As the country continues to enhance its infrastructure in the Aviation sector, the time is ‘ripe’ for Nassau for new route development opportunities. Minister of Aviation and Transport, the Hon. Glenys Hanna-Martin, made the statement as she delivered welcome remarks to Latin American and Caribbean Air Transport Association (ALTA) Airlines Leaders during the official opening ceremony of their three-day conference.

The conference is being held at the Atlantis Paradise Resort and Casino November 12–14.

“Have you considered Nassau as yet? Perhaps the time has come. We would like for you to begin to see Nassau not only as a possible termination point for your flights; but as a spring board to new route development opportunities,” she said.

“My government invested $400 million in the newly completed Lynden Pindling International Airport. At present, it is only handling half of its capacity. It has a U.S. Pre-Clearance facility. We believe that there is an opportunity to partner with one of you to develop a Nassau hub,” said the Minister.

She said that this speaks to a strategy of avoiding long delays in MIA, while extending route networks to North American gateways more seamlessly - and ‘perhaps’ more cost-effectively. “ The Minister continued to make the case for Nassau as she outlined some of the infrastructural projects currently on stream. She said that the Ministry of Transport is in the midst of a massive $180 million upgrade of aerodromes throughout The Bahamas (affecting the country’s 28 airports).

She said that Blue Diamond Memories all-inclusive resort, on Grand Bahama, is tracking upwards with over a 39% increase in air arrivals year-to-date, compared to last year; Exuma, led by strong skillful promotion by Sandals Resorts and nonstop air service by Air Canada from Toronto and Delta from Atlanta, is showing increases of 15% in air stopover arrivals year-to-date; and finally, she said the $2.5 billion BahaMar resort development on Cable Beach, with its deluxe brands, 100,000 sq. ft. of gaming space, 200,000 square feet. of meeting space and brand new Jack Nicklaus Signature Golf Course, is scheduled for a May 2015 opening.

Finally, the Minister emphasized the training of personnel that is taking place in the tourism sector. “We are also seeking to bring a stronger focus to the development of our greatest resource our people through more wide-spread training to assure the highest standards of excellence and the maximization of human potential,”

Minister Hanna-Martin also congratulated Executive Director of ALTA, Mr. Eduardo Iglesias, and his team for their efforts in removing impediments to travel, and for the development of infrastructure to support the realistic growth prospects of ALTA airlines and assured them of The Bahamas’ commitment to assist in their target of 550 million passengers by 2020.

She said that as countries like The Bahamas seek ways to ‘cost-effectively’ secure new nonstop airlift from key tourism origin and destinations markets in the Caribbean, Central and South America, ALTA airlines could play a key role in exponentially increasing the Bahamas’ market access to over 500 million people, a high percentage of whom have the discretionary income, the free time and the desire to travel to The Islands of The Bahamas.