By AVA TURNQUEST
Tribune Chief Reporter
aturnquest@tribunemedia.net
BAHAMASAIR has dropped flights to Treasure Cay, Abaco due to nonfunctioning runway lights at the Marsh Harbour airport.
In a press statement yesterday, managing director Tracy Cooper explained the service adjustment would continue until further notice as the airline accommodates daytime flying.
The new flight service to Marsh Harbour from Nassau leaves at 4pm, and its flight from Abaco to the capital leaves at 4.55pm.
"Bahamasair further advises that due to this adjustment in schedule, there will be no service to Treasure Cay," the statement read.
"Ticketed passengers are asked to arrive at the airport ahead of flight time to ensure a smooth check-in process.
It added: "Bahamasair thanks the traveling public for making us the airline of choice, as we continue to take strides in connecting the islands of The Bahamas to the world."
Comments
Bonefishpete 5 years, 3 months ago
What no cars lining the runway with headlights on? Gotta preserve that safety record.
crawfish 5 years, 3 months ago
Can this Government do ANYTHING for the people of Abaco?
Clamshell 5 years, 3 months ago
Cool. An airline whose planes break down flying into an airport whose lights don’t work. What could possibly go wrong?
DDK 5 years, 3 months ago
Just repair the damn lights. What about other airlines and what about emergency flights? What about a functioning government? Does Abaco not pay more than its share of taxes? Can those who allowed this situation to occur not be terminated from the tax payers' burden and replaced with persons who understand the meaning of EFFICIENCY and RESPONSIBILTY? Who IS responsible for this latest act of ineptitude Mr. Prime Minister?
HonestTruth 5 years, 3 months ago
It’s a private airport you buffoon, the government cannot force them to fix the lights. You fools on this forum blame the government for everything without engaging your brain.
rawbahamian 5 years, 3 months ago
Bravo to you for pointing out that the government is NOT responsible for every damn thing that goes wrong in this country. It simply points out that Bahamians always want someone else to be responsible for their own screw ups !!!
DDK 5 years, 3 months ago
And exactly who owns the airport and who is in charge of aviation in The Bahamas? If I am a buffoon, your species cannot be printed in this forum.
DDK 5 years, 3 months ago
Leonard M. Thompson International Airport IATA: MHH · ICAO: MYAM
Summary Airport type: Public Owner: Bahamas Government Operator: Department of Civil Aviation Serves: Marsh Harbour, Abaco Islands, Bahamas
Location Marsh Harbour,Abaco
thephoenix562 5 years, 3 months ago
Note. Leonard Thompson Airport is not Treasure Cay Airport.That is the former Marsh Harbour Airport.Treasure Cay is not Marsh Harbour.I should know.i mwas born in Marsh Harbour.
licks2 5 years, 3 months ago
As usual you talk plenty dumb stuff without having information. . .Treasure Cay Airport is up North and Marsh Habour is relatively central on Abaco!! Some years ago I was down there and that airport was closed because of some thing between the government and the owners of it. We found that out after a man fell off a roof in Green Turtle Cay and cut himself severe on a picket fence. . . emergency flight could not come in at Treasure Cay because of some problems BA had with the condition of the runway. . .government could not repair them people private runway so BA simply stopped coming into to it!
hrysippus 5 years, 3 months ago
hey Hornytruth, Are you sure that Marsh Harbour Leonard Thompson is not government owned and managed? I thought the gubmint tried to fob the management off onto the Canadian group who declined because it was and is not economically feasible?
HonestTruth 5 years, 3 months ago
Any proof or are you just throwing out blanket statements that no one can verify? This is a private airport, not government owned
joeblow 5 years, 3 months ago
... and in other news, I drank water today!
The_Oracle 5 years, 3 months ago
Okay folks, the issue is non functioning lights at Marsh Harbor airport, meaning Bahamasair has to get in and out before dark? This precludes the second stop at Treasure Cay airport. If the Above is correct, it is on the Government. From the Article or release, who the hell knows!
Clamshell 5 years, 3 months ago
True dat! Tribune articles are not famous for their clarity. But I’ll bet the reporter is a whiz with text messages and an iPhone.
TheMadHatter 5 years, 3 months ago
It is a government fully owned and operated airport. No NAD there. Dont want them there either.
It is a $7 million dollar airport that the government built and just opened in May 2014 at a cost to the taxpayer of only $38 million dollars.
