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Hurricane Dorian wreaked havoc on the Bahamas in 2019, causing massive destruction to the Grand Bahama International Airport and the small airport in Treasure Cay. The storm left the airport under six feet of water, with buildings toppled and surrounding forests stripped. Devastated residents shared stories of survival and death, with some stranded and awaiting relief flights that were not guaranteed. The Bahamian government purchased the Grand Bahama International Airport in 2021 for a nominal sum due to the hurricane's impact. The largest airport in the Bahamas, Lynden Pindling International Airport, has undergone significant expansion and redevelopment to accommodate increasing passenger traffic.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Name of the airport | Treasure Cay Airport, Grand Bahama International Airport, Lynden Pindling International Airport |
| Location | Treasure Cay, Freeport, Nassau |
| Ownership | Privately owned, later purchased by the Bahamian government |
| Destroyed by | Hurricane Dorian |
| Year | 2019 |
| Status | Almost completely destroyed |
| Redevelopment | Three stages of redevelopment to upgrade airport facilities and expand terminal capacity |
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What You'll Learn
- Hurricane Dorian destroyed the Grand Bahama International Airport in 2019
- Lynden Pindling International Airport is the largest airport in the Bahamas
- The Bahamian government purchased the Grand Bahama International Airport for one Bahamian dollar
- The airport in Treasure Cay was destroyed by Hurricane Dorian, leaving survivors stranded
- The Nassau International Airport was renamed in 2006 to honour Lynden Pindling, the first prime minister of the Bahamas
Hurricane Dorian destroyed the Grand Bahama International Airport in 2019
Hurricane Dorian, which hit the Bahamas in 2019, wreaked havoc on the island nation, and the Grand Bahama International Airport was not spared. The airport, which was privately owned, was almost completely destroyed by the storm. The facility was left under six feet of water, and the buildings were toppled, with the forest behind it stripped bare. The airport's infrastructure was so severely damaged that the Bahamian government purchased it for a nominal fee of one Bahamian dollar in April 2021.
Before the hurricane, the Grand Bahama International Airport was a bustling aviation hub. With a 3,359-metre-long runway, it could handle the largest aircraft in service and was a crucial gateway to the Bahamas, given its proximity to major cities on the Eastern Seaboard of the United States. The airport was a joint venture between Hutchison Port Holdings (HPH) and The Port Group, also known as the Grand Bahama Port Authority.
Hurricane Dorian's impact on the airport was devastating. The storm surge brought in by the hurricane flooded the airport, submerging it under several feet of water. The force of the wind and water toppled buildings, and the surrounding infrastructure was left in ruins. The once-lush forest behind the airport was left barren, with trees reduced to matchsticks. The destruction rendered the airport inoperable, stranding hundreds of Bahamians and leaving them with no choice but to wait for relief flights that were not guaranteed to arrive.
The Bahamian government's purchase of the airport for a nominal sum is indicative of the extent of the damage. The government also incurred additional costs, spending approximately $1 million on staff severance payments. The devastation caused by Hurricane Dorian highlighted the airport's vulnerability to extreme weather events and the need for more resilient infrastructure in the Bahamas.
The impact of Hurricane Dorian on the Grand Bahama International Airport serves as a stark reminder of the destructive power of nature and the importance of preparedness and resilience in the face of such events. The airport's destruction also underscored the resilience and strength of the Bahamian people, who endured unimaginable trauma and loss but continued to share stories of survival and hope.
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Lynden Pindling International Airport is the largest airport in the Bahamas
Lynden Pindling International Airport (IATA: NAS, ICAO: MYNN), formerly known as Nassau International Airport, is the largest airport in the Bahamas. Located 19km from Nassau, the capital of the Bahamas, it is one of the busiest airports in the Caribbean. The airport is named after Lynden Pindling, the first prime minister of the Bahamas.
During World War II, the airport was used as a Royal Air Force (RAF) station and was called Windsor Field. After the war, the RAF withdrew from the airport, and it reverted to civilian use. Nassau International Airport at Windsor Field was brought into full operation in 1957, and in 2006, the airport was renamed after Pindling.
Lynden Pindling International Airport has undergone significant expansion and upgrades to accommodate increasing passenger traffic. In 2009, a three-phase expansion programme was initiated at a cost of $409.5 million. The airport handled 3.1 million passengers in 2011 and 3.2 million in 2012. The expansion aimed to increase the airport's capacity to process approximately 5.2 million passengers by 2020.
The redevelopment included the construction of a new US Departures Terminal, the renovation of the existing US terminal, and the addition of a new domestic and international departures terminal. The airport also features US Border preclearance facilities, allowing all US-bound flights to operate as domestic flights upon arrival at their destination.
While Lynden Pindling International Airport is the largest airport in the Bahamas, the country has several other airports, including the small airport in Treasure Cay. This smaller airport was devastated by Hurricane Dorian in 2019, leaving stranded Bahamians waiting for relief flights.
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The Bahamian government purchased the Grand Bahama International Airport for one Bahamian dollar
The Bahamas, officially known as the Commonwealth of The Bahamas, is an English-speaking country consisting of 29 islands, 661 cays, and 2,380 islets. The country's largest airport is the Lynden Pindling International Airport (LPIA) in Nassau, which serves as a hub for Bahamasair, Western Air, and Pineapple Air. However, the Grand Bahama International Airport (GBIA) in Freeport also serves as a significant aviation hub for the nation.
