NASSAU, BAHAMAS — Deputy Prime Minister Chester Cooper said that due to overwhelming traffic and increased airlift, the Lynden Pindling International Airport is approaching full capacity and will need an additional investment of $200 million to support this growth trend, noting: “We are victims of our own success.”
Cooper, the Minister of Tourism, Investments, and Aviation, made the comments in Parliament during the second reading of the Civil Aviation Amendment Bill 2024 and the Civil Aviation Authority Amendment Bill 2024, legislative measures he described as essential for advancing the nation’s aviation sector, ensuring safety, security, regulatory compliance, and fostering the continued growth of aviation in The Bahamas.
“At LPIA, we are victims of our success in tourism. As a result of overwhelming traffic and increased airlift, we are approaching full capacity and will need to invest an additional $200 million to support this phenomenal growth trend,” said Cooper. He noted that NAD saw approximately 3.35 million arriving and departing passengers at Lynden Pindling International Airport between July 2023 and April 2024, representing a 10 percent increase over the same period in the prior fiscal year. He also noted that the airport’s achievement of Level 1 Customer Experience Accreditation by ACI was a major win.
Cooper noted that the amendments to the Civil Aviation Authority Bahamas Act 2021 and the Civil Aviation Act 2021 largely stem from recent Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) International Aviation Safety Assessment (IASA) findings.
“The FAA’s IASA program evaluated our country’s oversight and its ability to adhere to ICAO’s eight critical elements of aviation safety. The assessment identified 46 findings across the eight critical elements (CEs) of an effective aviation safety oversight system. These areas were in Primary Aviation Legislation, Specific Operating Regulations, State Civil Aviation System and Safety Oversight Functions, Technical Personnel Qualification and Training, Technical Guidance Tools and the Provision of Safety Critical Information, Licensing Certification Authorization and Approval Obligations, Surveillance Obligations, and Resolution of Safety Concerns. The primary focus of the findings is to increase the autonomy of the CAAB in its technical decision-making processes. The FAA’s assessment indicated that in certain technical scenarios, the CAAB did not have the relevant powers, or decision-making powers were vested in the Board or the Minister rather than being confined to policy and corporate administration,” said Cooper. He noted that to address these concerns the amendments were introduced.
The Civil Aviation Amendment Bill 2024 introduces several important changes to the existing Civil Aviation Act of 2021. These amendments are designed to enhance regulatory oversight, streamline processes, and ensure that our aviation practices align with international standards.
The bill also expands the authority to inspect air operators’ personnel, aircraft, operations facilities, and associated records for the purposes of certification, continued surveillance, and resolution of safety concerns.
If able to satisfactorily address the findings of the FAA, The Bahamas would maintain its current rating of Category 1, meaning that the Commonwealth of The Bahamas would met the international safety standards established by ICAO.
“If we do not maintain our Category 1 status, air carriers from The Bahamas who are currently approved to operate into the US will be placed on heightened surveillance and all new operators, expansions in existing services or changes in existing services to the United States will be strictly prohibited. It is therefore critical that we pass these amendments,” said Cooper.
