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Thursday, March 26, 2026
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‘Bite the bullet’: Airline fares to rise up to 10%
Gov’t pledges GB Power rates cut in half as FNM says no ‘rubber stamp’
BY NEIL HARTNELL Tribune Business Editor nhartnell@tribunemedia.net
Bahamian carriers in ‘uniform’ response to 55-60% fuel jump
BY NEIL HARTNELL Tribune Business Editor nhartnell@tribunemedia.net
BAHAMIAN aviation operators yesterday warned travellers to brace for an up to 10 percent hike in air fares due to surging fuel costs with these increases set to be introduced “uniformly” by all carriers to prevent “making a mess of the marketplace”. Anthony Hamilton, president of the Bahamas Association of Air Transport Operators, told Tribune Business that the sector is forecasting an initial 55-60 percent jump in aviation fuel costs with local privately-owned carriers waiting for Bahamasair to increase its ticket prices before they follow suit with similar rises. He explained that the industry’s “conventional practice” has been for all carriers to adjust air fares at the same time, and by similar magnitudes, so as to prevent price “gouging” by rogue operators seeking to exploit the situation and avoid “creating a stir” for an industry that works
Set to follow Bahamasair lead to avoid ‘marketplace mess’
A CABINET minister yesterday pledged that Grand Bahama’s electricity rates will be “transitioned” to tariffs that are almost half of what the island’s businesses and families currently pay despite Opposition assertions that Parliament is being asked to “rubber stamp” a $280m borrowing in the dark. Jobeth Coleby-Davis, minister of transport and energy, told the House of Assembly that - should the Government successfully complete its proposed acquisition of Grand Bahama Power Company - the latter’s base rates will be reduced to the “uniform” tariff that Bahamas Power & Light (BPL) customers currently pay across The Bahamas. She spoke out as Prime Minister Philip Davis KC, and members of his administration, cited the prospect of lower electricity bills and costs for Grand Bahama residents
Mulling whether to lobby Gov’t over VAT ‘waiver’ for fuel ANTHONY HAMILTON on slim margins of just 2-3 percent. And Mr Hamilton told this newspaper that Bahamian aviation is also mulling whether to “lobby” the Government for the temporary “waiver”, or elimination, of VAT on aviation fuel to relieve some of the increased cost burden for both carriers and the travelling public many of whom will have to “bite the bullet” and pay higher ticket prices for essential travel to and from the Family Islands. Aviation and jet fuel are among the oil-related offshoots most impacted by hikes in global crude prices once they work
‘Dire straits’: Lucayan’s electricity cut-off again BY NEIL HARTNELL Tribune Business Editor nhartnell@tribunemedia.net THE Grand Lucayan’s electricity supply has been turned off for a second time, Tribune Business can reveal, with the resort now lacking both power and water due to unpaid billing arrears amid the wait for its sale to close. Well-placed sources, speaking on condition of anonymity, yesterday disclosed that Grand Bahama Power Company has disconnected electricity supply to the entire resort campus last Thursday. This has plunged it into darkness - especially at night - and
exposed it to break-ins and theft. Concord Wilshire, the Miami-based developer, has also missed its previous self-declared deadline to give a public update on the construction/demolition schedule and post-acquisition plans for the resort. This was supposed to have been revealed around one to two weeks ago, and little has been heard since, although sources familiar with the transaction with the Government yesterday suggested the deal had reached the point of completion.
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Taxi drivers to push for temporary fare increase BY ANNELIA NIXON Tribune Business Reporter anixon@tribunemedia.net BAHAMIAN taxi drivers yesterday said they are seeking a meeting with government officials to press the case for a temporary fare increase to offset the impact of anticipated fuel price increases due to the Middle East conflict. Tyrone Butler, the Bahamas Taxi Cab Union (BTCU) president, said it wants to meet with the Road Traffic Department’s controller, and even Jobeth Coleby-Davis, minister of
energy and transport, early next week. He said while advocating for fare rises, he will also request the Government put a cap on gasoline prices. “We've been talking to some of the members. They've expressed concern about it. So [we're] hoping to speak to the controller of Road Traffic so that we have an understanding that the fares that are being charged now, we can have some sort of understanding that taxi drivers should be able to adjust their fares, and
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their way fully through the supply chain. Oil prices, as measured by the Brent crude index, had yesterday increased by 38 percent since the Middle East conflict broke out at end-February to around $100 barrel, and aviation industry insiders previously told Tribune Business that - if these costs double - aviation fuel typically troubles. Mr Hamilton said that while Bahamasair has yet to increase its ticket prices, such a move is inevitable and only a matter of time, with the whole sector “looking at between a 55 percent to 60 percent” increase in fuel costs
as foreshadowed by the national flag carrier. He added that all Bahamian airlines are set to follow its lead in not just increasing air fares but breaking fuel costs, charges and surcharges out as a separate line item on the ticket so passengers have transparency over how much extra the Middle East conflict is costing them. “It’s not the overall ticket; it’s the fuel portion of the ticket that is predicted to increase in the range of 55-60 percent,” Mr Hamilton told this newspaper. “We are going to wait for Bahamasair.
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JOBETH COLEBYDAVIS and commercial enterprises as the main justification for seeking Parliament’s approval for the Government to guarantee $280 worth of borrowings that will both finance its purchase of GB Power from Emera, the Canadian energy giant, and provide the utility with sufficient working capital post-acquisition for necessary improvements. However, Michael Pintard, the Opposition leader, accused the Government of effectively asking the House of Assembly to “sign a blank cheque without laying out the case” for acquiring GB Power, how the utility will ELECTRICITY - See Page B10