After more than 20 years of suspended operations, Bahamasair has officially relaunched regular scheduled service between New Providence and Cat Island, launching a twice-weekly route that operates every Thursday and Sunday. The resumption of this critical air link marks a major milestone for the island’s community and economy, with top Bahamian government leaders hailing the move as a key step forward for inclusive national development.
Prime Minister Philip “Brave” Davis emphasized that the newly launched route, which began operations on the day of the official launch event, delivers transformative benefits for both Cat Island residents and local businesses. “Today, we gather to celebrate the reopening of this route that bridges distances and brings communities closer together,” Davis stated during the ceremony. “It removes longstanding barriers for residents traveling for medical care, business opportunities, and family visits, boosting daily convenience and strengthening the social and economic ties that connect all of our Bahamian islands. This new air link unlocks unprecedented pathways to long-term economic growth.”
Davis highlighted that Cat Island’s rich cultural history and unspoiled natural landscapes offer travelers a one-of-a-kind authentic Bahamian getaway, and expanded air access will open the island up to a far larger pool of domestic and international visitors. Beyond tourism, improved connectivity stands to lift small business owners across the island, from hoteliers and restaurant operators to taxi drivers and local entrepreneurs, who will all see gains from rising visitor foot traffic, he added.
The prime minister stressed that the restored Cat Island route embodies his administration’s core promise to ensure every island across the archipelago shares in the country’s overall development progress. The government continues to make targeted investments to expand air lift capacity, modernize aging airport facilities, and upgrade core transportation infrastructure across every island chain, he noted. Under the ambitious national Renaissance Airport Project, the government is currently overseeing new construction and full renovations for 19 airports across the country, with additional upgrade projects already in the planning pipeline. Davis also shared that Cat Island has seen a notable uptick in local development in recent months, with the island’s administration and planning team processing and approving an average of 20 new residential construction applications monthly.
Aviation Minister Jobeth Coleby-Davis expanded on the strategic importance of the route, noting that for an island nation spread across an archipelago, reliable air connectivity is not just a convenience—it is a foundational requirement for national growth. Restoring scheduled service to Cat Island will not only improve inter-island connectivity, it will also unlock the untapped economic potential of Arthur’s Town and the northern region of Cat Island, she explained. “You cannot build a strong, resilient national economy when people cannot move easily between islands,” Coleby-Davis said. “You cannot grow a thriving tourism sector when the world cannot easily reach your most beautiful destinations.”
Tourism Minister Glenys Hanna-Martin added key context to the economic opportunity, pointing out that stopover overnight visitors generate far greater economic activity than cruise passengers. On average, a cruise passenger spends approximately $100 during their visit, while an overnight stopover visitor spends an average of $2,700—driving far more revenue for local businesses and communities.
New tourism data points to already strong growing momentum for Cat Island’s tourism sector. Projections for 2026 show The Bahamas is on track to welcome 908,397 stopover visitors by the end of the year, marking a 3.2% increase compared to 2025 and a 2.8% increase compared to pre-pandemic 2019 levels. For Cat Island specifically, air arriving stopover visitors in the first four months of 2026 jumped 68% compared to the same period in 2019, and recorded a 9% increase compared to 2025. That growth rate gives Cat Island the fastest percentage growth in international air stopover arrivals of any destination in The Bahamas. Hanna-Martin reaffirmed the government’s ongoing commitment to investing in infrastructure upgrades and marketing Cat Island as a premier, off-the-beaten-path tourism destination for global travelers.