Getting There

The Abacos are served by two small airports in the northern Bahamas. All flights are on small aircraft; there is no jet service to most Abacos destinations. Note that the region was severely impacted by Hurricane Dorian in September 2019, and some infrastructure continues to be rebuilt.

Marsh Harbour Airport (MHH)

Marsh Harbour Airport on Great Abaco is the primary gateway. Key routes:

• Miami (MIA): American Eagle operates direct service on turboprop aircraft; approximately 1 hour
• Miami (MIA): JSX operates flights from Miami's Opa Locka Airport in a 30-seat Embraer ERJ (1-1 or 1-2 configuration); approximately 1 hour. JSX uses private terminals with a 20-minute check-in requirement and includes free Starlink internet and power at every seat.
• Fort Lauderdale (FLL): Silver Airways operates service from Fort Lauderdale; approximately 1 hour. Tradewind Aviation offers up to three daily flights from Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport via eight-seat Pilatus PC-12 aircraft, departing from the Sheltair private terminal and arriving at Marsh Harbour with complimentary snacks, refreshments, wine and beer onboard. Aztec Airways began service from Fort Lauderdale in June 2025 on daily flights using an eight-seat Piper Chieftain twin-engine aircraft; flight time is approximately 1 hour 15 minutes. One-way fares start at $350 as of 2025 and vary by seasonal demand. Flights depart from Aztec's private terminal at Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport and include free parking, no TSA check, and boarding in under 60 seconds.
• Orlando (MCO): Silver Airways has operated this route seasonally.
• Nassau (NAS): Bahamasair and regional carriers from Nassau; approximately 45 minutes
• West Palm Beach (PBI): Tropic Ocean Airways operates nonstop service from Palm Beach via the Atlantic Aviation private terminal; 60 to 80 minutes. Service began May 2024 on a nine-seat Cessna Grand Caravan EX. The airline is pet-friendly and allows dogs on board. Seats run $237 to $450; that puts the round-trip cost a couple hundred dollars above comparable commercial fares as of Q1 2026. Luggage allowance is 50 pounds per person and arrival 30 minutes before departure is required. Frequency from October 16 runs Wednesday, Thursday, Sunday, and Monday.

JSX also offers connectivity to Marsh Harbour from New York's Westchester County Airport and Dallas Love Field, giving travelers from those cities a direct option that bypasses Miami or Fort Lauderdale.

MHH was severely damaged by Hurricane Dorian in 2019 and has been rebuilt. The rebuilt terminal is functional. The airport sits about 30 minutes by road from Winding Bay.

Treasure Cay Airport (TCB)

Treasure Cay Airport serves the northern Abaco area and is particularly useful for travelers heading to Green Turtle Cay. It receives some direct service from Florida, primarily from Fort Lauderdale.

Aircraft serving the Abacos range from eight-seat twin-engine turboprops like the Piper Chieftain to 30-seat regional jets like JSX's Embraer ERJ. Either way, carry-on size restrictions are stricter than on large jets and baggage weight limits are enforced more rigorously. Pack accordingly, especially if bringing dive gear or large bags.

Traditional commercial service still has no direct routing to the Abacos from New York, Atlanta, Charlotte, or other major US hub cities without connecting through Miami, Fort Lauderdale, or Nassau. JSX's Westchester service is a notable exception to that pattern, though it operates on a smaller, charter-adjacent model.

Mail Boat from Nassau

Mail boats depart Potter's Cay Dock in Nassau bound for Marsh Harbour and other Abaco ports. Journey time is approximately 12–14 hours. This is a working cargo boat, with basic facilities, shared with freight and local passengers. Departure schedules are published irregularly; check with the Potter's Cay Dockmaster in advance.

There is no passenger ferry or fast boat service from the US mainland to the Abacos.

Private/charter vessel

The Abacos is one of the premier sailing cruising grounds in the Atlantic. Many visitors arrive aboard private yachts or chartered bareboat/crewed sailing vessels, navigating through the protected Sea of Abaco. Marinas in Marsh Harbour, Hope Town, Green Turtle Cay, and elsewhere accommodate cruising boats.

Cruising permit fees and anchoring permits became effective July 1, 2025. Yachts 50–99 feet LOA require a temporary cruising permit ($1,000) or anchoring permit ($350). Superyachts 100 feet and above require a temporary cruising permit ($3,000) or anchoring permit ($1,500). A Frequent Digital Cruising Card (FDCC) offers unlimited entry for up to two years: $2,500 for yachts 50–99 feet and $8,000 for superyachts 100 feet and above. Vessels towing or carrying tenders exceeding 25 feet pay a tender fee of $500. Fishing permits cost $300 for yachts 50 feet and above and are valid for 30 days, renewable. Non-resident passengers age 6 and older on vessels with three or more such passengers incur a $30 passenger tax per person.

The Abaco Chamber of Commerce reported a severe decline in yacht visits affecting local businesses.

From Nassau

Nassau is the domestic hub. Bahamasair and small regional carriers connect NAS to MHH multiple times daily. The flight is short (~45 min) but schedule reliability can vary; build flexibility into your plans especially at either end of a trip.

Practical Notes

• All Abacos flights use small aircraft. Expect turbulence to affect schedules more than on commercial jets. Weather delays, particularly in summer storm season, are common.
• Luggage restrictions on turboprop aircraft are strict; confirm allowances when booking. Tropic Ocean Airways caps bags at 50 pounds per person as of Q1 2026.
• Hurricane Dorian (2019) caused extensive damage to Abaco. Marsh Harbour, Treasure Cay, and particularly the Mudd and Pines communities suffered catastrophically. Recovery is ongoing but incomplete in some areas. Some businesses and infrastructure rebuilt and re-opened; others have not.
• Car rental is available at MHH; book ahead in peak season as inventory is limited.
• From Marsh Harbour, reaching Hope Town takes about 15 minutes by taxi to the ferry dock, 15 minutes on the ferry, and 10 minutes by golf cart. Albury's Ferry Service runs all-day scheduled ferries from Marsh Harbour to Hope Town and Man-O-War Cay. For more on inter-cay connections, see Abacos Getting Around