The Tribune

By NATARIO McKENZIE

Tribune Business Reporter

nmckenzie@tribunemedia.net

SOUTHWEST Airlines, the world’s largest low-cost carrier, has announced plans to begin daily non-stop service between Fort Lauderdale and Nassau in early August.

“The addition of a low cost carrier like Southwest on the Fort Lauderdale/Nassau route will add more competition, and should lead to higher tourism demand to Nassau and Paradise Island from cities on Southwest’s route network,” Tyrone Sawyer, senior director for airlift development in the Ministry of Tourism, told Tribune Business yesterday.

JetBlue and Bahamasair currently provide daily service on the Nassau/Fort Lauderdale route.

Southwest Airlines, which is headquartered in Dallas, announced at the recent Routes Americas conference in San Juan hat it would begin its non-stop daily service between Fort Lauderdale and Nassau on August 7. 

The new route between Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport and Nassau’s Lynden Pindling International Airport is said to be part of Southwest’s plan to boost international flying from the south Florida airport within a few years.

The carrier chose Nassau for its first international destination from Fort Lauderdale because of the existing US Customs and Border Protection pre-clearance processing in the Bahamas.

To promote the new route, Southwest is offering introductory fares from $58 one-way for booking by February 25 The fares are valid for travel between August 7 and November 3.