Bahamasair
Encyclopedia
Bahamasair Holdings Limited, operating as Bahamasair, is an airline
based in the Bahamasair House in Nassau, Bahamas
. It is the national airline and operates domestic scheduled services to 15 destinations and regional scheduled services to Havana
and four cities in Florida
. Its main base is Lynden Pindling International Airport
. It has the same logo as the Bahamas current logo.
stopped flying to The Bahamas, and the Bahamian Government accurately predicted that some of the other major airlines flying to the country would follow British Airways' lead. So Bahamasair was established by the government and started operations on 7 June 1973, by acquiring the operations of Flamingo Airlines and Out Island Airways. Bahamasair was met initially with a lot of problems, such as poor maintenance facilities, economic shape and company structure.
All that brought public distrust as a consequential added problem. But soon jets started to arrive in the shape of brand new Boeing 737
s, and in 1972, it opened its first international service, from Nassau to Tampa
, Florida
. In 1973, the government's vision of many airlines leaving the island became a reality, when Pan Am
and a few other major companies decided to walk the road out that had been opened by British Airways. With that, Bahamasair grabbed a substantial part of the Bahamas air market. Through the rest of the 1970s, Bahamasair kept adding flights to other cities in Florida and, domestically, the presence of the airline also grew at a large rate.
During the early 1980s, Bahamasair unsuccessfully tried to expand to the Northeast United States
, opening flights to Philadelphia, Washington DC (Dulles) and Newark, New Jersey
. But in 1989, the airline's directors decided that those routes were not profitable and cut them off the airline's route map. Also in 1989, the Boeing 727
first came into the fleet. They would acquire a total of two. That was also the year that a new livery and workers' uniform were introduced. The Boeing 727's however, could not be kept into service long because of political favors and interference, thereby causing the company to lose vast sums of money in the late 1980s and early 1990s.
In 1991, De Havilland
DHC-8 were purchased to substitute the whole jet fleet comprising 737-200s. In 1997, the Boeing 737's returned to service because key routes warranted the cargo and passenger carrying capabilities offered by the 737-200. The 737-200 is deployed to Fort Lauderdale, Miami, Orlando and 1 domestic destination, Freeport.
Airline
An airline provides air transport services for traveling passengers and freight. Airlines lease or own their aircraft with which to supply these services and may form partnerships or alliances with other airlines for mutual benefit...
based in the Bahamasair House in Nassau, Bahamas
Nassau, Bahamas
Nassau is the capital, largest city, and commercial centre of the Commonwealth of the Bahamas. The city has a population of 248,948 , 70 percent of the entire population of The Bahamas...
. It is the national airline and operates domestic scheduled services to 15 destinations and regional scheduled services to Havana
Havana
Havana is the capital city, province, major port, and leading commercial centre of Cuba. The city proper has a population of 2.1 million inhabitants, and it spans a total of — making it the largest city in the Caribbean region, and the most populous...
and four cities in Florida
Florida
Florida is a state in the southeastern United States, located on the nation's Atlantic and Gulf coasts. It is bordered to the west by the Gulf of Mexico, to the north by Alabama and Georgia and to the east by the Atlantic Ocean. With a population of 18,801,310 as measured by the 2010 census, it...
. Its main base is Lynden Pindling International Airport
Lynden Pindling International Airport
- Trivia :During World War II,it was known as Windsor Field used by the Royal Air Force Transferring Fighter and Bomber aircraft such as the B-17, B-24, and the P-40 from New Providence to Italian, North African and European Theatres of War and as a station for Consolidated Liberator I and North...
. It has the same logo as the Bahamas current logo.
History
Bahamasair was born out of the oil crisis of the 1970s. In 1970, British AirwaysBritish Airways
British Airways is the flag carrier airline of the United Kingdom, based in Waterside, near its main hub at London Heathrow Airport. British Airways is the largest airline in the UK based on fleet size, international flights and international destinations...
stopped flying to The Bahamas, and the Bahamian Government accurately predicted that some of the other major airlines flying to the country would follow British Airways' lead. So Bahamasair was established by the government and started operations on 7 June 1973, by acquiring the operations of Flamingo Airlines and Out Island Airways. Bahamasair was met initially with a lot of problems, such as poor maintenance facilities, economic shape and company structure.
All that brought public distrust as a consequential added problem. But soon jets started to arrive in the shape of brand new Boeing 737
Boeing 737
The Boeing 737 is a short- to medium-range, twin-engine narrow-body jet airliner. Originally developed as a shorter, lower-cost twin-engine airliner derived from Boeing's 707 and 727, the 737 has developed into a family of nine passenger models with a capacity of 85 to 215 passengers...
s, and in 1972, it opened its first international service, from Nassau to Tampa
Tâmpa
Tâmpa may refer to several villages in Romania:* Tâmpa, a village in Băcia Commune, Hunedoara County* Tâmpa, a village in Miercurea Nirajului, Mureş County* Tâmpa, a mountain in Braşov city...
, Florida
Florida
Florida is a state in the southeastern United States, located on the nation's Atlantic and Gulf coasts. It is bordered to the west by the Gulf of Mexico, to the north by Alabama and Georgia and to the east by the Atlantic Ocean. With a population of 18,801,310 as measured by the 2010 census, it...
