The Tribune

By NEIL HARTNELL AND FAY SIMMONS

TRIBUNE Business Reporters

THE GOVERNMENT’S aviation chief yesterday pledged further upgrades for North Eleuthera’s airport after Western Air revealed it will resume flights on November 2 to a destination that is enjoying “historic performance on tourism arrivals.

Dr Kenneth Romer, director of aviation and tourism director-general, told Tribune Business that - following initial repairs to address the “long-standing runway issues” that caused the Bahamian carrier to suspend flights for a month - North Eleuthera’s airport is on course to receive “new aerodrome beacons”, lights, a fire fighting vehicle and security equipment.

Highlighting Eleuthera’s growth in response to this newspaper’s inquiries, he added that the further planned upgrades are part of the Government’s Family Island airport ‘renaissance’ initiative that features 26 projects across The Bahamas.

“For the first nine months in 2026, the island of Eleuthera recorded its largest number of foreign air arrivals, boasting an unprecedented 31 percent increase over 2019 and a positive growth of 2 percent over 2025. Domestic travel to Eleuthera is also recording historic performance,” Dr Romer disclosed.

North Eleuthera airport, together with Governor’s Harbour and Exuma (Georgetown), is part of a three-strong package that the Island Airport Development Partners consortium is upgrading via a combined $130m worth of investments prior to taking over their management under a concession agreement with the Government.

“The projects include the current active development of a modern airport terminal at North Eleuthera and the recent completion of the interim runway works, intended to immediately address long-standing runway issues,” Dr Romer said.

“The repairs, facilitated by the Ministry of Works, are part of a broader approach to North Eleuthera airside improvements with a scope of work to construct new aerodrome beacons; install lights and windsock; acquire fire fighting vehicle and security equipment; construct runway end safety areas; expand runway turn pads; full runway re-paving; construction of drainage wells at the lowest points of the runway; construction of aa new commercial apron and two runway access taxiways, including lighting system; defined markings for runway, taxiways and apron; and installation of security fence and security gates.”

Speaking to the recent runway repairs that have addressed Western Air’s concerns, Dr Romer said: “ The preliminary airside works have been recently launched through the IDB (Inter-American Development Bank) with ongoing monitoring and proactive, preventive airside maintenance undertaken by the Airport Authority, Civil Aviation Authority, Ministry of Works and Islands Airport Development Partners.

“We join the chief executive [Rexy Rolle] of Western Air, and all airport users, in extending appreciation to the Ministry of Works, Bahamas Striping, Island Airport Development Partners and the various aviation agencies for their efforts in addressing the runway conditions and facilitating the necessary interim improvements.”

Western Air is set to resume flights between Nassau and North Eleuthera on November 2, a month after suspending the service over deteriorating runway conditions that it said had become increasingly severe.

The airline announced its service to North Eleuthera International Airport would resume at 7am that Monday, with flights now available for booking through its website.

“To our valued passengers, thank you for your patience and understanding,” Western Air said in its resumption notice, while also thanking the Ministry of Aviation and Ministry of Works for their efforts in addressing the runway conditions and facilitating “the necessary interim improvements”.

Western Air suspended flights to and from North Eleuthera following the completion of its scheduled services on October 2, after raising concerns about the deteriorating condition of the runway.

In its September 30 suspension notice, the airline said that while the runway had deteriorated over time, it had recently observed “an escalation in the severity of the conditions”.

The Ministry of Works subsequently began resurfacing the runway, with Clay Sweeting, minister of works and Family Island Affairs, initially estimating that repairs would take about 12 days once paving began. He said the estimate depended on weather conditions and any unforeseen problems beneath the existing surface.

Mr Sweeting described the work as “an overhaul of the runway to ensure that all planes can land there safely”, while noting that crews would work overnight to limit disruption to airport operations.

Last week, Mr Sweeting said resurfacing was progressing and that the runway should be ready for use the following week if work proceeded as planned.

The Bahamas Striping Group of Companies, which is carrying out the paving work, said in a social media update three days ago that the turnpad and runway were complete.

“Milestone unlocked at North Eleuthera Airport,” the company said. “The turnpad and runway is officially complete and we're not slowing down.”

Bahamas Striping added that the full runway renovation would be finished “in just a matter of days”. The resurfacing is a temporary measure while the Government advances plans for permanent airport improvements. 

Mr Sweeting has said bids for the permanent airside works were being evaluated before submission to the IDB for its no-objection process. The project is expected to include an extended runway and a new apron capable of accommodating larger aircraft.