The Lynden Pindling International Airport (LPIA) in the Bahamas has shattered its previous records by handling an impressive 4.06 million passengers during the fiscal year 2024.

This new high surpasses the airport former record of 3.99 million passengers set in Fiscal Year 2019, underscoring its robust post-pandemic recovery and growth.

Record-Breaking Performance

LPIA outstanding performance in FY 2024 highlights a significant rebound in passenger traffic.

The airport had previously set a calendar year record of 4.1 million passengers in 2019, and it is on track to exceed that number by the end of 2024.

This increase reflects a broader trend of recovery and growth, as the global travel industry continues to rebound from the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Passenger Growth and Sector Breakdown

The Bahamian tourism officials revealed that the total number of passengers increased by 9.27 percent year-on-year across all travel sectors, including U.S., international, and domestic flights.

Specifically, the breakdown for FY 2024 is as follows:

U.S. Sector: 2,863,556 passengers

International Sector: 449,988 passengers

Domestic Sector: 747,388 passengers

This represents a marked increase from previous years, with FY 2022 recording 2.8 million passengers and FY 2023 achieving a record 3.7 million.

Strategic Efforts and Partnerships

Vernice Walkine, President and CEO of Nassau Airport Development Company (NAD), attributed the record-breaking success to strategic initiatives and collaborative efforts with industry partners.

According to Walkine, several factors contributed to the airport exceptional performance:

New Services: Introduction of new routes to the destination.

Increased Capacity: Expansion of seat capacity on existing routes.

Seasonal Routes: Enhanced seasonal services providing greater access to Nassau.

Walkine expressed her delight at the airport best fiscal year ever, noting that the demand for Nassau has remained robust post-pandemic.

Major airlines have responded to this demand by increasing their seat capacity, further boosting LPIA performance.

Seat Capacity Expansion

During FY 2024, LPIA total seat capacity reached 6.379 million, marking an 18 percent increase from the previous year and an 11 percent rise compared to 2019 levels.

The breakdown of seat capacity includes:

U.S. Sector: 4.1 million seats, a 16 percent increase since 2019.

International Sector: 1.036 million seats, up 41 percent from 2019.

Walkine noted that LPIA capacity has exceeded pre-pandemic levels, thanks in large part to the collaborative efforts with airline partners.

This has enabled the airport to accommodate the increased airlift.

Ongoing Success and Future Prospects

The impressive performance continues into FY 2025, with July 2024 alone seeing 412,234 passengers an increase of 2.8 percent compared to the same month in the previous year.

This early indication of continued growth highlights the ongoing success and strong demand for travel to Nassau.

A significant milestone

Lynden Pindling International Airport achievement of handling 4.06 million passengers in FY 2024 represents a significant milestone and a testament to its successful recovery and growth strategy.

The record performance, driven by increased capacity, strategic route expansions, and robust partnerships, underscores LPIA position as a leading airport in the Caribbean.

Travelers and industry stakeholders should continue to monitor updates from LPIA and NAD for further developments and enhancements.

For more information, visit the official Lynden Pindling International Airport website and the Nassau Airport Development Company website.

Source : Tourism Africa