The Tribune

By NEIL HARTNELL

Tribune Business Editor

nhartnell@tribunemedia.net

Airlines yesterday warned travellers to brace for flights to take up to three times’ longer than normal due to “unusual delays” caused by ongoing runway repairs at The Bahamas’ major airport.

Western Air, in an advisory to passengers, said a flight from Freeport to Nassau “that typically takes 35 minutes” is “now averaging up to one hour and 30 minutes” with Lynden Pindling International Airport (LPIA) reduced temporarily to just one functioning major runway while the other remains closed for critical infrastructure and safety rehabilitation.

The carrier, which said it has even had “to divert flights” cases because it took too long to obtain clearance to land in Nassau, was backed by Anthony Hamilton, the Bahamas Association of Air Transport Operators president, who told Tribune Business this newspaper would be “amazed” by the impact of the increased air traffic congestion that has resulted from runway 14/32’s closure.

He disclosed that flights are having to carry extra fuel to cover the extra time they are now circling New Providence waiting to be cleared for landing, or spending on the taxi-way waiting to take-off. This, Mr Hamilton said, means airlines are incurring extra costs while also losing customer “goodwill” due to the travel delays and inconvenience many are experiencing during The Bahamas’ peak winter tourism season.

However, none of this came as a surprise to the airlines. The Nassau Airport Development Company (NAD), LPIA’s operator, warned on January 29, 2025, that the $10m runway upgrade would start on February 3 and was targeted for completion before the Easter weekend climax to the peak winter tourism season.

NAD yesterday acknowledged that “some extended wait times” for both incoming and outgoing aviation traffic were inevitable, given that the airport is down to just one major runway, but reiterated that the impact is only temporary while “safety and operational efficiency” are its key priorities in relation to the project.

And senior resort and tourism officials told Tribune Business they have received no visitor complaints, or seen any negative impact to their business, from LPIA-related flight delays. Robert Sands, Baha Mar’s senior vice-president of government and external affairs, said some increased wait times were not surprising given that LPIA “has the largest number of landings and take-offs in the Caribbean” to manage.

Western Air, though, in a ‘passenger advisory’ detailing the impacts from temporarily losing runway 14/32, said the delays were placing “added strain” on flight crews and making it challenging to offer scheduled flights. It added that it has had to “reaccommodate” passengers on at least two flights.

“The closure of Runway 14/32 at Lynden Pindling International Airport (LPIA) has resulted in unusual delays within our operations,” the statement read. “With only one runway in use for the past few weeks, the congestion and extended ground time it takes to take-off and land, combined with a full flight schedule and standard crew duty time limitations, has resulted in delays and reaccommodations on select flights, including today’s flight 716 and 718.

“We will continue to do our best to maintain our entire schedule. However these extended wait times have impacted our ability to offer our usual on-time experience. For reference, a flight that typically takes 35 minutes from Freeport to Nassau is now averaging up to one hour and 30 minutes and, in some cases, we have had to divert flights due to prolonged wait times for clearance to land.

“These delays also place added strain on our flight crews, whose available duty hours are regulated to ensure safety and compliance. More duty time spent on the ground waiting limits the flights they’re able to complete,” Western Air added.

“Ticketed passengers should continue to check in as usual, as most flights are operating as planned. However, delays may occur on select days and timeframes, depending on traffic volume on the single active runway at LPIA. We recognise these delays are an inconvenience and we deeply appreciate your patience and understanding. Your time is very valuable to us.

“We understand that runway 14/32 is expected to re-open by the end of the month, and we will continue to provide updates as we receive them.” Mr Hamilton, meanwhile, echoed Western Air’s concerns over flight delays and the increased aviation traffic congestion at LPIA due to runway 14/32’s temporary loss.

“If you took a trip you’d be amazed because flights are coming in and almost having to go back to their destination because of the runway situation,” he told Tribune Business. “It’s a real bad situation.... Some operators, in particular, are carrying extra fuel because they don’t know how much time they will be circling so that is an extra cost that they are bearing.

“They are almost in Nassau and have to be diverted back to where they came from almost. It’s happening, particularly for the domestic carriers. It’s a particularly distressing situation that the airlines face. They air traffic controllers are doing a yeoman’s job with it. They are constantly in contact, and we are advised of some of the challenges they are having so that we are better prepared to address it.

