For Immediate Release
Nassau, Bahamas – October 20, 2024 – The Nassau Airport Development Company (NAD) will conduct a simulated full-scale emergency exercise at Lynden Pindling International Airport (LPIA) on Thursday, October 24, starting at approximately 8:00 p.m. This exercise is a key component of the airport’s Safety Management System and emergency response plan and must be carried out every two years, as required by both The International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) and the Civil Aviation Authority Bahamas (CAA-B) to ensure preparedness for real-life aviation emergencies.
The emergency exercise at LPIA is a critical training opportunity for emergency responders to practice managing a complex aviation incident in real time. By simulating a crash scenario, the exercise will provide responders with valuable hands-on experience in coordinating emergency procedures and managing resources during a crisis.
Jonathan Hanna, Vice President of Operations at NAD, highlighted the importance of the exercise as part of LPIA’s ongoing commitment to safety and compliance with international and local aviation regulations. “Regularly scheduled emergency exercises like this one are not only a regulatory requirement but also essential to ensuring that our airport and its stakeholders are fully prepared to respond swiftly and effectively to actual emergencies,” Hanna explained. “During the exercise, we will work closely with stakeholders to test the response capabilities of various agencies. It provides an opportunity for all entities to practice their roles in a controlled environment, enhancing our readiness for any potential incidents.”
Planning an exercise of this scale requires months of preparation and close coordination among numerous agencies to simulate a realistic emergency response. Cleavon Nixon, NAD’s Manager of Safety & Emergency Operations, provided insight into the level of preparation required for the event. “Preparing for this drill takes months of planning. We work closely with our partners to ensure every detail is covered. This training not only enhances our emergency response skills but also strengthens the relationships and communication channels among all agencies,” Nixon stated.
A total of 14 agencies will participate in this year’s drill, including Nassau Airport Development, Airport Authority, Bahamas Air Navigational Services Authority, National Emergency Medical Services, Public Hospitals Authority, Royal Bahamas Police Force, Royal Bahamas Defence Force, Air Accident Investigation Authority, Bahamas Immigration, Bahamas Customs, Department of Meteorology, United States Embassy, United States Customs and Border Protection Services, and the Disaster Risk Management Authority.
Recruits from the Royal Bahamas Police Force will participate as volunteer actors, portraying passengers, family members, and friends to make the scenario more realistic.
The full-scale emergency exercise underscores LPIA’s commitment to the safety of its passengers, staff, and the wider community. By rigorously testing its emergency response protocols, LPIA is better equipped to handle unexpected incidents with professionalism and efficiency.
Ahead of the event, the public is advised that the exercise will involve significant emergency activity, including flashing lights, sirens, and emergency vehicles travelling to and from the airport and on the airfield. These activities are part of the exercise and do not indicate an actual emergency. NAD assures travelers that the exercise will not affect regular flight operations.
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Photo caption 1: LPIA stakeholder to test emergency response during a simulated drill on Thursday October 24th at approximately 8 p.m.
Media Contacts:
Jan Knowles, Vice President, Marketing and Commercial Development Nassau Airport Development Company
Email: jan.knowles@nas.bs
Phone: 242 702 1000
For Immediate Release
Nassau, Bahamas – October 16, 2024 – Jan Knowles, Vice President of Marketing and Commercial Development at Nassau Airport Development Company (NAD), recently took part in a high-profile panel discussion at Routes World 2024, held in the Kingdom of Bahrain. The session, titled Meet the Hosts of 2025, featured Knowles along with other prominent aviation and tourism industry leaders, Antonio Martín-Machuca, Cooperation Manager for the Government of Andalusia in Spain, and Vivian Cheung, Acting CEO of Airport Authority Hong Kong.
The panel discussion centered on how the upcoming locations are gearing up to host major Routes-branded events next year. The Bahamas will host Routes Americas 2025 from February 10th-12th, the Government of Andalusia will host Routes Europe, and Hong Kong will be the site of Routes World 2025. Each panelist shared insights into their destination’s strategies and preparations, offering a glimpse into the unique experiences that await attendees.
