Inter-Island Flights in the Bahamas: Airlines and Routes

The Bahamas Ministry of Tourism says all sixteen main islands can be reached by air through Nassau, with Freeport to Bimini and Inagua to Mayaguana as the listed exceptions. Domestic carriers fly small jets and turboprops, and many of them sell tickets mainly on their own websites.

The sections below cover the airlines that operate scheduled service, the routes from Nassau, baggage rules, the current disruptions and how flying compares with a mail boat. Facts were checked on October 3, 2026. For flights from the mainland, see flights to the Bahamas.

Airlines

Bahamasair

The national carrier flies from a Nassau hub and has the widest domestic network, according to the Ministry of Tourism. Its schedule lists Freeport, Exuma, Marsh Harbour, Treasure Cay, Rock Sound, Long Island, San Salvador, Great Harbour Cay, Inagua, Mayaguana, Crooked Island and Acklins, plus North Eleuthera once a week. Tickets are sold at bahamasair.com.

Western Air

Western Air describes itself as the largest privately owned airline in the Bahamas and flies Embraer 145 jets. It lists daily flights from Nassau to Freeport, Marsh Harbour, Exuma, Congo Town, Bimini, Cat Island and San Andros, as well as Fort Lauderdale. Nassau to San Andros takes 12 minutes, according to the airline. Tickets are open, valid for one year, and carry no change or cancellation fees. Flights to North Eleuthera are suspended (see below).

Southern Air

Southern Air is based in Nassau and flies scheduled service to Eleuthera, Long Island (Deadman's Cay and Stella Maris), San Salvador and, on three days a week, Treasure Cay. It posts a travel notice that Governor's Harbour Airport closes from October 1, 2026 and that it will serve only Rock Sound and North Eleuthera in the meantime. Booking is on southernaircharter.com.

Pineapple Air

Pineapple Air operates Embraer 110 and Beechcraft 1900 turboprops. Its website lists Nassau to North Eleuthera, Governor's Harbour and Rock Sound and shows a one-way fare from $108 to Eleuthera. The Tribune reported on October 1 that Pineapple has stopped serving North Eleuthera, so confirm the route before you plan around it.

LeAir

LeAir flies Nassau to Fresh Creek and Mangrove Cay on Andros daily and to Great Harbour Cay on Monday, Wednesday and Friday, according to the Ministry schedule.

Florida carriers with Out Island service

Makers Air flies from Fort Lauderdale Executive Airport (FXE) to Staniel Cay, Andros, Cat Island, the Berry Islands, Eleuthera and Long Island (Stella Maris). Its Staniel Cay airport is closed from September 21 to October 31, and flights use Black Point during that period. Aztec Airways flies from its private terminal at Fort Lauderdale to Eleuthera, Exuma, Bimini, Abaco, Andros and the Berry Islands. Tropic Ocean Airways flies seaplanes from Fort Lauderdale to Nassau, Bimini and Great Harbour Cay. These airlines connect Florida directly and do not use Nassau as a hub.

Flamingo Air

The Civil Aviation Authority of the Bahamas suspended Flamingo Air's operating certificate after a fatal crash on July 10, 2026. No announcement of resumed service was found as of October 3, so treat the airline as not operating until it says otherwise.

Routes from Nassau

The table follows the Ministry of Tourism schedule and the airlines' own pages. Flight times appear only where an airline or the Ministry publishes one.

Island (airport)	Airlines from Nassau	Frequency listed	Flight time
Freeport (FPO)	Bahamasair, Western Air	Daily	not published
Exuma (GGT)	Bahamasair, Western Air	Daily	not published
Abaco (MHH, TCB)	Bahamasair, Western Air, Southern Air	Daily (Southern to Treasure Cay: Thu, Sat, Sun)	not published
North Eleuthera (ELH)	Southern Air, Bahamasair	Southern daily, Bahamasair weekly	25 min (Western Air, suspended)
Governor's Harbour (GHB)	Southern Air, Pineapple Air	Closed in October	20 to 25 min
Rock Sound (RSD)	Bahamasair, Southern Air	Daily	not published
Bimini (BIM)	Western Air	Daily	about 30 min
North Andros (SAQ), Congo Town (TZN)	Western Air	Daily	12 min to San Andros
Fresh Creek, Mangrove Cay (Andros)	LeAir	Daily	not published
Cat Island (ATC, TBI)	Western Air	Daily	not published
Long Island (LGI, SML), San Salvador (ZSA)	Southern Air, Bahamasair	Southern daily	not published

