Bahamasair (UP, Nassau International) is studying ways of entering the Central and South American markets, the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Bahamasair Holdings has said.
The state-owned airline's international operations currently focus primarily on the United States along with the Caribbean islands of Antigua & Barbuda, Haiti, Cuba, and Turks & Caicos.
Speaking to The Nassau Guardian, Tracy Cooper said Bahamasair was now looking to tap into markets that have historically not been main markets into the Caribbean.
“We, like everybody else, are making special inter-airline agreements, but we are trying to do it more so not on them coming to The Bahamas or the Caribbean, but more so that we’ll meet you in Miami International or Fort Lauderdale International," he said. "And we are really trying to figure out how we can expand that as we move towards even the South and Central American markets and we can get to one or two of the hubs there as well."
Cooper said adding Central and South America to Bahamasair's network would boost the islands' overall tourism product where North America, given its proximity, is currently king.
“And not just South and Central America; there are a lot of investments as we go throughout the Caribbean by Asian investors. The Baha Mar project that just came on-stream and brought some 2,400 rooms to The Bahamas is an Asian investment. And so, we’re looking as well to see how we can connect to the Asian carriers, especially with their growing middle class. So, our strategic expansion is really about how we not only continue to connect but how we also look at markets that are not really main markets into the Caribbean and by extension The Bahamas.”
Bahmasair currently operates a fleet of three ATR42-600s, three ATR72-600s, and three B737-500s. It is also awaiting the induction of its first B737NextGen - a B737-700 formerly in service for Lucky Air (China) (8L, Dali).
Western Air Bahamas (WU, Nassau International) has also unveiled its own plans to expand into the Americas having recently acquired its first E145s. As previously noted, West Air intends to use the Embraer Regional Jets to start corporate and tourist charters to destinations across the Caribbean, including Haiti and Cuba, as well as South America.