Speaking on behalf of The Bahamas, Knowles highlighted the country’s excitement about hosting Routes Americas for the second time in February 2025. “The Bahamas is thrilled to welcome Routes Americas once again, following our first time as hosts in 2012. At that time, our airport was in the middle of a major infrastructural upgrade. Now, with significant growth and expansion on the horizon, the timing is perfect,” she said.
Routes Americas 2025 will bring together around 1,000 delegates, including airports, airlines, and tourism officials from across the globe, to discuss and explore new route development opportunities. Key partners for The Bahamas event include NAD, the Ministry of Tourism, Aviation and Investments, and the Nassau Paradise Island Promotion Board. The forum will take place at the iconic Atlantis resort, creating a vibrant setting for networking, collaboration, and industry advancement.
As The Bahamas continues to enhance its aviation and tourism infrastructure, the upcoming event represents a major opportunity to showcase the destination’s growth and commitment to facilitating global air service development.
Photo caption: NAD’s Vice President of Marketing & Commercial Development Jan Knowles (third from right) addresses aviation and tourism industry panel at Routes World 2024 in the Kingdom of Bahrain. Knowles discussed the upcoming Routes Americas 2025 event set for February 10-12 on Paradise Island. Picture l to r: Nico Spyrou, Head of Partnerships, Routes (moderator), Knowles, Antonio Martín-Machuca, Cooperation Manager for the Government of Andalusia in Spain and Vivian Cheung, Acting CEO of Airport Authority Hong Kong.
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Media Contacts:
Jan Knowles, Vice President, Marketing and Commercial Development
Nassau Airport Development Company
Email: jan.knowles@nas.bs
Phone: 242 702 1000
Nassau, Bahamas – August 30, 2024 –Nassau Airport Development Company (NAD) is set to host its annual Health & Safety Expo at Lynden Pindling International Airport (LPIA) on Friday, September 6th, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. In addition to airport stakeholders, staff and passengers, this year’s event will be open to the general public.
Focused on the theme of “Wellness With A Purpose”, organizers are aiming to raise awareness around crucial health and wellness topics, emphasizing the importance of personal well-being and workplace safety within the airport community. Attendees will have the opportunity to engage with various health and safety experts, participate in hands-on demonstrations, and access resources that will benefit them both professionally and personally. Major event partners include NAD, the Ministry of Health & Wellness, Doctors Hospital, the Bahamas Red Cross, and other corporate sponsors.
Commenting on the significance of the expo, Jonathan Hanna, Vice President of Operations at NAD stated, “As airport operators, we recognize that health and safety are critical components of our overall operation. This expo is an extension of NAD’s mission to foster positive relationships with our partners here at LPIA and to connect to the communities that we serve. By opening the event to the public for the first time, we are expanding our reach and making important resources accessible to a wider audience.”
The Health & Safety Expo will feature 14 vendor booths and will take place in Garden C at LPIA, between the US Departures and International Arrivals terminal buildings. Free parking will be available for attendees.
Photo: Airport community prepares for upcoming Health & Safety Expo on September 6th. Event is open to the public.
Media Contacts:
Jan Knowles, Vice President, Marketing and Commercial Development
Nassau Airport Development Company
Email: jan.knowles@nas.bs
Phone: 242 702 1000
History:
The Bahamas, an archipelago that is made up of hundreds of islands and cays, was discovered by Christopher Columbus in 1492. Columbus’ expedition was backed by King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella of Spain. Consequently, the islands were initially subject to the rule of the Spanish Government.
Thereafter, the Bahamian islands were ruled by America for a brief period and were finally possessed by Great Britain. After decades of debate and legal transactions, the Islands of The Bahamas were granted self-government by Great Britain in 1964. This was followed in 1969 with the Colony of the Bahamas becoming the Commonwealth of the Bahamas thus opening the door for full independence.
