Bahamas implements new fees on private aircraft
On July 01, 2024 a number of new fees will go into effect for private flights to The Bahamas which will significantly increase the cost for flying a private aircraft to the country. New/increased fees are never welcome by aircraft operators, but these fee increases are significant and we want to make aircraft operators aware. In addition, Click2Clear which was shelved 2 years ago is now back on the table with clear intent by The Bahamas government to implement it. For those not familiar, Click2Clear is an App which all private pilots would have to utilize (mandatory) to enter The Bahamas. Our personal tests and review of the App 2 years ago were not good, and we consider it an onerous and unfriendly system which will needlessly complicate the process for traveling to the country.

Bear in mind that we are still in June and we hope that The Bahamas government will reconsider IMPLEMENTING all of these fees and apps but July 01 is just a few days away.

THE NEW CUSTOMS FEES
Bahamas Customs plans to implement new processing fees as follows:
Regularly scheduled airlines $50 inbound and $50 outbound
Private aircraft with 4 seats or less in the cabin $75 inbound and $75 outbound
Private aircraft with more than 4 seats in the cabin $150 inbound and $150 outbound
Flights for RECREATIONAL purpose only $150
There is no guidance on the definitions above and how they are applied. Bahamas Customs has historically defined a “commercial” aircraft as those registered in the name of a company, not necessarily by the type of operation you are performing (Part 91 versus Part 135). Nonetheless, it is difficult to comprehend how an airline flying a Boeing 737 with 180 passengers would pay less than a private aircraft under any of the definitions above.

THE NEW AIRPORT FEES
The Bahamas government is planning to privatize their national airports by handing them over to private companies to operate. On July 01, 2024 the Bimini International Airport (MYBS) will be operated by Bimini Airport Development Partners Limited under a 30 year concession. Fees were first published on April 26 but were revised slightly and re-published on May 03. When you consider the new Bahamas Customs fees and the new Bimini airport fees (May 03), the cost for a Beechcraft A36 Bonanza with 1 pilot and 3 passengers on a 4-night trip could reach over $700 USD in fees depending on how the new fees are applied. This makes destinations like Providenciales in the Turks and Caicos Islands look much more appealing. If you are flying a small jet, then things get even uglier more quickly. If this is indicative of what other Bahamian airports will be charging as they become privatized, then pilots should budget accordingly as they plan their trips to The Bahamas.

The other airports being planned for privatization are:
Marsh Harbour, Abaco (MYAM)
Sandy Point International Airport, Abaco (MYAS)
Treasure Cay Airport, Abaco (MYAT)
Congo Town Airport, Andros (MYAK)
New Bight International Airport, Cat Island (MYCB)
Governor’s Harbour International Airport, Eleuthera (MYEM)
North Eleuthera International Airport , Eleuthera (MYEH)
Rock Sound International Airport, Eleuthera (MYER)
Black Point, Exuma (MYEB)
Exuma International Airport, Exuma (MYEF)
Farmer’s Cay Airport, Exuma (MYE3)
Staniel Cay, Exuma (MYES)
Deadman’s Cay Airport, Long Island (MYLD)
San Salvador International Airport, San Salvador (MYSM)

CST Flight Services (Formerly: Caribbean Sky Tours)
www.cstflightservices.com