Frontier Airlines has announced that it will be introducing flights to Nassau, Bahamas from Trenton-Mercer starting in November – an initiative that tourism officials are lauding.

Mercer County Executive Brian Hughes announced the move this week in a press statement noting that it is the first time a commercial airline from Trenton-Mercer Airport would be introducing an international flight.

Frontier is offering introductory rates starting at $79 for one-way flights for reservations made between today and Aug. 23 at www.flyfrontier.com

“We’re excited that for the first time in our long history, Trenton-Mercer Airport will host a commercial carrier that offers direct flights to an island resort, and we’re optimistic that this is a sign of future growth,” Mr. Hughes said.

The flights will commence on November 20.

Flights will run twice weekly on Thursday and Sunday on Frontier’s 138-seat Airbus 319.

Director of Airlift in the Ministry of Tourism Tyrone Sawyer said flights from this area are welcomed.

“We are pleased to see Frontier widen its market to Nassau/Paradise Island and we see this as a very good addition to our total airlift to Nassau/Paradise Island,” he said.

“Frontier as a low cost carrier would give us the opportunity to generate more tourism by virtue of their low fares into the market place. They tend to offer very good rates which would make the destination more attractive to potential visitors.”

Nassau joins a list of Frontier’s destinations from Trenton-Mercer that includes Atlanta, Charlotte, N.C., Chicago-Midway, Cincinnati, Cleveland, Detroit, Indianapolis, Milwaukee, Minneapolis, Nashville, Tenn., Raleigh-Durham, N.C., and St. Louis.

The airline also offers a host of direct flights to various Florida airports: Fort Lauderdale, Fort Myers, Orlando, St. Augustine, Tampa and West Palm Beach.

Frontier is the only passenger airline flying out of the airport.