By NATARIO McKENZIE

Tribune Business Reporter

nmckenzie@tribunemedia.net

BAHAMASAIR is aiming to further drive growth in the international market, a senior executive telling Tribune Business that tourist traffic now accounts for roughly 30 per cent of passengers on its international routes.

Woody Wilson, senior manager for international sales at Bahamasair, also told this newspaper that the carrier was also looking to acquire additional aircraft as it moves to play a greater role in the country’s tourism infrastructure.

“We’re looking at some additional equipment because the intent is for us to play a great role in tourism product in the Bahamas,” Mr Wilson said.

“The objective is to create the synergy between the career and the destination. When people think about flying, as long as Bahamasair is in the market we want them to choose Bahamasair. The additional equipment gives us the ability to work with organisations that bring in large groups, because [we can] bring in more charters without interrupting our scheduled service.”

Mr Wilson was unable to say how many additional aircraft Bahamasair was looking to acquire, and attempts to obtain further comment from the airline’s managing director, Henry Woods, were unsuccessful.

Mr Wilson said: “I know we have one aircraft scheduled for this month, and there is talk of another aircraft coming in during the summer.

“I think what’s going to happen is as the resort (Baha Mar) gets nearer to completion, they’re going to look at the needs of the hotel and what it takes for Bahamasair to play a greater role in tourism.”

He added: “We’re doing pretty good internationally. A few years ago only 10 per cent of our traffic was tourists. We’re up right to about 30 per cent of the traffic.

“That’s offering service from Orlando to Nassau, from Palm Beach to Nassau, Palm Beach to Abaco, Fort Lauderdale to Freeport and Miami to Nassau.

“Our real growth potential is more on the tourism side than on the domestic side. When we look at the fact that for the next three months Bahamians are not going to be travelling but it’s peak travelling time for tourists, it will work to our advantage to be able to tap into that market”