NASSAU, BAHAMAS — The government yesterday took another step toward acquiring Grand Bahama International Airport (GBIA), with one tourism stakeholder expressing optimism over the potential impact on the island and its tourism segment.
Minister of Agriculture and Marine Resources Michael Pintard yesterday tabled a bill for an act to amend the Airport Authority Act “to provide for the acquisition, operation and management of the Grand Bahama International Airport by the Airport Authority and for matters connected therein”.
The airport is owned by Hutchison Ports and the Grand Bahama Port Authority (GBPA).
Talks of the government acquiring the airport emerged following hurricane Dorian, with Tourism and Aviation Minister Dionisio D’Aguilar indicating the government had not been happy with the state of the airport nor the pace of repairs following the monster storm.
Magnus Alnebeck, the Pelican Bay resort’s general manager, told Eyewitness News: “I think it is great for GBI as an island and for tourism.
“Let’s hope that government finds a good operator like NAD (Nassau Airport Development Company) who will be working with the goal of reducing costs for airlines and thereby increase airlift.
“Previous owners were trying to make profit off a declining market. Most airports are run at a loss, or at ‘break even’ in order to increase airlift and visitors.”
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