On July 10th 1973, after 300 years of being a colony, The Bahamas made the peaceful transition to nationhood by becoming an Independent Nation. Since the attainment of Independence in 1973, July 10th has been observed as a National Holiday across the archipelago and in Bahamian Foreign Missions.
NASSAU, BAHAMAS June 30, 2024— Lynden Pindling International Airport (LPIA) is proud to announce its recent reaccreditation by Airports Council International (ACI) for exceptional customer experience.
The airport is one of 19 facilities in the region to attain the mark of excellence for consistent delivery of outstanding service centered on the passenger experience. Having first received accreditation in 2019, the airport is being reaccredited post-pandemic accounting for the change in guest needs and expectations.
To obtain reaccreditation, participating airports undergo a thorough assessment of airport services, facilities, and overall guest satisfaction. Staff and stakeholders take part in a comprehensive review and training process focused on a 360˚ view of guest experience management.
Vernice Walkine, President & CEO at Nassau Airport Development Company (NAD) said the achievement underscores LPIA’s commitment to providing an extraordinary travel experience. “ Our operations are passenger-centric and we strive to exceed expectations at every touchpoint. As the first and last impression of our destination, we want to treat all of our passengers as guests,” Walkine said. “We are pleased to receive this reaccreditation, which is a testament to the hard work and dedication of our entire airport community. This certification reaffirms our commitment to creating a seamless and enjoyable journey for everyone who passes through our airport.”
Jonathan Hanna, Vice President of Operations at NAD emphasized the importance of continuous improvement: “At LPIA, we continue to use tools to measure guest experience. We have been using the globally recognized ASQ (Airport Service Quality) surveys for many years to better anticipate guest needs. Our goal is to build on this reaccreditation by implementing innovative solutions to further enhance the guest experience. We have an ambitious target of becoming a 5-star facility and we believe that we can get there by listening to our guests and meeting their needs at every step.”
As part of an ongoing commitment to enhancing guest experience, LPIA has implemented several initiatives aimed at improving guest satisfaction through investment in its people, technology and assets. These include bringing on additional guest service team members to assist the traveling public, guest experience training for front line staff, investing in technology to provide real-time information to passengers and a robust capital project plan aimed at making improvements to the facility.
Looking ahead, LPIA seeks to further improve guest experience by expanding amenities and focusing on accessibility, sustainability and overall guest convenience.
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Media Contacts:
Jan Knowles, Vice President, Marketing and Commercial Development
Nassau Airport Development Company
Email: jan.knowles@nas.bs
Phone: 242 702 1000
NASSAU, BAHAMAS June 10, 2024—In an effort to connect airport concessionaires with a pool of quality job candidates, Nassau Airport Development Company (NAD) and the Department of Labour recently collaborated to host a job fair. The event was held at the National Training Agency on Gladstone Road.
More than 15 employers, including major retail and food & beverage companies operating from Lynden Pindling International Airport (LPIA), were present and conducted on-the-spot interviews. The job fair saw an impressive turnout, with some 555 job seekers registering ahead of the event.
Vernice Walkine, President & CEO at NAD said the fair came about to address a pressing need for airport stakeholders to have access to quality employment candidates. Addressing the gaps in employment at LPIA is even more critical as the airport begins an exciting journey to becoming a 5-star facility.
“It’s important for us at LPIA to ensure that we have good employees because the airport is really all about improving the passenger experience, ensuring that we provide good customer service and we’re looking for good persons to help us achieve that,” Walkine said.
During the five-hour event, the Department of Labour’s team worked closely with NAD to ensure that all candidates had the proper documents and moved seamlessly through the process.
Matthew Knowles, Manager of My Ocean at LPIA commended NAD and the Department of Labour for facilitating the event and recognizing the important role airport workers play in the overall tourism product. “LPIA is the first impression that a tourist has of The Bahamas and its last impression. That’s very important.”
