Bahamasair: First Aim is to Stabilise Island Links

The first priorities of the newly launched Bahamasair (TTG, June 22) is to provide stable services domestically within the Bahamas, and internationally to Miami and other U. S. gateways.

Mr. Dann H. Lewis, chairman of the new Bahamas flag carrier, said in London last week that Bahamasair would try to maintain the best possible services in the islands and also through the Miami gateway. The next step would be to set up U. S. interline links from Fort Lauderdale, West Palm Beach and Tampa. A study of longer haul routes will be made in 1974.

Mr. Dann Lewis, who announced last week that the carrier has launched scheduled services almost two weeks ahead of schedule, said reliable services were of vital importance in the Bahamas Out Islands.

Mr. Lewis said the carrier would have exclusive rights for all domestic flights, and first option on international routes. Lewis confirmed that negotiation are being finalised for Bahamasair to operate a route to the Turks and Caicos Islands.

The Bahamian government was assisted in the formation of the new carier by an airline negotiating committee under the direction of Mr. Clement Maynard, minister of tourism. Dann Lewis, who was chairman of the negotiating committee and now chairman of the new airline itself, said: "The formation of Bahamasair is the culmination of two years of effort."

"Slow progress was made in the first 22 months of negotiations, with rapid developments taking place in the last two months." The setting up of a national flag carrier in any part of the world is a complex business, and it is far from unusual for new carriers to bypass their launch date. Yet, Bahamasair launched its services two weeks ahead of its July 1 target.

Bahamasair's total staff is now about 300 which includes flight attendants, reservations agents and airport personnel. Dann Lewis said additional staff would be required as the airline receives more equipment and expands its services.

Concerning Bahamasair offices abroad, Lewis said an office in Miami would initially be the first. He added that the airline would be relying heavily on Bahamas Tourism offices in the U. K., Europe and North America to provide support. Billboards and advertisements will also be used employing the slogan that "Nobody knows the Bahamas like Bahamasair".

Dann Lewis went on to say that negotiations were already underway for international joint fares and interline agreements with many of the worlds major flag carriers to facilitate "through" passenger itineraries and ticketing from international points to Nassau, Freeport, and all of the Bahamas Out Islands.

from - TTG, June 1973

Time Machine to Eleuthera, Bahamas

Our Time Machine has us one hour east of the South Florida coast at 7,500 feet, traveling at almost 200 m.p.h. when the island of Eleuthera rose up from the sea. I throttled back and pushed the nose of the single engine aircraft into a gentle descent. The windshield of the Bellanca gradually filled with a view of the lush green island rimmed with it's famous pink sands and wearing necklaces of white, then pale green and finally, dark blue water.

This is the way to arrive in the Out Islands of the Bahamas, in a time machine that lets you overfly the clink of the dice and the noisy crowds of Nassau and Freeport, and land at the quiet, serene island of Eleuthera which, like most Out Islands is still dominated by sea, sun and yester-year; an ambience of warmth and contentment that has long since disappeared from most spots on this earth.

The Out Islands are for people who know how to enjoy doing nothing. Take the Current Club. It is hard by the village of Current on the northern tip of Eleuthera. People who travel the Out Islands say the Current Club typifies the better of the small resorts. One reason is that it is owned by Dann H. Lewis, assistant director of the Bahamas Ministry of Tourism.

His manager, Peter Smith greets guests warmly. Doors to the cottages are never locked. The cottages are nestled in a grove of Casuarina trees and surrounded by coconut palms, sea grapes and hibiscus bushes.

Days usually begin with a bounteous breakfast followed by a dip along a three mile stretch of sandy shores that is perfect for skinny-dipping, and is only five minutes away by fast golf-cart. Two side-trips that should be musts for guests at the Current Club are Spanish Wells and Harbour Island. Both of these trips are close enought to get you back to Current Club for the al fresco lunch served on the patio a few feet from the edge of the ocean. Meals here are above average and are certainly "Bahamian fare" - such as lobster or grouper.

So if you're a bum at heart, or want to learn how to become an expert at doing nothing, the Current Club is for you. And, if you are a qualified pilot (as is the multi-faceted Dann Lewis) you can leap Georgia and Florida in a single bound and touch down in paradise. The owner of Current Club, Dann Lewis, is now running the Ministry of Tourism for all the Bahamas Islands, and is embroiled in starting a new airline that will serve Eleuthera and other Out Islands from Nassau and Freeport.

from: Atlanta Magazine, August 1972

The next chapter in Dann's remarkable career will be the birth of Bahamasair, the national flag carrier of the Bahamas.