Bahamas News

Spirit Airlines has increased its number of daily flights to New Providence from two to four, spelling good news for airlift to the Bahamas, according to a tourism official.

Director of Airlift Development in the Ministry of Tourism Tyrone Sawyer said with low cost carriers like Spirit Airlines expanding their schedule to include more flights to The Bahamas tourists would be more inclined to visit the country.

Spirit Airlines recently increased the number of flights between Orlando and New Providence and also between Fort Lauderdale and New Providence.

Mr. Sawyer said the low cost carrier also plans to add an additional flight from Fort Lauderdale to New Providence and another one from Orlando to New Providence in the near future.

“The increased airlift by Spirit will stimulate air stopover due to the fact that it is a low airfare carrier and its rates range anywhere from $39 and up to fly to Nassau. So with those rates and more scheduled flights that will attract visitors to our shores,” Mr. Sawyer said.

He said he anticipates that with the increased flights, other carriers would have to lower their prices to be able to better compete with the low cost carrier.

Mr. Sawyer said while the ministry is working to attract more airlines to The Bahamas, the country must maintain a balance with low cost carriers and legacy carriers.

“A lot of our legacy carriers like American Airline, Delta and U.S Airways do different things for us and they bring tourists in different ways. The larger carriers bring in more international tourists from connecting flights from their hubs and this is something the low cost carriers do not have the ability to do, so they each bring tourism to us in different ways. So it’s important to maintain that balance,” Mr. Sawyer said.

He said a plan to implement a non-stop flight from Panama to The Bahamas has been placed on hold for now.

Instead, Mr. Sawyer said Bahamasair has signed an agreement with Copa, the national flag carrier of Panama, so that passengers can connect in Miami and fly to The Bahamas aboard Bahamasair.

Mr. Sawyer said this agreement will be in placed until the airlines see that the Panama to The Bahamas direct route is profitable.

In addition to expanding its schedule, Spirit Airlines also plans to increase its fleet by an additional 30 aircraft.

Spirit Airlines announced last week that it ordered 30 additional airbus A-319 aircraft valued at $1.8 billion.

They are expected to come on stream between 2009 and 2013.

Sprit announced that with the additional airbus, increased service on existing routes and new destinations would take place. In its release, Sprit indicated that the new aircraft would be mainly used to service its international routes. “Sprit with hubs in Fort Lauderdale and Detroit has focused largely on expansion in The Bahamas, Caribbean and Latin America with prices that undercut competitors and promotions that offer seats for a few pennies, plus required fees and taxes,” the release said.

By Bianca Symonette
The Bahama Journal