. In 1973, the government's vision of many airlines leaving the island became a reality, when Pan Am
Pan American World Airways
Pan American World Airways, commonly known as Pan Am, was the principal and largest international air carrier in the United States from 1927 until its collapse on December 4, 1991...
and a few other major companies decided to walk the road out that had been opened by British Airways. With that, Bahamasair grabbed a substantial part of the Bahamas air market. Through the rest of the 1970s, Bahamasair kept adding flights to other cities in Florida and, domestically, the presence of the airline also grew at a large rate.
During the early 1980s, Bahamasair unsuccessfully tried to expand to the Northeast United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, opening flights to Philadelphia, Washington DC (Dulles) and Newark, New Jersey
Newark, New Jersey
Newark is the largest city in the American state of New Jersey, and the seat of Essex County. As of the 2010 United States Census, Newark had a population of 277,140, maintaining its status as the largest municipality in New Jersey. It is the 68th largest city in the U.S...
. But in 1989, the airline's directors decided that those routes were not profitable and cut them off the airline's route map. Also in 1989, the Boeing 727
Boeing 727
The Boeing 727 is a mid-size, narrow-body, three-engine, T-tailed commercial jet airliner, manufactured by Boeing. The Boeing 727 first flew in 1963, and for over a decade more were built per year than any other jet airliner. When production ended in 1984 a total of 1,832 aircraft had been produced...
first came into the fleet. They would acquire a total of two. That was also the year that a new livery and workers' uniform were introduced. The Boeing 727's however, could not be kept into service long because of political favors and interference, thereby causing the company to lose vast sums of money in the late 1980s and early 1990s.
In 1991, De Havilland
De Havilland
The de Havilland Aircraft Company was a British aviation manufacturer founded in 1920 when Airco, of which Geoffrey de Havilland had been chief designer, was sold to BSA by the owner George Holt Thomas. De Havilland then set up a company under his name in September of that year at Stag Lane...
DHC-8 were purchased to substitute the whole jet fleet comprising 737-200s. In 1997, the Boeing 737's returned to service because key routes warranted the cargo and passenger carrying capabilities offered by the 737-200. The 737-200 is deployed to Fort Lauderdale, Miami, Orlando and 1 domestic destination, Freeport.
Livery
Its latest livery, which was first introduced in October 2004, has, so far, only been applied to the Boeing 737s in the fleet. It is a white fuselage with a light blue belly and engines, with the airline's name above the windows. The "Bahamas" part of the name is in light blue, the "air" part in red. On the tail is the colourful logo of the Bahamas Ministry of Tourism. Older liveries are relegated to the Dash 8's, some of which maintained the traditional Bahamian Flag colors of black, aquamarine and gold located on the tailfin, including aquamarine and gold stripes on the rearward half of the fuselage since their purchase in the mid-1980s. The newer Dash 8 models remain in solid white livery, yet maintains the Bahamian flag on the tailfin only. All Dash 8's maintain the Bahamasair logo on the top fuselage, near the front doors.Fleet
The Bahamasair fleet includes the following aircraft (at 6 June 2011):| Aircraft | In Fleet | Orders | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Boeing 737-200 Boeing 737 The Boeing 737 is a short- to medium-range, twin-engine narrow-body jet airliner. Originally developed as a shorter, lower-cost twin-engine airliner derived from Boeing's 707 and 727, the 737 has developed into a family of nine passenger models with a capacity of 85 to 215 passengers... |
2 | 0 | Medium Haul International |
| Bombardier Dash 8 300 | 6 | 0 | Domestic Short Haul International |
| Total | 8 | 0 |
Fleet Additions
In April 2010, Bahamasair announced that they would like to add to their fleet new Bombardier Dash 8 Q400s.Former Aircraft
- 1 Airbus A320Airbus A320The Airbus A320 family is a family of short- to medium-range, narrow-body, commercial passenger jet airliners manufactured by Airbus Industrie.Airbus was originally a consortium of European aerospace companies, and is now fully owned by EADS. Airbus's name has been Airbus SAS since 2001...
- 2 BAC 1-11
- 1 Boeing 707-100 Early 1970s
- 2 Boeing 727-200
- 1 Boeing 737-300
- 1 Douglas DC-3Douglas DC-3The Douglas DC-3 is an American fixed-wing propeller-driven aircraft whose speed and range revolutionized air transport in the 1930s and 1940s. Its lasting impact on the airline industry and World War II makes it one of the most significant transport aircraft ever made...
Mid to late 1960s - 2 Hawker Siddeley HS-748
- 2 Shorts 330Shorts 330|-See also:-Bibliography:* Barnes C.H. and James Derek N. Shorts Aircraft since 1900. London: Putnam, 1989. ISBN 0-85177-819-4.* Donald, David, ed. The Encyclopedia of Civil Aircraft. London: Aurum, 1999. ISBN 1-85410-642-2....
- 3 Shorts 360Shorts 360The Short 360 is a commuter aircraft built by Short Brothers. The Short 360 seats up to 36-39 passengers and was introduced into service in 1981. It is a larger version of the Short 330.-Development:...