Getting There

Nassau: Lynden Pindling International Airport (NAS)

Nassau is the primary international gateway to the Bahamas, handling the vast majority of international arrivals. Virtually all travelers visiting any Bahamian island will pass through Nassau at least once unless arriving by private vessel or on a direct connection to Freeport.

NAS has two US Preclearance facilities operated by US Customs and Border Protection, which means travelers can clear US customs and immigration in Nassau before departure, arriving into the US on a domestic terminal rather than an international one. This is a significant practical convenience.

Freeport: Grand Bahama International Airport (FPO)

Freeport receives direct international service, primarily from Florida. It is the preferred entry point for travelers headed to Grand Bahama island and also serves as an alternative gateway for travelers who want to avoid Nassau entirely.

Family Islands: Direct Entry

Several Family Islands have international airports that receive limited direct service from the US, primarily from Florida. The main ones worth knowing about:

Abacos: Treasure Cay (TCB), Marsh Harbour/Leonard M. Thompson (MHH), and Sandy Point (YAS)
Andros: Andros Town (ASD), San Andros (SAQ), and South Andros (TZN)
Berry Islands: Great Harbour Cay (GHC) and Chub Cay (CCZ)
Bimini: South Bimini (BIM) and North Bimini (NSB)
Cat Island: New Bight (TBI)
Eleuthera and Harbour Island: Governor's Harbour (GHB) and North Eleuthera (ELH)
Exumas: Exuma International (GGT) and Staniel Cay (TYM)
Long Island: Stella Maris (SML) and Deadman's Cay (LGI)
Acklins and Crooked Island: Spring Point (AXP), Pitts Town Point (PWN), and Crooked Hill (CRI)
Inagua: Inagua International (IGA)
Mayaguana: Mayaguana (MYG)
Rum Cay: Port Nelson (RCY)
San Salvador: San Salvador (ZSA)
Ragged Island: Duncan Town (DCT)

Direct flights to Family Islands are typically on smaller regional carriers and require more advance planning. See Compare Islands and individual island articles for current route detail.

From the United States

The Bahamas has among the best US air connectivity of any Caribbean destination, reflecting its proximity and the volume of American visitors.

Major US carriers serving Nassau include American Airlines (from Miami, Charlotte, Philadelphia), Delta (from Atlanta), United (from Newark, Houston), JetBlue (from Boston, New York JFK, Fort Lauderdale), and Southwest (from Orlando and other Florida cities). Frontier and Spirit serve Nassau from select US cities.

From Florida specifically, multiple daily flights operate from Miami International (MIA) and Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International (FLL). Flight time from Miami to Nassau is about 45 minutes. From Atlanta: about 2 hours. From New York: about 3 hours. From Chicago: about 3.5 to 4 hours.

American Airlines added three daily flights to the Bahamas as of July 2026.

Bahamasair operates scheduled service between the US and Nassau, as well as extensive inter-island routes. Bahamasair offers nonstop service from Fort Lauderdale to North Eleuthera. Makers Air operates daily flights from Fort Lauderdale to Out Islands, including scheduled service to Arthur's Town, Cat Island (beginning May 12, 2026) and New Bight, Cat Island (daily starting November 1), as well as three days weekly to Stella Maris Airport on Long Island (Tuesday, Thursday, Sunday, starting November 2).

Breeze Airways operates twice-weekly nonstop service from Tampa International Airport (TPA) to Nassau. Service runs Thursdays and Sundays from September 2026 through June 2027, then expands to four times weekly (Sundays, Mondays, Thursdays, Fridays) from July onwards. This marks the first nonstop jet service between Tampa and Nassau in over 20 years. Flight time is about 52 minutes. Introductory one-way fares start at $99 when booking before February 3, 2027.

Breeze Airways also operates twice-weekly nonstop service from Raleigh-Durham (RDU) to Nassau beginning June 30, operating Wednesdays and Saturdays on Airbus A220-300 aircraft seating 137 passengers.

Avelo Airlines launched twice-weekly nonstop service from Raleigh-Durham (RDU) to Nassau beginning June 2026, with fares starting at $84 each way. This marks the first direct flight on the RDU-Nassau route.

Tradewind Aviation operates daily nonstop service from Fort Lauderdale (FLL) to Nassau year-round, beginning December 10. The flights depart from Sheltair FBO at Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport and arrive at Lynden Pindling International Airport on New Providence Island. Flight time is 48 minutes. Fares start at $299 one-way plus taxes and fees. Tradewind operates Pilatus PC-12 turboprops seating up to eight passengers. The airline also operates daily Fort Lauderdale service to Marsh Harbour and North Eleuthera, with overall 30% expansion of its Bahamas flight schedule. Additionally, Tradewind runs daily Stuart, Florida-Nassau flights (Thursday to Monday, year-round) at the same pricing as Fort Lauderdale service.

American Airlines offers nonstop service from Miami (MIA) to Bimini, with flights scheduled three times weekly (Mondays, Wednesdays, Saturdays) on Embraer 175 aircraft. Flight time is approximately 30 minutes, with the inaugural flight having clocked 17 minutes 42 seconds. Service launched February 14, 2026, and includes premium and main cabin options. American Eagle operates the route with a 1-1 first class and 2-2 economy configuration.

Southwest Airlines operates twice-weekly nonstop service from Austin-Bergstrom International Airport to Nassau on Saturdays and Sundays. Service launched June 5, 2027, running through June and July 2027.

