NASSAU, BAHAMAS – Bahamasair is considering adding new jets to its fleet, which could reduce operational costs by 13-15 percent, with a decision expected later this year, according to the airline’s Managing Director Tracy Cooper.
Cooper, while speaking during a session at the 2025 Routes Americas Conference at the Atlantis Paradise Island Resort on Monday, did not indicate how many jets the national flag carrier was looking to acquire but noted that they would most likely be leased. He also mentioned that the airline was considering the Airbus A220. The airline’s fleet currently consists of six ATRs, with one recently acquired, and four 737 jets.
Cooper noted that Bahamasair currently services 21 destinations, 13 within the Bahamas, four in the Caribbean, and four in the U.S.: Miami, Fort Lauderdale, Orlando, and West Palm Beach. “We are really essential to the transportation needs, especially in and around the Bahamas,” Cooper said.
He further emphasized the importance of Florida as a major hub, stating that through interlining with other major carriers, Bahamasair can bring visitors from Florida gateways to the Bahamas.
“The U.S. is pivotal, especially the Florida market. Those are staple routes for the airline. Bahamians, in particular, love to go to Florida. There’s something about Florida and the Bahamas,” Cooper said.
Cooper also highlighted the record achievement of over 11 million visitors to the Bahamas in 2024. “We know a lot of that were cruise passengers, but airlift plays a massive role in getting people here as well. So all of the airlines locally saw a boost, even though the cruise sector takes a large part of that. Over 1.7 million were still stopover tourists,” he added.
Cooper noted that Bahamasair has faced supply chain issues with ATR engine manufacturer Pratt & Whitney, which has resulted in delays for repairs, extending from the typical 60-day period to 150 days. “We’re feeling a bit of a pinch. So we had an airplane or two out of service, and that could have assisted us much more. But I’m happy to say that we just acquired another ATR this past week because we see the demand for travel between the islands growing,” said Cooper.
Cooper noted that the airline was actively exploring potential replacement aircraft to improve efficiency. “We’ve been looking at various narrow-body airplanes, particularly newer generations with advanced fans that would provide better operational efficiency. We expect that these aircraft could provide 13-15 percent improvements in operational costs. The Airbus A220 is the main aircraft we’re looking at right now, and we expect to make a decision on this sometime this year, 2025.”
Cooper acknowledged the airline’s limited fleet as a challenge to further expansion. “The issue we have is that we’re looking at additional airplanes just to have the equipment to expand. With only four jets, our system is limited in what we can do. But that’s why we’re eyeing fleet expansion with new aircraft,” he said.
Cooper also highlighted the potential for expansion into Latin America, a region that represents a growing opportunity. “Latin American tourism to the Bahamas is currently around 5-7 percent, but Latin America has a much larger population base than North America. Expanding into key Latin American destinations and interlining with other Latin American carriers will be beneficial for the Bahamas,” said Cooper.
Interlining partnerships, he explained, have been a crucial part of Bahamasair’s strategy. “For us, interlining allows us to expand without expanding our fleet, and it connects us to the rest of the world,” said Cooper, noting that Bahamasair has partnerships with major airlines like Delta, United, Alaska, British Airways, and others.