The additional "cost" dollars are stored safely away in the same location that our VAT money is being held.
hrysippus 5 years, 3 months ago
Thanks for the clarification and even amplification, MadHater, I trust that HonestLies poster will read and make a note.
licks2 5 years, 3 months ago
How the flip yinna got to this conclusion is waaayyyyyyy beyond me. . .the issue was TC airport and yinna ended with the conclusion that Thompson airport is government owned!!! I do agree too that these are some of the most stupefying mush for "breens" posters on any site I am on. . .internationally and locally!! By far the tribune has the most ignorant buffoons par excellence globally!! Paint drys faster than they can use their common sense. . .not all mind you. . .but the majority are hopeless in the common sense department!!
DDK 5 years, 3 months ago
Actually, the issue was that the lights are inoperative at Marsh Harbour Airport, resulting in Bahamasair having to eliminate the TCB portion of the NAS-MHH-TCB-NAS flight as there is currently insufficient daylight time to conduct all legs. The lights therefore need to be repaired. The Bahamas Government is responsible. There are other airlines and private pilots that are also negatively affected by the lack of runway lights. Capiche?
DDK 5 years, 3 months ago
"The Ministry of Transport and Aviation announced on Feb 28, 2017 the signing of a 4.5-year agreement between Airport Authority and Vantage Bahamas. The company will provide technical expertise to the Leonard M. Thompson International Airport in Marsh Harbour, Abaco. The agreement takes effect March 1, 2017.
Vantage Bahamas is the local subsidiary of Vantage Airport Group, based in Vancouver, British Columbia. The company is currently under an executive management agreement with the Lynden Pindling International Airport since 2007.
Under the contract with Leonard M. Thompson International Airport, technical teams from Nassau Airport Development Company (NAD) will be deployed on short and long-term assignments to Marsh Harbour to share best practices and provide guidance to the airport’s management team on the ground in Abaco. Airport Authority will continue to manage day-to-day operations at Leonard M. Thompson International Airport including maintenance of the 51,000 sq. ft. terminal facility and runway, manage parking facilities and all commercial operations at the airport."
Don't know whether these Vantage people are still involved or not. That would have been (or is) another typical waste of taxpayer money. As Clamshell says, many of these reports are murky at best.
TheMadHatter 5 years, 3 months ago
DDK - Right. Exactly. So they will provide technical advice. Airport manager "Hi the runway lights aint working." Vantage "What you meanin eh?" Airport manager "One bulb break, and dese be like Christmas tree light." Vantage "Get one good bulb and go unscrew each bulb on the runway in turn and put da new one in, until you find when dey all come on" Airport manager "Tanks mon. I gah put one $10,000 cheque in da mail to ya".
ohdrap4 5 years, 3 months ago
the automated machines at the parking lot hardly ever work you either get to park for free or have to pay cash to a guy who has a pass card.
TheMadHatter 5 years, 3 months ago
...and the prices are stoooopidleee high.
DWW 5 years, 3 months ago
I can support this. Several times I have paid a random person cash who used a pass card to open the bar. Albeit after 25 min waiting. Lately its wide open free for all.
thephoenix562 5 years, 3 months ago
Treasure Cay Airport(Treasure Cay) and Leonard Thompson International Airport(Marsh Harbour)are not the same airport.They are many miles away from each other.Just for clarity.
DWW 5 years, 3 months ago
27 to be specific
sheeprunner12 5 years, 3 months ago
Two international airports on Abaco ............... 20 miles apart ............. STUPID!!!!!!!!
bcitizen 5 years, 3 months ago
So the second busiest airport and an important source of revenue to the country and we cant keep the runway lights on. This is almost criminal.
HonestTruth 5 years, 3 months ago
It is even more criminal how we can comment without even reading the article. I will allow you to do some independent research and retract this statement, geez we have some dumb people in this country
This airport is not even one of our top 15 busiest airports...
bcitizen 5 years, 3 months ago
Educate yourself. Marsh Harbour aka Lenoard M. Thompson airport is the second most busy airport in the country and the one where the runway lights are out. Treasure Cay flights are cancelled because the plane cannot land at both airports due to time constraints. The early flight into Marsh Harbour is before sunrise and the evening flight after sunset leaving no time to also stop in Treasure Cay (should it be doing this is another subject) since these flights have had to be moved to be within daylight hours. So both airports on Abaco are affected from this incident. Marsh Harbour has sometimes 150+ flights a day often after dark. For this airports runway lights to be our for any length of time is criminal and your lack of education on the subject but, thinking you do is criminal. This is just no affecting Bahamasair's operations but, many other airlines and flights as well.
TheMadHatter 5 years, 3 months ago
bcitizen - you are correct. The article is not really clear enough for those unfamiliar with operations there to understand all that you just said. Ive flown there so i know. However, the reflexive impulse of so many Bahamians to jump up and defend their governmemt is very much akin to battered wife syndrome. He's such a good husband, and he loves me.
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