Knowles continued: “We are ahead of the curve in the tourism industry, there’s no question about that and LPIA is a reflection of that. As Bahamians we know what we are doing, especially in tourism and servicing the visitors to this country.”
Simone Thurston, Manager of the Public Employment Services Unit, Department of Labour thanked the team at NAD for partnering on the initiative. Her department also used the opportunity to augment their database in the event candidates are unsuccessful in securing employment at LPIA.
Given the positive feedback and successful outcome of the job fair, NAD and the Department of Labour are exploring opportunities for future collaborations. Plans are already underway for additional job fairs and recruitment events to continue supporting the employment needs of the airport and its partners.
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Video link: https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1fUGCRZU8a1HVfMXnb7sTidjM1kxZRE2U?usp=sharing
Speakers:
- Vernice Walkine, President & CEO, NAD
- Charlotte Knowles-Thompson, Marketing Coordinator, NAD
- Simone Thurston, Manager of the Public Employment Services Unit, Department of
Labour - Dion Miller, Food and Beverage Operations Manager, John Bull Group of Companies
- Matthew Knowles, Manager, My Ocean
Photos attached.
Photo Caption 1: LPIA Concessionaires participate in Job Fair to fill roles at airport outlets
Photo Caption 2: LPIA and the Department of Labour Connect Airport Tenants With 500+ Job Seekers
Photo Caption 3: Department of Labour teams up with LPIA to welcome more than 500 job fair candidates
Photo Caption 4: Hundreds turnout for LPIA concessionaires job fair held at the National Training Agency
Photo Caption 5: Job seekers connect with potential employers at LPIA Job Fair
Media Contacts:
Jan Knowles, Vice President, Marketing and Commercial Development
Nassau Airport Development Company
Email: jan.knowles@nas.bs
Phone: 242 702 1000
The Lynden Pindling International Airport in conjunction with the Department of Labour will host a Job Fair at the National Training Agency on Wednesday, May 29, from 9:00am to 2:00pm and we invite job seekers to join us.
Requirements are on the flyer and persons are asked to scan the QR Code to register.
Bahamian multidisciplinary artist John Beadle was known for his ability to translate his art across various mediums. In 2011, he joined a team of engineers as they installed his signature sculpture of a 3-piece rake n scrape band at Lynden Pindling International Airport. During the installation, the three, massive figures moved carefully along Windsor Field Road atop a flatbed truck and proved to be a stunning scene for onlookers wondering where these life-like figures were headed. Out of the cold concrete Beadle had carved a scene that evoked the rhythm and soul of a live performance. His piece, “Playing With The Spirits” is now an iconic part of our airport’s all Bahamian art program. Today, as we mourn the passing of this magnificent Bahamian artist, we remember John Beadle’s lasting contribution to our airport and to the world of art.
NASSAU, BAHAMAS March 25, 2024—This coming weekend, Lynden Pindling International Airport (LPIA) officials are expecting significant passenger traffic in terminal due to Easter holiday travel. Coming off of a strong spring break season, airport stakeholders are now preparing for an estimated 70,000-75,000 passengers between March 28 (Maundy Thursday) and April 1 (Easter Monday). In 2023, a total of 71,304 passengers were processed with 2,914 aircraft movements over the five-day period.
Jonathan Hanna, Vice President of Operations at Nassau Airport Development Company (NAD) said projections show heavy inbound and outbound traffic across all sectors at the airport over the holiday weekend.
“We’re anticipating strong performance across the US, international (non-US) and domestic travel sectors based on our forecasts for the Easter holiday peak,” Hanna said. “From an operational standpoint, we’ve held various meetings with key stakeholders to ensure that we are prepared to meet the increased passenger demand.”