Aztec Airways operates daily year-round service from Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport to Leonard M. Thompson Airport (Marsh Harbour, Abaco). Flights depart Fort Lauderdale at 9 a.m. and depart Marsh Harbour at 10:30 a.m. The airline operates from a private terminal at Fort Lauderdale with free parking and expedited boarding, and serves five major Out-Island destinations with 10 total stops across the Bahamas. Aztec Airways adds service to Treasure Cay on Sundays, Wednesdays, and Fridays (about 40 minutes from Marsh Harbour). Flight frequencies adjust seasonally based on peak travel demand.

From Canada

Air Canada and WestJet operate seasonal direct service from Toronto (YYZ) to Nassau. Porter Airlines provides seasonal nonstop service from Montréal to Nassau, launched early 2026. Direct service from other Canadian cities is less common and often seasonal. Many Canadian travelers connect through a US hub.

From Mexico

Aeroméxico launches nonstop service between Mexico City and Nassau beginning March 19, 2027, marking the first scheduled nonstop connection between Mexico and the Bahamas. Flight AM740 departs Mexico City at 9:10 a.m. and arrives Nassau at 3:00 p.m. Return flight AM741 departs Nassau at 4:15 p.m. and arrives Mexico City at 6:30 p.m. Service operates Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays. Aircraft deployed include Boeing 737-800, 737 MAX 8, and 737 MAX 9 models configured for 160 to 166 passengers. Previously, travelers from Mexico required connections through the United States or Panama to reach the Bahamas. Mexico City International Airport handles over 44 million passengers annually and serves as an Aeroméxico hub connecting to 100+ destinations across the Americas, Europe, Asia, and the Middle East.

From the United Kingdom and Europe

British Airways and Virgin Atlantic operate seasonal direct service between London Gatwick (LGW) and Nassau. Flight time is about 9.5 to 10 hours. European travelers outside the UK typically connect through a US hub or via London.

Regional Caribbean Connections

InterCaribbean Airways and other regional carriers connect Nassau with other Caribbean islands including Turks and Caicos, Cuba, and Haiti.

Cruise Arrivals

Nassau is one of the busiest cruise ports in the Caribbean. Cruise ships dock at Prince George Wharf in downtown Nassau, within walking distance of Bay Street and the historic centre. Cruise passengers typically clear immigration through the ship rather than at a standalone facility.

Coco Cay (Royal Caribbean's private island in the Berry Islands), Half Moon Cay (Holland America), and Great Stirrup Cay (Norwegian Cruise Line) are among the private island destinations in the Bahamas served exclusively by cruise passengers.

Ferry from Florida

Balearia Caribbean operates a high-speed ferry service from Fort Lauderdale (Port Everglades Terminal 21, 2021 Eller Drive) to Freeport and to Bimini. The Bimini ferry journey takes approximately 2 hours. Sailings operate Sundays, Wednesdays, and Fridays in both directions. Outbound departure is 9:00 a.m., arriving at Port Alice, North Bimini at 11:00 a.m. Return departure is 6:00 p.m., arriving Fort Lauderdale at 8:00 p.m. Round-trip prices start at $180. The vessel is named Jaume II. Valid passport required for US citizens; US residents need a valid Green Card and passport of citizenship. Check-in opens 6:00 a.m. and closes 8:00 a.m. from Fort Lauderdale; Bimini check-in requires arrival minimum 1 hour before departure. Carry-on allowance is 22 x 18 x 10 inches, max 26.5 pounds. Pets and vehicles, bicycles, and scooters are permitted onboard. This is a practical option for travelers who want a short getaway without flying, or who want to transport vehicles.

The Fort Lauderdale to Grand Bahamas ferry journey takes approximately 3 hours, with round-trip prices starting from $230.

Tropic Ocean Airways operates seaplane day trips to Bimini from Fort Lauderdale, departing Saturdays starting February 21, 2026. Flight time is 25 minutes each way. Standard price is $650 per person; promotional rate of $550 per person was available before March 1, 2026. Departures are 8:30 a.m. from Fort Lauderdale, landing at North Bimini Seaplane Base at 9:00 a.m., with return departure at 5:00 p.m. and arrival back in Fort Lauderdale at 5:30 p.m. Eight hours on island are included. Free valet parking and private lobby access with WiFi, snacks, and beverages are included. Booking is available at BahamasInADay.com.

Air Charter and Regional Service

Tropic Ocean Airways offers same-day service between Florida and Bimini, launched in April 2026.

Private Aviation and Boating

The Bahamas is extensively served by private aviation. Many charter and private aircraft operators serve the archipelago from South Florida, and there is a large community of private pilots who regularly fly to the Bahamas under VFR. Entry requirements for private aircraft include clearing customs and immigration at a designated port of entry.

Private boaters enter under cruising permit arrangements. The Bahamas has historically allowed vessels to obtain a cruising permit valid for multiple islands for a single entry fee. See Entry Requirements and the Bahamas Customs and Immigration website for current requirements.

Practical Arrival Notes

US Preclearance at Nassau: if departing Nassau back to the US, clearing customs in Nassau means arriving on a domestic flight into the US, faster and simpler than international arrivals.
Connections to Family Islands: if Nassau is not your final destination, allow adequate connection time for domestic Bahamasair, Makers Air, or charter flights. Nassau's domestic terminal is separate from the international terminal.
Baggage: on small inter-island aircraft, baggage weight limits are strictly enforced and may be lower than US carriers' standard allowances.