Ministry of Tourism Updates
Minister D’Aguilar urges more flights from American Airlines
By Kendea Smith, Bahamas Ministry of Tourism & Aviation
Jan 29, 2018 - 10:36:07 AM

(l to r) President of Baha Mar Graeme Davis; Director General of Tourism Joy Jibrilu; AA Managing Director Caribbean Marvin Alvarez Ochoa; Minister of Tourism and Aviation Dionisio D'Aguilar; AA Country Manager Caroline Hollingsworth; President and CEO of the Nassau Airport Development Company Vernice Walkine; AA Senior Vice President of International and Cargo Jim Butler. Photo: Kemuel Stubbs

Airline Celebrates 30 years of service to The Bahamas

As American Airlines (AA) celebrates 30 years of servicing The Islands of The Bahamas, Minister of Tourism and Aviation Hon. Dionisio D’Aguilar is encouraging the airline to expand its flight offering to the country.

During a special reception at Baha Mar’s Convention Centre for airline executives, customers and tourism stakeholders, Minister D’Aguilar said The Bahamas has benefited greatly from its partnership with American Airlines.

“It is the longest service airline traveling to the country from North America. They bring hundreds if not thousands of passengers to our country every day. They are critical hubs from Miami, Dallas, Charlotte and Philadelphia and allowing persons from our major gateways to come to The Bahamas and take advantage of our products that we have to offer,” he said.

With Baha Mar opening the Grand Hyatt and SLS brands and the impending opening of Rosewood this spring, Minister D’Aguilar said more flights from AA would be welcomed.

“If we run 50 percent at Baha Mar that’s 250,000 additional seats coming to our country,” he said. “It is very important that we develop our relationships with our air partners – American Airlines being the biggest and servicing our most important gateways on the east corridor. It’s so wonderful that they continue to see us as a growth market and to be involved in this wonderful journey that we are on in The Bahamas.”

Senior Vice President of International and Cargo for American Airlines Jim Butler agrees.

“The partnership that we’ve had with The Bahamas in general and the Ministry of Tourism and Aviaiton has been incredible. It not only allows us to serve with over 130 flights weekly but allows us to have over 130 team members,” he said.

“We are here to serve demand and to bring people in. So the incredible work that the minister has been doing to grow the facilities that are available is only going to bring more people in and if more people want to come in, we will be the first one there to offer seats.” 

American began service to Nassau (NAS) on November 1, 1987 with a flight operated by Piedmont Airlines from Charlotte and currently offers more than 130 weekly flights from Miami (MIA), Charlotte (CLT) and Philadelphia (PHL), as well as seasonal service from Washington, D.C. (DCA) and Dallas/Fort Worth (DFW).

In 2015, the airline was awarded the Cacique Award for Best International Airline.

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