LPIA stakeholders include Bahamas Immigration, Bahamas Customs, Airport Authority, US Customs & Border Protection (USCBP), Air Traffic Services (ATS), Airline Operators, the Royal Bahamas Police Force and the Road Traffic Department. Among the critical talking points during the discussions were proper staffing during peak periods, queue management in terminal and passenger flow from drop off to takeoff.
NAD advises travellers to arrive at LPIA three (3) hours ahead of US-bound flights and two (2) hours prior to international and domestic flights. For those seeking to book last minute flights, officials recommend traveling outside of the peak travel hours of 11:00am and 3:00pm where possible.
Drivers are reminded that vehicular traffic in front of the terminal is restricted to passenger loading and offloading only. No parking or waiting is permitted. Failure to comply may result in tickets being issued or vehicles being towed. To further reduce curbside congestion, drivers picking up arriving passengers from the airport are encouraged to utilize LPIA’s cell phone parking lot where they can wait up to sixty (60) minutes free of charge. Persons must remain in their vehicles at all times when using the cell phone waiting lot to avoid being towed.
For an optimal travel experience, passengers should stay connected to their airlines for the latest updates. For real time airport information, visit www.nassaulpia.com, follow the airport on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter @nassau_airport or download the AeroCloud app.
Media Contact:
Jan Knowles, Vice President,
Marketing and Commercial Development
Nassau Airport Development Company
Email: jan.knowles@nas.bs
Phone: 242 702 1000
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
NASSAU, Bahamas – 20 Feb. 2024 – In an extraordinary display of the strength of our country’s tourism sector, the Bahamas Ministry of Tourism, Investments & Aviation is proud to announce record-breaking visitor arrivals for 2023, which exceeded the forecasted projections.
Surpassing all previous records, the nation welcomed a total of 9,654,838 visitors in 2023, marking a historic milestone in its journey as a leading global tourism destination.
This figure represents a 38% increase over 2022 and a 33% increase compared to the previous 2019 record.
The 2023 result reveals a remarkable 17% percent increase in foreign air arrivals, totaling 1,719,980 visitors, compared to 1,470,244 in 2022. This significant growth underscores the increasing appeal of The Bahamas as a premier air travel destination.
Sea arrivals also saw an unprecedented surge, with 7,934,858 visitors in 2023, up 43.5% percent from the 5,530,462 who visited by sea the previous year.
The distribution of visitors across the16-island destinations further illustrates the widespread appeal of The Bahamas.
New Providence attracted 4,441,540 visitors, up 36%, compared to 2022.
Grand Bahama welcomed 559,812 visitors, marking a 44% increase.
The Family Islands saw an impressive 40% rise, with 4,653,486 visitors arriving by sea and air.
The Honorable I. Chester Cooper, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Tourism, Investments & Aviation, expressed his elation over these achievements.
“The Bahamas has not only surpassed its targets but has set new benchmarks in the tourism industry.” “These figures are a testament to the hard work and dedication of everyone involved in our tourism sector, the irresistible charm of our islands and the friendliness of our people,” said Cooper.
The remarkable increase in visitors across all categories – air, sea, and the various island destinations — demonstrates the comprehensive appeal of The Bahamas.
New Providence, Grand Bahama, and the Family Islands have all experienced significant growth, showcasing the diverse attractions and experiences available to tourists.
“This record-breaking year is a clear indication of The Bahamas’ position as a top-tier destination for travelers seeking unparalleled experiences. Our islands offer a unique blend of natural beauty, rich culture, and warm hospitality, making it a favorite of visitors from around the world,” Cooper added.
Mrs. Latia Duncombe, Director General of Tourism added “As The Bahamas continues to welcome visitors with open arms, we look forward to building on this momentum. With our commitment to excellence and innovation in the tourism sector, The Bahamas is poised for even greater success in the years to come.”
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Media Contacts:
Anita Johnson-Patty
Director- Global Communications
Ajohnson@bahamas.com
Danielle Bodie
General Manager- Domestic Communications
Dbodie@bahamas.com