Source: Date: Updated: |
TheBahamasInvestor.com
Thursday, November 20, 2014 Thursday, November 20, 2014 |
As the country continues to enhance its infrastructure in the Aviation sector, the time is “ripe” for Nassau to develop new route opportunities, according to Minister of Aviation and Transport Glenys Hanna-Martin.
The Minister made the statement during welcome remarks at Latin American and Caribbean Air Transport Association (ALTA) three-day conference last week.
The conference was held at the Atlantis Paradise Island November 12–14.
“We would like for you to begin to see Nassau not only as a possible termination point for your flights, but as a spring board to new route development opportunities,” she said.
“My government invested $400 million in the newly completed Lynden Pindling International Airport. At present, it is only handling half of its capacity. It has a US pre-clearance facility. We believe that there is an opportunity to partner with one of you to develop a Nassau hub,” said the Minister.
She said that this speaks to a strategy of avoiding long delays in Miami International Airport, while extending route networks to North American gateways more seamlessly and perhaps more cost-effectively.
The Minister then outlined some of the infrastructural projects currently on stream. She said that the Ministry of Transport is in the midst of a massive $180-million upgrade of aerodromes throughout The Bahamas, affecting all the country’s 28 airports.
She said that Blue Diamond Memories all-inclusive resort on Grand Bahama is tracking upwards with more than a 39 per cent increase in air arrivals year-to-date, compared to last year.
Exuma, led by strong promotion by Sandals Resorts and nonstop air service by Air Canada from Toronto and Delta from Atlanta, is showing increases of 15 per cent in air stopover arrivals year-to-date.
Minister Hanna-Martin also congratulated executive director of ALTA, Eduardo Iglesias, and his team for their efforts in removing impediments to travel, and for the development of infrastructure to support the realistic growth prospects of ALTA airlines and assured them of The Bahamas’ commitment to assist in their target of 550 million passengers by 2020.
She said that as countries such as The Bahamas seek ways to cost-effectively secure new nonstop airlift from key tourism origin and destinations markets in the Caribbean, Central and South America, ALTA airlines could play a key role in exponentially increasing The Bahamas’ market access to more than 500 million people, a high percentage of whom have the discretionary income, the free time and the desire to travel to jurisdiction.