This New Direct Route to the Bahamas Is Launching Just in Time for Winter Travel

It'll be even easier to escape to paradise this holiday season thanks to a returning flight route from the U.S. to the Bahamas.

Starting Nov. 12, Bahamasair will be relaunching its twice-weekly service between Freeport, Grand Bahama and Raleigh-Durham International Airport, the airline announced this week.

"With a short two-hour flight time, North Carolinians can easily escape to the warmth of the tropics. To top it off, Freeport and Nassau have activities to suit every traveller's style and budget, from family friendly outdoor excursions and all-inclusive hotels with pool and play areas, to world-class luxury resorts,” The Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Tourism, Investments & Aviation for the Bahamas Hon. I. Chester Cooper said in a statement.

The flight route will operate every Thursday and Sunday, which makes it helpful for guests seeking a weekend getaway. The airline shares that roundtrip tickets start as low as $375 per person, and extra savings are available when passengers combine their hotel & activities with their airfare booking. 

Freeport, Grand Bahama is home to several resorts including The Grand Lucayan, and The Marlin at Taino Beach Resort. From Freeport, travelers can connect on Bahamasair or other airlines to Nassau, Bahamas, which is home to the popular Atlantis Bahamas. 

The Bahamas Tourism Authority recently published findings of "record arrivals" in 2023, with nearly 6 million arrivals for the first six months of the year. The organization forecasts a total of 8 million visitors in 2023. 

The Raleigh-Durham Airport, where the service will depart from in the United States, has seen significant growth over the last several years. The airport is the second-largest airport in North Carolina, and provided air travel for 11.8 million passengers in 2022, which was a 35 percent  increase from the previous year.