island. 242/471--1860.

Golden Wings Charter. 242/377–0039; www.goldenwingscharter.com.

Island Air. 800/444–9904; www.islandaircharters.com.

LeAir. 242/377–2356; www.flyleair.com.

MiamHeli.com. 786/507--5200; www.miamiheli.com.

Miami Seaplane. In addition to offering aerial tours of Miami, this company offers private charters to Kamalame Cay and Tiamo Resort in South Andros. 3401 Rickenbacker Causeway, Key Biscayne, Florida, 33149. 305/361--3909; www.miamiseaplane.com.

Monarch Air Group. 954/359--0059; monarchairgroup.com.

Performance Air. 242/341–3281; www.performance-air.com.

Pineapple Air. 242/328–1329; www.pineappleair.com.

Safari Seaplanes. Now owned and operated by Trans Island Airways, this seaplane operates from Nassau and flies around Andros, Bimini, and the Berry Islands. Odyssey Aviation, Lynden Pindling International Airport, Nassau, New Providence Island. 242/362--4006.

Silver Airlines. 800/229--9990 ; 954/935--7587; 844/674--5837; www.silverairways.com.

Sky Bahamas. 242/377–8993; 954/357–0696; www.skybahamas.net.

Southern Air. 242/377–2014; www.southernaircharter.com.

Stella Maris Air Service. This is a good charter company for flights from Nassau to the Southern Islands. Stella Maris Airport, Long Island. 242/338--2050; 242/357--1182; http://www.stellamarisresort.com/air-service/.

Trans Island Airways. This air taxi service provides private charters to any island in the Bahamas with an airstrip. Odyssey Aviation, Lynden Pindling International Airport, Nassau, New Providence Island. 242/427--8888; 954/727--3377 ; sales@transislandairways.com.

Triton Airways. 954/961--8485; www.tritonairways.com.

Tropic Ocean Airways. Offering scheduled service to Bimini and Great Harbour Cay, Tropic Ocean Airways also offers private charters all over the Bahamas from their base in Fort Lauderdale's Executive Airport. Sheltair Aviation, 1100 Lee Wagener Blvd., Fort Lauderdale, Florida, 33132. 954/210--5569; 800/767--0897; flytropic.com.

Watermakers Air. Watermakers offers both scheduled flights to the Exumas and Andros and private charters within 500 miles of the Fort Lauderdale Executive Airport, putting you in reach of all the southernmost Out Islands of the Bahamas. 2331 N.W. 55th Court, Hangar 19, Fort Lauderdale, Florida. 954/771--0330; www.watermakersair.com.

Western Air. 242/329–4000; www.westernairbahamas.com.

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