Private aviation Reeling After Prices Triple

A new fee schedule under the Bahamas Customs Management Regulations 2024 popped eyeballs with manifold increases over previous fees, with inbound flights tripling in cost - or worse.

Given the Bahamas' interesting relationship with private aviation, those in the know bemoan a surprise turn that could put a real dent in the amount of small aircraft traffic they get from the mainland. Before, Bahamian Customs levied a $50 USD fee for inbound flights, with outbound permits costing nothing. Now, commercial aircraft with jet power have to pay a $50 inbound and $50 outbound fee. Worse for the little guys, small 4 seater aircraft now pay $75 each way, for a $150 total for the round trip. Those with more than 4 seats see that one kicked up to $150 both ways, for a total of $300 just for stopping by.

The Bahamas are a prime tourist destination for light planes looking for a fun, equatorial cross country trip. One expert in the niche, the Bahama Out Island Promotion Board director Kerry Fountain, said that Florida state alone provided 95,000 GA visitors to the islands in 2023 alone. All in all, in fact, the Bahamas enjoyed 323,000 stopovers by private plane, thanks to the affordable flying and easy access. Now, he warns, another round of fee increases will change the calculus for aircraft owners stateside.

“What we are doing as we continue to increase these fees is really doing away with our major competitive advantage, which is proximity,” said Fountain to Bahamian media. “We’re doing that by increasing fees without consulting our partners."

The new fee schedule was doubly damaging to the industry, since there was little indication or consultation with anyone before the new charges appeared for 2024.

“It’s not that they cannot afford to pay the difference. It’s just that they need to be consulted, and because they feel slighted they will fly beyond us. Every time we increase fees, whether it is Customs or aviation fees, what we are doing is eliminating our competitive advantage.”

FMI: www.myoutislands.com