“But the fact we are incurring expenses by having to carry and bring extra fuel, and the delays, it’s having a tangible impact. Then you have the intangible impact because goodwill towards your business becomes a challenge. It’s a real experience.”

Asked to compare this temporary disruption to similar past incidents, Mr Hamilton replied: “I don’t know if I’m in a position to say it’s the worst, but at this stage of our development we should not be experiencing this. We should have a solution and be having a better experience.”

Pointing out that the runway repairs are taking place in the middle of the peak winter tourism season, and coinciding with Spring Break, he added: “The bigger the traffic, the greater the impact is going to be. The quicker this is finished, the better for all of us. We’re dealing with seasons, and operators use this season’s time to maximise their revenues and, equally, to give best quality service.

“A lot of us think passengers booked yesterday. Some of them booked a year out. We don’t have the ability to make ‘on a dime’ adjustments; the schedule is already set. If we don’t execute the flight, we have some responsibility with respect to accommodation and are still out-of-pocket.”

Mr Hamilton said the delays were also causing problems for Family Island connectivity through Nassau, and the ability of passengers to catch same-day flights to other destinations or link with international carriers leaving the capital. He said carriers were also being forced to transport passengers by ground from Family Island airports that lack lights for night flying to those that do.

NAD, in response, said: “Major upgrades continue on Runway 14/32 at Lynden Pindling International Airport (LPIA). The project, which began on February 3, 2025, is a critical part of the airport’s long-term infrastructure improvements aimed at enhancing safety and operational efficiency.

“As previously advised, travellers may experience delays during peak operational periods. While every effort is being made to minimise disruptions, we acknowledge that a project of this scope and scale can result in some extended wait times.

“The public is also reminded that various factors, including weather, contribute to airport delays. LPIA is also unique because of the mix of large commercial and small private aircraft utilising our airport infrastructure which can further impact wait times,” NAD added.

“This work is critical to fully supporting and enhancing LPIA’s current operations and future growth as an airport. Nassau Airport Development Company (NAD) continues to work closely with all stakeholders to manage operations as efficiently as possible during this period. Further updates will be provided next week.”

Mr Sands, too, agreed that airport safety was the paramount concern rather than any temporary disruption. “I’ve been in regular communication with NAD, and I’ve been informed there’s no delay with regard to the project or the work,” the Baha Mar executive told Tribune Business.

“It’s been proceeding very well. I understand the work is on schedule and may be completed on time and even ahead of schedule. We have not received any issues on that particular point [delays]. We have not been advised, nor have we received, any complaints regarding this particular issue. Airport safety is critical, and any repairs necessary should be done expeditiously because safety is of paramount importance.

“LPIA has the largest number of take-offs and landings in the Caribbean, which may impact the distancing between aircraft for landing and take-off and, in some instances, result in extended time periods but this has nothing specifically to so with the work going on on the ground in terms of effecting essential repairs.” BHM (Bahamas Hot Mix) is the contractor spearheading the runway upgrades.

Hinsey McKenzie, the Bahamas Air Traffic Controllers Union president, said the loss of one runway has caused his members to work harder. He added that early morning and late night flights escape the midday traffic and congestion at LPIA which has seen an increase in traffic typical for this time of year because of winter tourism.

“It’s impacting controllers because it’s making us work harder. We have to put a space in for them to clear the runway and all of that,” Mr McKenzie said. “So it’s making the controller work much harder, believe you me. It’s been extremely busy because there’s only one runway. There isn’t much turn off. The infrastructure is not there for taxi-ways. So we’re having to wait longer.

“Some days are busy. Like today is pretty much not that busy, which means I could work with them on traffic. But when you see it get busy, like you’ll have 16 waiting for departure, and the distance in between aircraft landing takes up a lot of time. We have to put in almost ten miles in between.

“Where, if we had turn-offs, we only had to leave like five miles. We have to increase the distance so we get one off one end. So we’ll get one departure to one arrival. But most airlines has been given this information before they had the closure to let them know they can expect delays due to the one runway situation,” Mr McKenzie said.

“It’s no way of working around it. Remember, this is our Spring Break season, so we have a lot of extra traffic coming into Nassau. Hopefully, by the end of this month, when we expect another runway to be open, we should be able to go back to normal.

“I suggest that you go early, then to go later in the day, because later in the day is where we have most of our traffic back ups. Late at night is much easier because you won’t have that much traffic congestion.”