Baggage and check-in

Airline	Free checked bag	Extra and overweight	Check-in
Bahamasair (domestic)	First bag, up to 50 lb and 62 in	Second bag $55 plus VAT, third $95; 51 to 70 lb adds $50	Recommended 2 h before; counter closes 60 min before
Western Air (domestic)	First bag, up to 40 lb	Second bag $25; 41 to 50 lb adds $25, 51 to 60 lb adds $50	2 h before; flight closes 1 h before
Pineapple Air	One bag, up to 40 lb	41 to 60 lb costs $1.25 per lb	See airline
Aztec Airways	First 35 lb	See airline baggage policy	60 min before
Tropic Ocean Airways	Weight limit per person: Bimini 30 lb, Nassau and Great Harbour Cay 50 lb	Cargo desk for extra weight	30 min before; by-the-seat flights close 2 h before departure

Bahamasair allows one carry-on of 22 x 14 x 9 inches and 20 lb. Pineapple Air allows one personal item only, with no overhead bin. Aztec Airways advises soft-sided luggage, and Tropic Ocean Airways prefers it. The Nassau tariff lists an $11.00 facility charge and a $7.70 security fee per domestic departing passenger, and Western Air says its fare breakdown shows the government and airport taxes.

Reliability and timing

Western Air states that its schedules are not guaranteed and that weather and air traffic can change flight times. A flight closes one hour before departure, and the airline says it may leave at any time after closing, so passengers should be in the departure lounge by then. The Ministry of Tourism advises two hours for connections in Nassau and 1 h 30 min to clear immigration and customs when changing from an international flight to the domestic terminal.

Three disruptions apply in October 2026. Governor's Harbour Airport is closed for runway works and is expected to reopen in early November. Western Air has suspended North Eleuthera flights because of the runway there, with no return date. Flamingo Air is grounded. No published on-time statistics for any domestic airline were found.

Flights versus mail boats

Mail boats leave from Potter's Cay in Nassau, and the fares and crossing times from the mail boat page appear below next to flights. Mail boats run once or twice a week per route and can leave late.

Destination	Mail boat	By air from Nassau
Exuma (George Town)	about 12 h, overnight, from $50	Bahamasair and Western Air daily
Eleuthera (North)	about 5 h, from $40	Bahamasair from $80.50 (fare basis not stated)
North Andros	5 to 6 h, from $35	Western Air, 12 min
Bimini	about 12 h, overnight, from $50	Western Air, about 30 min
Freeport	8 to 10 h, from $45	Bahamasair and Western Air daily

The Potter's Cay dockmaster's office is reachable at (242) 393-1064. The mail boat page advises against booking a boat if a flight follows within 48 hours.

Mail boats from Potter’s Cay

Routes, fares, departure days and booking by phone for the Nassau mail boats.

Mail boat guide

Frequently asked questions

Which airline has the most routes from Nassau?

Bahamasair, according to the Ministry of Tourism. Western Air flies jets to seven islands daily, and Southern Air covers Eleuthera, Long Island and San Salvador.

Can I book inter-island flights on Expedia or Kayak?

Not reliably. The Ministry of Tourism says domestic carriers are not always listed there and advises booking through their own sites.

How much time do I need for a connection in Nassau?

The Ministry suggests two hours between flights and at least 1 h 30 min to clear immigration and customs before going to the domestic terminal.

Is the mail boat cheaper than flying?

The fares are lower: $35 to $50 on the mail boats above, against a published Bahamasair fare from $80.50 to North Eleuthera. A mail boat takes between 5 and 14 hours and its departure time can shift.

Can I change an inter-island ticket?

Western Air charges no change or cancellation fees and accepts changes up to five hours before departure. Pineapple Air's fare page lists rebooking at no charge within 24 hours and $30 beyond that; confirm the conditions with the airline.

Sources

All pages retrieved on 2026-10-03. Schedules are subject to change; contact the carrier for the latest information.

Inter-Island Flights in the Bahamas: Airlines, Routes and What to Expect

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