Bahamas, The Getting There & Away

Getting There & Away

Air

The Bahamas' national airline is Bahamasair (UP) . Other airlines with regular flights to the Bahamas include American Airlines Air Canada Air Jamaica Continental Airlines Delta Airlines British Airways US Airways . Bahamasair will be the main interisland airline of choice. Bahamasair also fly to Miami, Ft. Lauderdale and Orlando. American Airlines flys to Nassau from Miami, Ft. Lauderdale, Orlando and Tampa. Also they serve Freeport and Marsh Harbour from Miami. Gulfstream International/Continental Connection serves many islands of the Bahamas from Ft. Lauderdale and Miami. Chalks Ocean Airways serves Bimi and is the only airline that can fly right into Paridise island home to the Atlantic resort because they use Sea Planes. They also serve Downtown Miami Airport or Watson Island Seaplane base. British Airways has non-stop flights from London and Grand Cayman.

For free advice on air travel from the UK call the Air Travel Advisory Bureau in the UK on (0171) 636 5000 (London) or (0161) 832 2000 (Manchester).

Approximate flight times

From Los Angeles to Nassau is 7 hours from New York is 3 hours and from Singapore is 33 hours. Miami: 45 minutes Jet: 30 minutes. ( Bahamasair is the only airline offering Jet service bettween Miami and Nassau.

International airports

Nassau International (NAS) is 16km (10 miles) west of the city. An airport bus and taxi services are available. Airport facilities include banking (0930-1500 Monday to Thursday and 0930-1700 Friday) car hire (Avis Budget Dollar and Hertz ) post office bars restaurants (0600-2000) and duty-free shops (0930-1900).

Freeport International (FPO) is 5km (3 miles) from the city. Taxis are available. Airport facilities include banking car hire car parking bar/restaurant and a duty-free shop.

There are scheduled turbo-prop services between several airports in Florida and Treasure Cay (TCB) Abaco Island Rock Sound (RSD) Eleuthera and Georgetown (GGT).

The new international airport at Moss Town Exuma has been completed.

Departure tax

B$15 (Freeport �?? B$18). Children under six years of age and passengers for immediate transit are exempt.

Sea

A large number of international passenger ships from New York and Miami call at Nassau. Nassau has direct passenger-cargo connections with the United States the UK the West Indies and South America. In addition a large number of cruise ships call there . Facilities for cruisers in Nassau and some harbours of the Out Islands (Eleuthera Andros and Exuma) are being improved.

Contact Bahamas Tourist Office for an up-to-date list of cruise operators to The Bahamas with all relevant contact numbers.