Bahamasair mulls Airbus A220 for possible 737 replacement and for network expansion

Bahamasair, the state-owned airline of the Bahamas, is reportedly considering a potential order for Airbus A220 narrowbody aircraft as the carrier mulls a replacement for its aging jet fleet of four Boeing 737-700s. The airline would also use the new aircraft to expand into new markets and develop its footprint across the Caribbean region, according to the airline’s CEO.

As reported by Eye Witness News Bahamas, speaking at the Routes Americas conference held in Nassau, Bahamas between February 10 and 12, 2025, Tracy Cooper, CEO of Bahamasair said, “The main aircraft that we’re looking at is the Airbus A220. We expect to make a decision on this sometime this year, 2025. We expect that these aircraft could provide 13-15% improvements in operational costs,” he added.

The airline is considering an order for between eight to ten A220 aircraft that would replace its fleet of four aging Boeing 737-700s that have an average age of around 21 years, advised Cooper. Any order would depend on the availability of capital for the new planes with at least some of the additions being acquired through leasing companies, Cooper added.

HMBSoFL Photography / ShutterstockThis would be new territory for the Bahamian airline as all of its current fleet of the four 737s plus its five ATR turboprops are wholly owned. The five ATR turboprops that it uses (three ATR42-600s and two ATR72-600s) are primarily for domestic flights around the Bahamas. However, it has recently had issues procuring spares for these aircraft, with two aircraft currently listed as ‘inactive’ by ch-aviation.  

Bahamasair currently serves four US airports from its base at Nassau-Lynden Pindling International Airport (NAS) – Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport (FLL), Miami International Airport (MIA), Orlando International Airport (MCO) and Palm Beach International Airport (PBI). The carrier also serves 17 other destinations, including 13 in the Bahamas archipelago itself, plus four others – Providenciales (PLS) in the Turks and Caicos Islands, Cap-Haitien (CAP) in Haiti,  Havana (HAV) in Cuba), and Montego Bay (MBJ) in Jamaica.

HMBSoFL Photography
/ Shutterstock“The A220 would provide Bahamasair with opportunities to do things that we’re not doing presently. The airplane can fly easily to the full [breadth] of the US and get us well into Latin America,” Cooper added. According to Airbus data, the A220-300 can fly around 3,900 miles (6,240km) with a standard two-class layout of between 120 to 150 seats. This range exceeds that offered by the carrier’s existing Boeing 737-700s or the popular Embraer E195-E2 family of aircraft which is seen as a competitor to the Airbus A220.

Cooper emphasized the carrier’s importance as a key contributor to the economy of the Bahamas. “We are essential to the transportation needs around the Bahamas,” he explained. He further added that the airline places great importance on its routes to Florida, stating that through the airline’s various interline agreements with major carriers, Bahamasair plays a vital role in bringing tourists to the Bahamas and helping to fill local hotel capacity year-round. Around 11 million travelers visited the islands in 2024, according to official data.

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Bahamasair mulls Airbus A220 for possible 737 replacement and for network expansion

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