By Gerrino J. Saunders
Journal Staff Writer

The government has announced the signing of new airport management
agreements for the family islands valued at $300 million, according to Deputy
Prime Minister and Minister of Tourism, Investments and Aviation Chester Cooper.
He made the revelation on Wednesday as he spoke to delegates of the 2025 Routes
America Conference at the Atlantis, Paradise Island Resort.
The move adopts the successful model used by the Lynden Pindling International
Airport that is operated and managed by the Nassau Airport Development
Company and reflects the government’s efforts to increase airlift and attract more
stopover visitors throughout the country.
“We are accelerating the work that we are doing over the course of the next 15
months. In fact today we are signing an arrangement on four additional airports.
This work is never done, and once we are completed these 14 (airports), no doubt
there will be an opportunity to do even more.”. The project is part of the Family
Island Renaissance Programme.
Last week the DPM escorted Ilan Goldfajn President of the Inter American
Development Bank (IDB) on a tour of the Exuma International Airport that is
undergoing extensive renovations on the terminal and runways all funded by the
IDB that gave the thumbs up on the progress of that $35 million project thus far.
Cooper said, “we will restart the work on the terminal buildings in Exuma in very
short order. We saw last week the extensive work already done on the airside in
Exuma. We’re going to be wrapping that up soon. We are already accelerating
work in Bimini, working along with a PPP (public-private partnership), that work
is going extremely well. Work is underway in Mayaguana and Long Island and
Black Point (Exuma Cays) will be starting soon. We will talk about those in due
course.”
Meanwhile the aviation minister said his ministry will soon reveal more results and
plans for Family Island airports and future developments.

He said, “we will have a press conference to talk airports. We had a press
conference last week to talk specifically tourism. I think it’s important that we give
a full accounting to the nation on what we are doing as it relates to airports and you
would be pleased.”
The government is responsible for more than 30 airports including five
international airports across the archipelago.
Meanwhile, Vernice Walkine, Chief Executive of the Nassau Airport Development
Company (NAD) revealed this week while speaking at the 2025 Routes Americas
Conference that they are strongly considering expanding their services to
accommodate growing passenger traffic.
As a result NAD is seeking to provide more direct or point-to-point service as a
means of reducing overcrowding at LPIA during peak-hour between the hours of
11 a.m. and 3 p.m.
As for the airside and future expansion Walkine said NAD has plans to “expand the
facilities to alleviate airside congestion. We’re looking at adding parallel taxiways,
rapid-exit taxiways, and expanding terminals with more jet bridges. It’s an exciting
time as we share our vision with airlines, so they can plan for the future with us.”
Similar to the record number of tourist arrivals in 2024, LPIA also saw an increase
in visitor arrivals and departures with some three million departure seats, an
increase of seven percent over 2023. Walkine said the increased numbers are the
result of critical decisions made in 2024 and prior.
As for the national flag carrier Bahamasair, Managing Director Tracy Cooper said
the airline is considering leasing several additional jets to add to its fleet, which
could reduce operational costs by 13-15 percent.
Bahamasair is currently operating with six ATRs (prop jets) and four 737 jets, but
is also considering adding an Airbus to its fleet.
The airline currently services 21 destinations including 13 within the Bahamas,
four in the Caribbean, and four in the U.S. state Florida namely Miami, Fort
Lauderdale, Orlando, and West Palm Beach.