Exploring Bermuda's Airport Infrastructure: A Comprehensive Overview

Bermuda, officially the Bermuda Islands, is a British overseas territory in the North Atlantic Ocean. It consists of approximately 138 islands, with a total area of 71.7 km2 (27.7 sq. mi.). Bermuda has one major airport, L.F. Wade International Airport, formerly known as Bermuda International Airport. In addition to this international airport, Bermuda also has several local airports and seaplane bases.

Bermuda has 1-2 airports

Bermuda, officially the Bermuda Islands, is a British overseas territory in the North Atlantic Ocean. It is located off the east coast of the United States and consists of approximately 138 islands with a total area of 71.7 km^2^ (27.7 sq. mi.). The territory has a rich history and was once a British military base, with several former military airports.

Today, Bermuda has just one major international airport: the L.F. Wade International Airport (formerly Bermuda International Airport), located in the parish of St. George's. It is the only airport in Bermuda with scheduled flights and serves as a major hub for several carriers, including British Airways, Air Canada, JetBlue Airways, Delta Airlines, and WestJet. The airport offers direct flights to 16 destinations across four countries.

In addition to the international airport, Bermuda also has a few local airports and seaplane bases. Kindley Field Airport, formerly known as Kindley AFB, served as a military airport from 1948 to 1970 and then as NAS Bermuda until 1995. RNAS Boaz Island, also known as HMS Malabar, was another former military airport that operated from 1939 to 1944.

While Bermuda primarily relies on its major international airport for air travel, the existence of these former military airports and local airfields highlights the territory's aviation history and ongoing local aviation needs. Bermuda's sole international airport, L.F. Wade International, plays a crucial role in connecting the territory with the rest of the world, offering direct flights to multiple destinations and serving as a hub for prominent airlines.

L.F. Wade International Airport

Bermuda, officially the Bermuda Islands, is a British overseas territory in the North Atlantic Ocean, located off the east coast of the United States. It consists of around 138 islands, with a total area of 71.7 km2 (27.7 sq. mi). Bermuda's only airport is L.F. Wade International Airport, formerly known as Bermuda International Airport. The airport is located in the parish of St. George's on St. David's Island, and is about 6 nautical miles (11 kilometres) northeast of Bermuda's capital, Hamilton.

The airport offers various amenities and services for passengers, including shops, duty-free stores, cafes, and a pub. Taxis are readily available outside the airport, providing transportation to Hamilton and other destinations. Additionally, public buses serve the airport during peak hours, with buses departing every 15 minutes.

Former military airports

Bermuda, officially the Bermuda Islands, is a British overseas territory in the North Atlantic Ocean. There is only one airport serving Bermuda, the L.F. Wade International Airport. However, there were previously other airports on the islands, including former military airports.

Kindley Field/Kindley AFB/NAS Bermuda

Kindley Field was constructed during World War II as a joint US Army Air Forces (USAAF)/Royal Air Force (RAF) base. After the war, the RAF forces in Bermuda withdrew, but the local RAF commander stayed on loan to the Bermuda Government. He converted the RAF facilities into the Civil Air Terminal, which was operated by the local government. In 1948, the pre-war airport on Darrell's Island, a flying boat facility, closed, and Bermuda's air routes were taken over by land planes operating through Kindley Field.

By the time of this transition, Kindley Field was operated by the United States Air Force as Kindley Air Force Base (Kindley AFB). In 1970, the base was transferred to the United States Navy, which operated it as US Naval Air Station, Bermuda (NAS Bermuda) until 1995. During this time, the base supported civil airline operations, though it was not required to meet international civil air standards. When the US Navy terminated its lease in 1995, the Bermuda Government took over operations and had to quickly bring the airfield up to international standards, making changes to the airfield lighting, fences, and levelling anything over a certain height within a certain distance of the runway.

RNAS Boaz Island (HMS Malabar)

RNAS Boaz Island, also known as HMS Malabar, was a former military airport in Bermuda that operated from 1939 to 1944.

Local airports

Bermuda, officially the Bermuda Islands, is a British overseas territory in the North Atlantic Ocean. It consists of approximately 138 islands, with a total area of 71.7 km2 (27.7 sq. mi). Bermuda has one major airport, L.F. Wade International Airport, formerly known as Bermuda International Airport. This airport is located in the parish of St. George's and serves as a hub for several major airlines, including British Airways, Air Canada, JetBlue Airways, Delta Airlines, and WestJet.

In addition to the international airport, Bermuda also has several local airports and seaplane bases. These include the Naval Air Station Bermuda Annex and Darrell's Island Seaplane Base. Bermuda also has a history of military airports, including Kindley AFB (operated from 1948 to 1970) and RNAS Boaz Island (operated from 1939 to 1944).

Kindley Field Airport, also known as Bermuda International Airport, is another airport located in Bermuda. It is not clear from the sources if this airport is still operational or if it is the same airport now known as L.F. Wade International Airport.

While Bermuda has multiple airports, L.F. Wade International Airport is the only one with scheduled flights. It offers direct flights to 16 destinations across four countries. Bermuda's airports cater to both international and domestic travel, as well as military and private aviation needs.

Bermuda Airport Authority

The Bermuda Airport Authority is responsible for the operations of Bermuda's L.F. Wade International Airport (BDA), the only airport in Bermuda with scheduled flights. Bermuda Airport Authority owns the airport on behalf of the Government of Bermuda.

Location

L.F. Wade International Airport is located in the parish of St. George's, Bermuda. The airport serves as a major hub for several carriers, including British Airways, Air Canada, JetBlue Airways, Delta Airlines, and WestJet. It offers direct flights to 16 destinations across four countries.

History

The airport was formerly known as Bermuda International Airport and, prior to that, as Kindley Field Airport. The Bermuda Airport Authority has entered into a 30-year public-private partnership agreement with the Bermuda Skyport Corporation Limited for the management and operations of the airport.

Former Military Airports

In addition to the current international airport, Bermuda has had two former military airports: Kindley AFB, which operated from 1948 to 1970, and NAS Bermuda, which was operational from 1970 to 1995. Both of these former airports share the same coordinates as the current L.F. Wade International Airport, indicating they may have been different names for the same facility at different points in time.

Frequently asked questions