NEW SERVICE – Chairman of the Board at Bahamasair Valentine Grimes, second left, is pictured with Director of Sales and Marketing Frederick Donathan, April 27, as they announce the start-up of new service between Freeport and Orlando, Florida, beginning June 19, 2016. Pictured left is Betty Bethel, Director, Ministry of Tourism, Grand Bahama Island, and right is Jackie Carroll, Secretary, Grand Bahama Island Tourism Board. (BIS Photo/Vandyke Hepburn)
FREEPORT, Grand Bahama – Bahamasair, the national flag carrier of The Bahamas, announced Wednesday the start-up of non-stop service between Freeport, Grand Bahama, and Orlando, Florida. Making the announcement during a press conference at Pelican Bay Resort was newly-appointed Director of Sales and Marketing Frederick Donathan.
He was joined by Executive Chairman of Bahamasair Valentine Grimes, Director of Ministry of Tourism’s office on Grand Bahama Betty Bethel, and Secretary to the Grand Bahama Island Tourism Board Jackie Carroll.
The service commences June 19, 2016 and travelers will be able to fly in the comfort of Bahamasair’s new ATR 70, 70-seater aircraft, while also enjoying new in-flight catering services.
Mr. Donathan explained that initially the service will operate two days a week, but anticipates that as demand builds they will increase the frequency to meet the growth in market needs.
A special introductory fare of $232.00 inclusive of taxes is being offered and purchases can be made online at Bahamasair.com.
“This is another step in our route expansion program geared to providing critical airlift to our major islands, grow our revenue and move us closer to becoming a viable and sustainable airline,” Mr. Donathan said.
Also, he said, the addition of the new service signals Bahamasair’s commitment to recapturing its competitive position as the preferred carrier of choice among the local market for travel to Florida, and it also demonstrates the airline’s aim to become a major player in providing critical airlift between Florida markets and Grand Bahama Island.
Chairman of the Board for Bahamasair Valentine Grimes said that the company is entering a new era and they understand the challenges they are faced with offering airlift to The Bahamas and in particular airlift to Grand Bahama Island.
“But, we felt that the time was right for us to initiate this particular service between Freeport and Orlando. We have already received two new ATR airplanes, 70-seaters, and we are now in the process of receiving an additional three airplanes, one of which should be arriving in The Bahamas within the next ten days. The other two will be received by us, the last one being sometime in late June or early July,” he stated.
He made it clear that they are “brand new” aircraft and that he has visited the site where they are being built and is satisfied the aircraft is the right fit for Bahamasair at this particular time.
“Let me also say that consistent with previous Boards, previous Governments, it is the same aeroplane that had been recommended by the Board under the previous government and so there is no dispute in terms of the type of aircraft that Bahamasair needs at this particular juncture.
“But, we believe that we are turning the curve at Bahamasair. We believe that in the last several years we have improved our service. We know that we have improved our financial status. We are still not yet making a profit, but we are moving in the right direction and I am happy to be a part of Bahamasair at this particular juncture when it is changing its fleet, something that has not happened for the last twenty plus years,” he said.
Mr. Grimes also acknowledged the partnership being created with the Ministry of Tourism and the Grand Bahama Island Tourism Board in the promotion of the new service to Grand Bahama Island.
