Projected numbers for the five-day period April 18-22 estimate that more than 75,000 passengers moved through the three terminal buildings at Lynden Pindling International Airport (LPIA) in Nassau.

Some 27,000 passengers were processed through the US Departures pre-clearance facility and Bahamas Immigration and Bahamas Customs processed more than 30,000 arriving passengers over the Easter weekend.

Air Traffic Controllers also reported just over 2,500 total aircraft movements (takeoffs and landings) during the same period.

Airport stakeholders executed newly adopted Standard Operating Procedures during the peak period, mitigating congestion in terminal and on the airside.

Dionisio D’Aguilar, Minister of Tourism & Aviation, credits the coordinated effort by key agencies at the airport for the high levels of operational efficiency at LPIA over the past weekend.

He said: “We have been working diligently with primary stakeholders to ensure that the increased traffic being experienced at the airport is met with an effective plan to manage higher passenger numbers and aircraft movement at LPIA.”

“My ministry will continue to work directly with our partners at the airport to ensure that LPIA is equipped and prepared to meet new demands in air arrivals to the destination. I’m proud to say that over the Easter holiday weekend all of the agencies worked together towards the common goal of providing a high level of service to persons arriving and departing from LPIA.”

In February, passenger numbers were up 21.9 per cent year-over-year and up 13 per cent in March 2019. With growth trends remaining consistent through April, agencies at the airport were prepared to manage higher volumes this past weekend.

Vernice Walkine, president and chief executive officer of Nassau Airport Development Co (NAD), which operates the airport, commended that LPIA stakeholders for adjustments made to accommodate the significant increase in passenger numbers.

“Overall, we are quite pleased with how well the Easter holiday weekend went from an operational standpoint. We saw improvements in efficiency both in terminal and on the airside. There were a few incidents that were quickly mitigated, demonstrating further that all stakeholders at LPIA have developed strategies and contingency protocols to ensure operations run smoothly even with strong passenger numbers,” Walkine said.

“On the airside, the weekend saw a significant increase in aircraft movement, particularly on the Thursday before and the Monday after Easter. Even with the increased traffic on the airside, there were no significant delays or congestion issues. This demonstrates our capacity to handle heavy traffic on the tarmac.”