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Friday, June 12, 2026
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US growth returns to LPIA with second busiest May in history By FAY SIMMONS Tribune Business Reporter jsimmons@tribunemedia.net AFTER ten consecutive months of declining US passenger traffic, Lynden Pindling International Airport (LPIA) saw a return to growth in May, with airport executives reporting a five percent increase from its largest source market. Vernice Walkine, president and chief executive of Nassau Airport Development Company (NAD), said May was likely the second-busiest May in the airport's history and offered encouraging signs heading into the peak summer travel season. "This May was probably the second-busiest May we've ever had in our history," Ms Walkine said during yesterday's launch of Breeze Airways' inaugural Tampa-Nassau service.
5% growth in market recorded with ‘US business being restored’
LPIA snaps 10-month US passenger losing streak
Boost for Bahamas economy with new direct Tampa to Nassau flights THE first direct jet service between Nassau and Tampa in more than two decades touched down yesterday as Breeze Airways launched twice-weekly flights that tourism officials hope will unlock a ‘mountain of interest’ in travel to The Bahamas. The first plane arrived at the Lynden Pindling International Airport (LPIA)
carrying approximately 120 passengers from Tampa. The airline will initially operate twice-weekly flights on Thursdays and Sundays before expanding to four weekly services in July. Glenys Hanna-Martin, Minister of Tourism, Investments and Aviation, said the launch strengthens ties between The Bahamas and one of its most important source markets. "This morning we welcomed 120 passengers into
Work to revitalise Bay Street to begin ‘soon’ By FAY SIMMONS Tribune Business Reporter jsimmons@tribunemedia.net TOURISM Minister Glenys Hanna-Martin says Nassau has been discussing downtown redevelopment "since King Hammer was a hatchet," acknowledging decades of stalled progress while promising that work to revitalise Bay Street will begin soon. Speaking to reporters, Mrs Hanna-Martin said successive efforts to transform downtown Nassau have failed to deliver the level of change many Bahamians hoped to see. "We've been hearing about downtown redevelopment since King
GLENYS HANNA-MARTIN Hammer was a hatchet, and truthfully, we have not made the kind of progress we would wish to see," said Mrs Hanna- said. Her comments come as the Government continues efforts to revive downtown Nassau through
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Island Site Development lands $71m Glass Window Bridge deal By FAY SIMMONS Tribune Business Reporter jsimmons@tribunemedia.net THE Government has selected a preferred contractor for the long-awaited Glass Window Bridge replacement, with Works Minister Clay Sweeting revealing that the $71.7m project is expected to reach financial close within the next two to three months. Contributing to the 2026-2027 Budget debate in Parliament, Mr Sweeting said the procurement process has now been completed and Island Site
Development Ltd identified as the preferred contractor following technical and commercial evaluations. "I am pleased to report that the procurement process for the new Glass Window Bridge has now been successfully concluded, with Island Site Development Ltd identified as the preferred contractor following a comprehensive technical and commercial evaluation process," he said. Mr Sweeting said the recommended contract award is valued at approximately $71.7m and is supported by
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New Providence from Tampa, and this deepens the interface between our peoples," she said. "Florida remains the strongest market for The Bahamas, and today we welcomed the first direct link with Tampa, a market that has always shown strong interest in Nassau and The Bahamas but never had a direct route." Mrs Hanna-Martin said early indications suggest strong demand for the service.
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LPIA sets sights on major terminal expansion Developer eyed for longawaited hotel By FAY SIMMONS Tribune Business Reporter jsimmons@ tribunemedia.net
"As soon as this flight was announced, we saw a 45 percent increase in interest in the route. That tells us we may be sitting on a mountain of interest coming out of Tampa into New Providence," she said. John Tiliacos, chief operating officer of Tampa International Airport, described the launch as a significant milestone. "This is the first jet service between Tampa and Nassau in more than 20 years," said Mr Tiliacos. "Breeze has launched with two flights a week, and that will grow to four flights a
LYNDEN Pindling International Airport (LPIA) is close to identifying a developer for VERNICE WALKINE its long-awaited airport hotel while advancing plans for a major terminal and airside expansion aimed at easing congestion and accommodating future growth. Vernice Walkine, president and chief executive of Nassau Airport Development Company (NAD), said proposals for the airport hotel are currently under review. "We are close to identifying a developer for the airport hotel," said Ms Walkine. "We have received submissions and those proposals are currently under review." The project has been under consideration for approximately a decade and forms part of wider efforts to expand services and amenities at the country's largest airport. Earlier this year, NAD indicated it hoped to select a developer following a proposal process for a hotel that could include up to 240 rooms. Ms Walkine stressed that while the hotel will be located on airport property, it will not be developed by NAD itself. "The hotel will be located on LPIA property, but it will not be a NAD project. We are not investing in the hotel ourselves, but we are excited about its potential," she said. Beyond the hotel development, Ms Walkine revealed that NAD has already presented airport expansion plans to Minister Energy, Utilities and Aviation JoBeth Coleby-Davis and intends to brief Minister of Tourism and Investments Glenys Hanna-Martin. "We recently presented our expansion plans to Minister Coleby-Davis and will also be
DEMAND - See Page B3
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LYNDEN PINDLING INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT (LPIA)
RECOVERY - See Page B3
By FAY SIMMONS Tribune Business Reporter jsimmons@tribunemedia.net
New Tampa route adds to optimism for summer travel demand
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