“The expansion of Southwest Airlines’ Central Florida route map to include a new daily service to Nassau is another testimony to the government’s efforts and commitment to grow air stopover arrivals throughout our 16-islands destination aggressively, says the Honorable I. Chester Cooper, Bahamas Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Tourism, Investments, and Aviation.
At the end of 2023, the Bahamas recorded a historic 9.65 million total foreign air and sea visitor arrivals to its shores. Of that number, foreign air arrivals exceeded a record-breaking 1.7 million passengers, accounting for an increase of 3.5% over 2019 and 17% over its 2022 air arrivals numbers.
At the end of the first quarter of 2024, foreign air arrivals had already surpassed 504,000, a gain of 7.3% compared to the first quarter of 2023. End-of-year foreign air arrivals numbers are forecasted to exceed 2 million.
“We have been very strategic about driving and expanding strategic partnerships with airlines and our local and international industry partners, including our Promotion Boards and Hotel Partners.”
Deputy Prime Minister Cooper added, “Part of our expansion includes an ongoing growth strategy in our Southern, Central, and Northern Florida source market, including Orlando, West Palm Beach, and Tampa, to attract new airlift to Nassau/PI, Grand Bahama, and our Family Islands.”
Southwest Airlines’ new route will come on stream on June 4, 2024, in line with its relocation of its operations from Fort Lauderdale to Orlando. According to Southwest Airlines, the airline has been serving Orlando since 1996, offering nonstop flights to over 50 destinations across the United States and the Caribbean. Southwest is also the largest carrier at Orlando International Airport, accounting for over 20% of all passenger traffic.
