The Tribune

By NATARIO McKENZIE

Tribune Business Reporter

nmckenzie@tribunemedia.net

IF THE Bahamas intends to grow its tourism numbers it must cause for more connectivity with the Florida market, according to tourism minister Obie Wilchcombe who described this as the “low hanging fruit”.

Mr Wilchcombe was speaking at a ceremony to mark the arrival of Southwest Airlines’ inaugural flight from Fort Lauderdale to Nassau yesterday lunchtime. The 143-seat aircraft, which was flown by a Bahamian pilot Sean Smith, came in nearly full according to Southwest’s vice-president of ground operations Steve Goldberg.

“This represents our efforts to seek further growth in the Florida market. It is what we call the low hanging fruit. If we intend to grow our tourism numbers we want to cause for more connectivity out of the Florida market,” said Mr Wilchcombe.

Mr Goldberg described yesterday’s route launch as a “fantastic day for Southwest”, the world’s largest low cost carrier. Mr Goldberg said that customers can expect great hospitality, low fares, bags fly free and zero change fees if a customer decides to extend their stay in a particular destination. “We have been flying here for a while now. The thing that sticks out is the ability to connect the Bahamas with the Southwest network,” he said.

The new route between Fort Lauderdale and Nassau is part of Southwest’s plan to boost international flying from the South Florida airport over the next few years. Southwest began serving the Bahamas in July 2014, with daily non-stop service linking Nassau to Baltimore‐Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport. The Bahamas was one of Southwest’s first routes outside the United States.