Abacos Airport: Does This Island Paradise Have One?

The Abacos, a chain of islands in the Bahamas, is a boating, fishing, and sailing paradise. It is easily accessible by air and sea. The main and largest island, Great Abaco, has two international airports: Leonard M. Thompson International Airport in Marsh Harbour and Treasure Cay Airport in the settlement of the same name. There is also a smaller airport at Walker's Cay that services private flights.

The Abacos has three primary airports

The second airport is the Treasure Cay International Airport (TCB), located in the settlement of Treasure Cay in the north of Great Abaco. This airport caters primarily to charter airlines and private planes, although Bahamas Air and Silver Airways also offer flights to and from Treasure Cay.

The third airport in the Abacos is Walker's Cay, a very small airport servicing private flights.

In addition to these three primary airports, there are also smaller airports at Sandy Point, Moore's Island, and Spanish Cay. The Abacos is easily accessible by air, with multiple airlines offering direct flights from Florida and other southeastern U.S. states.

Marsh Harbour is the largest airport

The Abacos, a chain of islands and cays in the Bahamas, has two international airports on its main and largest island, Great Abaco: Leonard M. Thompson International Airport, located in Marsh Harbour, and Treasure Cay Airport. Marsh Harbour International Airport, formerly known as Marsh Harbour International Airport, is the largest airport in the Abacos. It is also one of the busiest international gateways into the country.

Marsh Harbour International Airport, with the airport code MHH, is the primary airport that most travellers from the United States fly into when visiting the Abacos. Notable airlines that offer flights to the airport include American Airlines, Delta, United, JetBlue, Bahamas Air, and Silver Airways. Taxis are readily available outside the airport terminal, and the ride to the hotels in Marsh Harbour takes about 10 minutes. Car rental companies are also located near the airport and in Marsh Harbour, and they can deliver rental cars to the airport upon request.

In addition to commercial flights, Marsh Harbour International Airport also has excellent facilities for private flights. Private flights can arrive at and depart from the airport, and American Airlines offers direct flights to Marsh Harbour from Miami, Atlanta, and Charlotte. Bahamas Air and Silver Airlines also operate regularly scheduled flights to and from Marsh Harbour from Miami, West Palm Beach, Fort Lauderdale, and Orlando.

The other airport in Great Abaco, Treasure Cay Airport, is smaller and primarily serves charter airlines and private planes.

You can fly to Abaco from Nassau

Yes, you can fly to Abaco from Nassau. The Abacos, a chain of islands in the Bahamas, is a popular tourist destination known for its pristine beaches, clear waters, fishing villages, and relaxed atmosphere.

Airports in Abaco

Abaco has three airports: Leonard Thompson International Airport in Marsh Harbour, Treasure Cay Airport, and Walker's Cay Airport. Marsh Harbour is the major airport in the Abacos, located on Great Abaco Island, and is served by several commercial airlines, including American Airlines, Delta Airlines, Silver Airways, Bahamasair, Jetways Airlines, American Eagle, and Continental Connection. Treasure Cay Airport is smaller and primarily serves charter airlines and private planes, while Walker's Cay Airport is very small and services private flights.

Flying from Nassau to Abaco

The flight from Nassau to Abaco takes approximately 30-49 minutes and costs between $170 and $600. Bahamasair and Jetways Airlines offer flights from Nassau to Marsh Harbour up to five times a day. It is also possible to fly to Nassau and then connect to Marsh Harbour via a short flight or ferry service. Pinder's ferry, for example, offers twice-daily service between Grand Bahama and the Abacos.

Other Ways to Get to Abaco

In addition to flying, you can also travel to Abaco by boat or ferry. The mail boat MV Legacy sails from Nassau to Hope Town, Marsh Harbour, Turtle Cay, and Green Turtle Cay once a week, taking about 12 hours for the trip. Bahamas Ferries also operates a direct ferry service from Nassau to Sandy Point in the Abacos, taking about 1 hour and 50 minutes.

The Leonard M. Thompson International Airport is in Marsh Harbour

The Leonard M. Thompson International Airport is located in Marsh Harbour, a town in the Abaco Islands, in the Bahamas. The airport was formerly known as the Marsh Harbour International Airport and is one of the two international airports on the main and largest island of Great Abaco. The other airport on the island is the Treasure Cay Airport.

The Leonard M. Thompson International Airport is the second busiest airport in the Bahamas and the second-largest international gateway into the country, after the Lynden Pindling International Airport in Nassau. It offers scheduled passenger flights to several destinations in Florida, including Fort Lauderdale, Orlando, Tampa, and West Palm Beach. The airport also provides flights to Nassau and regional jet flights to three major U.S. hubs: Atlanta, Charlotte, and Miami.

The airport underwent significant development in the late 2000s and early 2010s. In 2007, a new runway was constructed to accommodate larger regional jets. This new runway, measuring 6,100 feet (1,859 metres) in length, replaced the old runway, which was converted into a taxiway. After three years of construction, a new terminal opened on May 27, 2014. This modern terminal incorporates architectural elements reflecting Bahamian culture and offers improved facilities for passengers.

On May 25, 2016, the airport was renamed the Leonard M. Thompson International Airport to honour Leonard M. Thompson, a prominent son of Hope Town who served as a bomber pilot for the Royal Canadian Air Force during World War II. The airport is located at an elevation of 6 feet (1.8 metres) above mean sea level and has one runway designated 09/27 with an asphalt surface.

The Treasure Cay Airport is in the settlement of the same name

The Abacos island chain is a boating, fishing, and sailing paradise. It is loosely divided into North, Central, and South Abaco and spans 120 miles. The main and largest island, Great Abaco, has two international airports.

One of these airports is Treasure Cay Airport, located in the settlement of the same name. The airport is at an elevation of 8 feet (2.4 metres) above mean sea level. It has one runway designated 14/32 with an asphalt surface measuring 2,134 metres by 46 metres (7,001 feet by 151 feet). The airport is open to the public, but foreign civil government landing fees and diplomatic clearance may be required.

Treasure Cay Airport is one of three primary airports in the Abacos, the other two being Marsh Harbour International (the largest on Great Abaco Island) and Walker's Cay (a very small airport servicing private flights). Most travellers from the United States fly into Marsh Harbour International, sometimes connecting through Miami or Fort Lauderdale, Florida. Notable airlines that offer flights to the Abacos include American Airlines, Delta, United, JetBlue, Bahamas Air, and Silver Airways.

The settlement of Treasure Cay, where the airport is located, is a resort district boasting crystal-clear waters and white-sand beaches. It is known as a boating, fishing, and sailing paradise, but it also offers charming colonial towns, championship golf courses, and countless hotels, restaurants, and bars for those who prefer to explore by land.

Frequently asked questions