The Bahamas Signs Air Transport Agreement With The USA

The initial bilateral Air Transport Agreement between the Government of the United States of America (USA) and the Government of the Commonwealth of The Bahamas was announced on January 27, 2020.

Signed in Nassau, The Bahamas, by the Assistant Secretary Manisha Singh and Bahamian Minister of Tourism and Aviation Dionisio D’Aguilar, the agreement establishes a modern civil aviation relationship with The Bahamas, consistent with U.S. Open Skies international aviation policy. 

This agreement includes unrestricted capacity and frequency of services, open route rights, a liberal charter regime, and open code-sharing opportunities.

The Agreement commits both governments to high standards of aviation safety and security. 

As of February 1, 2020, the USA has reciprocal air transport agreements with over 125 partners. 

This is important news since the Bahamas Ministry of Tourism & Aviation reported the highest number of international arrivals ever on March 21, 2019. Air capacity grew with a solid seat growth from the best-connected international markets - the U.S.A. (+23.9%) and Canada (+12.7%).

The US Department of State, working with the Departments of Transportation and Commerce, negotiates agreements with foreign governments that provide the framework for commercial air service.

America’s Open Skies policy has gone hand-in-hand with U.S. airline globalization.  

By allowing U.S. air carriers unlimited market access to our partners’ markets as well as rights to fly to points in between and beyond, Open Skies agreements provide maximum operational flexibility worldwide for U.S. airlines.

Last year, the State Department published various Travel Advisories for the Bahamas. 

On November 26, 2019, the Exercise Increased Caution advisory for the Bahamas is related to increased risks on some of the 16 islands.

And recently, one of The Bahamas' Caribbean neighbors, the Republic of Cuba, suspended most air carrier options with the USA.

The U.S. Department of Transportation announced on January 10, 2020, the suspension until further notice of all public charter flights between the USA and Cuban destinations, other than Havana’s José Martí International Airport.

Furthermore, from a health-risk perspective, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) included The Bahamans in its January 3, 2020 ‘Global Measles Outbreak Travel Alert. The CDC also suggests various travel-related vaccines when visiting The Bahamas.

And recently, guests sailing on the Disney Dream cruise ship received a letter in their stateroom on February 1, 2020, regarding a newly initiated travel restriction in The Bahamas, as a result of the coronavirus outbreak.

According to this passenger notice, Disney’s letter says ‘The Bahamas will NOT allow anyone to disembark in a Bahamian port of call if they have been to mainland China in the past 20 days.’ 

‘For Disney Cruise Line guests, this notice will also apply to Nassau, and Castaway Cay.’

The Bahamas travel medication and vaccine news published by Vax-Before-Travel.