Location: The Bahamas
Event: April 4 Update: Bahamas Nationwide Lockdown through April 6, 5:00 a.m.; Commercial Flight Availability to the United States
On April 3, the Prime Minister of The Bahamas announced a full lockdown order for all of The Bahamas effective 8:00 p.m. on Friday, April 3 through 5:00 a.m. on Monday, April 6. Virtually all businesses and service providers are closed, including grocery stores. All U.S.-bound flights have been canceled. Hospitals, hotels with guests, law enforcement and essential utility personnel are excepted from this around the clock shutdown over this weekend. We urge all U.S. citizens still in The Bahamas and its territorial waters to shelter in place or stay in your home and yard, on your vessel, or in your hotel/lodging until the full lockdown is lifted using whatever resources you have at your disposal until the regular 24-hour curfew regulations resume on Monday, April 6, at 5:01 a.m.
If you have an emergency, please write to ACSnassau@state.gov or call +1-242-322-1181. The Embassy will make every effort to assist however we cannot circumvent the emergency orders put in place by the Bahamian government.
If you were scheduled to depart The Bahamas this weekend, please contact your airline or charter carrier to reschedule.
Notwithstanding the current lockdown through April 6 at 5:00 a.m., international commercial flight options currently exist in The Bahamas. U.S. citizens who wish to return to the United States should make commercial arrangements as soon as possible unless they are prepared to remain abroad for an indefinite period. The U.S. government does not anticipate arranging repatriation flights in The Bahamas at this time.
Scheduled Commercial Airline Flights to the United States as of XX00 EDT April 4:
American Airlines canceled all flights to the United States through April 8.
Delta Airlines canceled all flights to the United States through May 1.
Southwest Airlines canceled all flights to the United States through June 5.
United Airlines canceled all flights to the United States through April 8.
JetBlue has limited flights for the month of April from Nassau to Ft. Lauderdale.
Silver Airways has limited flights to the U.S. from Nassau, Bimini, North Eleuthera, Marsh Harbour, Governor’s Harbour and Exuma.
Aztec Air has scheduled flights to Fort Lauderdale from North Eleuthera and Governor’s Harbour.
Please check directly with the airlines for the current flight schedule.
Commercial flights, if and when scheduled, are subject to cancelation at the last minute and some upcoming flights are already sold out. The availability of flights to the United States continues to diminish and has the potential to cease at any moment and without notice due to a lack of passenger volume and due to the restrictions now in effect on incoming international flights. If you are a U.S. citizen in The Bahamas and you need to return to the United States, we urge you to leave immediately after the full shut-down period concludes on April 6 at 5:00 a.m. U.S. citizens who choose to remain in The Bahamas should prepare to do so for an indefinite period of time.
Private Charter Flights to the United States
Some private charter companies have confirmed their ability to provide flights into the United States directly from The Bahamas. We encourage you to contact charter companies directly with questions regarding availability and cost.
Air Care 1: aircareone.com, +1-502-242-7760
All Bahamas Courier Services: +1-242-727-4165
Aztec Airways: +1-954-351-9313
Island Wings – USA: +1-954-617-8804
Makers Air – FXE: Info@makersair.com, +1-954-771-0330
Noble Air Charter: +1-305-685-9634
Trans Island Airways: sales@tia.aero
Tropic Air Charters – FXE: Tropicaircharters@gmail.com; +1-954-267-0707
Tropic Ocean Airways – FLL: Flytropic.com, +1-954-210-5569
Tropix Air/Island Wings Ltd.: +1-242-424-4260
This list is in not an endorsement. Additional operators not listed above may be available.
The Embassy has been informed by the Bahamas’ Civil Aviation Authority that domestic commercial flights from the Family Islands to Nassau are not authorized under the current emergency orders. Any international commercial flights currently scheduled to provide direct flights to the U.S. or Canada must arrive to The Bahamas empty. As we have seen, passenger volume has led many flights to be canceled with little or no notice.
On March 23, the Prime Minister of The Bahamas announced additional measures in response to the global COVID-19 pandemic. These additional measures include closing all airports and seaports of The Bahamas to incoming international flights carrying visitors, effective March 24 (including private airports). These entry restrictions were broadened March 27 to include all incoming passengers, including Bahamian citizens and residents. Under these orders all domestic inter-island traffic by air or boat within The Bahamas is also temporarily banned. This includes refueling, stopping and anchoring, passing through or innocent passage. Although the emergency orders allow vessels to depart The Bahamas directly for the United States, there are no exceptions for anyone, whether Bahamian citizen, resident, or foreigner, to circumvent the restrictions on inter-island movement. If local authorities do not permit you to transit due to these restrictions, you must shelter in place. On March 30, the Bahamas’ House of Assembly passed a resolution to extend the current emergency powers orders to combat the spread of COVID-19 until April 8 – including airport restrictions. Bahamian officials have already commented on a possible additional extension.
If you intend or need to return to the United States, we urge you to leave as soon as scheduled commercial flights become available, or as soon as you are able to depart by boat or private charter. Please remember that evacuation flights by the U.S. government do not reflect standard practice and should not be relied upon.
Actions to Take:
Follow the instructions and regulations coming from the Bahamian government; please consult https://covid19.gov.bs and https://opm.gov.bs/ for the latest information on COVID-19 from the Government of The Bahamas.
Consult the CDC website for the most up-to-date information and recommendations for travelers and high-risk populations.
See the CDC’s latest recommendations for preventing the spread of COVID-19.
Visit the COVID-19 crisis page on travel.state.gov for the latest information.
Visit the U.S. Embassy COVID-19 Information Page for information on conditions in The Bahamas.
Visit the Department of Homeland Security’s website for the most up-to-date information on travel restrictions to the United States.
Assistance:
U.S. Embassy Nassau, The Bahamas
#42 Queen Street, Nassau
+1-242-322-1181
For U.S. Citizens in an Emergency
Call State Department – Consular Affairs at
1 888-407-4747 (when dialing from within the U.S.)
+1 (202) 501-4444 (when dialing from overseas)
Enroll in Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP) to receive Alerts.