The Tribune

BY ANNELIA NIXON

TRIBUNE Business Reporter

anixon@tribunemedia.net

BIMINI businesses yesterday hailed Western Air’s launching of new direct service between Grand Bahama and their island but described the twice-weekly flights as only a first step.

Tourism and other operators are hoping with the carrier will eventually restore the level of airlift connectivity that was lost when Flamingo Air halted operations indefinitely last month after its air operator certificate (AOC) was suspended following the fatal Andros Independence Day crash.

Still, Western Air this week launched direct flights between Freeport and South Bimini on Mondays and Thursdays, providing a new domestic link that tourism stakeholders and business owners believe will improve travel between the two islands while supporting commerce, tourism and the movement of workers.

Stephen Kappeler, managing director of the Bimini Big Game Club Resort and Marina, said the new service helps fill a gap left by Flamingo Air, whose near-daily flights had become an important transportation option for residents, businesses and visitors.

“I think it’s going to be a very strong force and make up what we’ve lost with Flamingo, which was almost daily,” Mr Kappeler said. He added that while the two weekly flights represent a positive start, Bimini businesses would ultimately like to see the service expanded.

“Freeport itself has its own international airport where people might do some twin-island stays, stay there and visit the big island of Grand Bahama, and then come back over to Bimini instead of jumping over to Nassau,” he said. “Two flights, that’s a start. We’d like to try to get it back daily again, but that’s a great start as we ramp up for this next year and our strong winter season.”

Flamingo Air announced last month that it was ceasing operations indefinitely, disrupting one of the country’s key inter-island carriers. The airline had provided direct links between several Family Islands, allowing travellers to avoid routing through New Providence. Its suspension forced many passengers and businesses to rely on longer, more expensive connections through the capital.

While Mr Kappeler said the loss has not resulted in a measurable decline in guest numbers at his property, he said accessibility has become a growing concern among visitors. “I can’t attribute a huge mass, like 10 percent, fall-out,” he said. “But it’s more the guests complaining that it’s difficult to get here. I’m hearing more of it than I can actually see it in the numbers.”

Mr Kappeler said the loss of direct flights has also complicated travel for vendors servicing businesses on Bimini. “We’ll have a vendor in Harbour Island or in Abaco that does IT or whatever, and if they can’t make that flight then they can’t get their parts and their equipment over as conveniently as before,” he said. “It might take a couple more days because the flights are limited, or they have to go back through Nassau.”

Mr Kappeler described Western Air’s entry into the market as an encouraging development. “This is key because Western Air has a very good record,” he said. “It’s a Bahamian carrier, and their planes are quite successful and carry passengers. Maybe in a way it’ll become a positive and we’ll see more seats coming in. This is just the start.”

Jonisha Poitier, property manager at Bimini Cove, also described the new service as an improvement over previous options and said she hopes the airline increases flight frequency. “It’s definitely a great addition,” she said. “It’s an upgrade for sure.

“We had Flamingo and now we’re having Western Air. I do know that a lot of their planes have more seating as well. A lot of persons are more comfortable travelling on Western Air. My only hope is they add more days. They have two, Monday and Thursday. But if they can add more days, we would love that.”

Ms Poitier said the improved aircraft and service could also encourage more domestic travel. “As far as the island goes, it’s an addition,” she said. “I don’t hardly go to Grand Bahama because I didn’t really like flying Flamingo [Air].

“But Western is a lot more comfortable, so we’ll definitely frequent. As far as the native and local tourism market, it’s definitely an upgrade. I’m sure employees at Resorts World would very much enjoy that because we have a lot of Grand Bahamians that live here.”

Ms Poitier added that Bimini Cove has also experienced a recovery in marina traffic following the reversal of controversial boating fee increases introduced last year.

“I’ve seen an increase in boaters coming,” she said. “It definitely affected us immediately because we had a lot of clients saying they weren’t coming because of the change in fees. But after they changed it back, the clientele slowly started to pick up. We’re back to our regular schedule now.”

H Rudy Sawyer, proprietor of Blue Green Outdoors, said restoring direct air links between the northern islands carries economic benefits that extend beyond tourism. “Anything that’s going to make up for lost transport in this particular area, it’s a no brainer. Love it,” he said.

Mr Sawyer said many businesses, workers and families travel regularly between Grand Bahama and Bimini, making reliable direct service critical.

“There’s business that runs between business people here and Bimini,” he said. “You have workers working over in Bimini who live in Grand Bahama and vice versa, family and everything else. There’s constant travel between the two islands, so having easy access is going to be great for everybody.”

Mr Sawyer said Flamingo Air had helped reduce travel costs by allowing passengers to avoid connecting through Nassau.

“Flamingo was very convenient,” he said. “Rather than having to go to the hub of our country and then fly back to Abaco or Bimini, it made travel less expensive. Eliminating that service has an economic impact because people now have to make that extra leg through Nassau.”

Western Air’s new route operates twice weekly, with flights departing Grand Bahama at 1.30pm and Bimini at 2.10pm on Mondays and Thursdays.

The route also follows the introduction of direct American Airlines flights between Miami and Bimini earlier this year, adding further momentum to efforts aimed at improving air access to the island and supporting tourism growth.