On 1-3 September 2019, the Grand Bahama International Airport was battered by Hurricane Dorian, resulting in extensive damage. The airport was left under six feet of water, with its buildings toppled and the surrounding forest stripped. The devastation from the hurricane almost completely destroyed the airport, rendering it inoperable. In the aftermath, stranded Bahamians gathered at the airport, desperately awaiting relief flights that were not guaranteed to arrive.
The Grand Bahama International Airport was privately owned before the natural disaster struck. However, due to the extensive damage caused by Hurricane Dorian, the Bahamian government seized the opportunity to acquire it. On April 29, 2021, the government purchased the airport for a mere one Bahamian dollar. The deal also included 741 acres of adjoining land, which is operated as the Sea Air Business Centre (SABC) in conjunction with the Freeport Harbour Company Limited.
The Bahamian government's acquisition of the Grand Bahama International Airport for a nominal sum can be attributed to the airport's previous state of devastation. The government also incurred approximately $1 million in staff severance costs as part of the deal. The airport boasts a 3,359-metre-long runway capable of accommodating the largest aircraft in service. With its proximity to major cities on the Eastern Seaboard of the United States, the airport holds strategic value.
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The airport in Treasure Cay was destroyed by Hurricane Dorian, leaving survivors stranded
Hurricane Dorian wreaked havoc in the Bahamas, leaving behind a trail of destruction and devastation. The storm knocked out utilities, causing widespread power outages, water shortages, and communication disruptions. Among the areas that bore the brunt of the hurricane's fury was Treasure Cay, a small community in the Bahamas. The airport in Treasure Cay, which served as a lifeline for the region, was not spared from the wrath of Dorian.
The airport in Treasure Cay was left in ruins, its buildings toppled and stripped of their functionality. The once-bustling airport became a desolate scene of destruction, with bottles, trash, and dirty puddles littering the lot by the runway. The forest behind the airport was also ravaged, its trees reduced to mere matchsticks by the ferocious winds. The destruction of the airport not only disrupted travel plans but also hindered relief and evacuation efforts.
Survivors of the hurricane found themselves stranded, desperately seeking a way out. They gathered by the runway as early as 4 am, hoping to secure a seat on the coveted relief flights. The situation was fraught with tension as locals argued over access to limited supplies and evacuation spots. The devastation was so severe that even those involved in local politics acknowledged the urgency of the situation, predicting that it would become unsustainable for residents within a matter of days.
Among the stranded survivors was Sam Smith, a 25-year-old whose home in Central Pines was destroyed by the hurricane. She recounted the trauma of encountering her first dead body while searching for food for her two-year-old daughter. Another survivor, Sandra Sweeting, described the constant, nauseating smell of rotting flesh that permeated the air as they navigated the aftermath of the storm. The survivors' stories paint a harrowing picture of the devastation and the desperate struggle for survival in the wake of Hurricane Dorian.
The impact of the hurricane extended beyond the airport, with 95% of Treasure Cay's homes damaged or destroyed. The community was left reeling, facing a daunting challenge of recovery and clean-up. The hurricane's impact on the airport and the surrounding area underscored the vulnerability of the region to the forces of nature and the urgent need for preparedness and resilience in the face of such powerful storms.
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The Nassau International Airport was renamed in 2006 to honour Lynden Pindling, the first prime minister of the Bahamas
The Bahamas, officially known as the Commonwealth of The Bahamas, is an English-speaking country consisting of 29 islands, 661 cays, and 2,387 islets. The country is located in the north-east of the Caribbean Sea in the Atlantic Ocean, north of Cuba and Hispaniola. Nassau, the country's capital, is situated on the island of New Providence.
Nassau International Airport, the largest airport in the Bahamas, was renamed in 2006 to honour Lynden Pindling, the first prime minister of the Bahamas. The airport is now known as the Lynden Pindling International Airport (LPIA). It is located in western New Providence, about 13 kilometres from downtown Nassau.
The airport was originally established as Windsor Field in 1942, during the Second World War, and served as a Royal Air Force (RAF) station. After the war, in 1946, the RAF withdrew, and the airport reverted to civilian use. Oakes Field served as the main airport in the Bahamas until 1 November 1957, when Nassau International Airport at Windsor Field was brought into full operation.
In 2006, the airport was officially renamed to honour Pindling, who served as the country's first prime minister from 1967 to 1992. Pindling is recognised as the "Father of the Nation", having led the Bahamas to majority rule in 1967 and full independence from the United Kingdom within the British Commonwealth in 1973.
The Lynden Pindling International Airport has undergone significant redevelopment to upgrade its facilities and expand its capacity. The redevelopment was carried out in three stages, with the construction and renovation of new terminals, at a total cost of over $400 million. According to the NAD, the expansion will allow the airport to process roughly 5.2 million passengers by 2020.
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Frequently asked questions
Hurricane Dorian destroyed or severely damaged several airports in the Bahamas in 2019. The small airport in Treasure Cay, a sliver of land connected to Abaco, was left in ruins, with its buildings toppled. The Grand Bahama International Airport was also almost completely destroyed, left under six feet of water. However, the largest airport in the Bahamas, the Lynden Pindling International Airport, seems to have been unaffected and continues to operate.
Hurricane Dorian destroyed the airport in Treasure Cay, leaving buildings toppled and the surrounding forest stripped. Stranded Bahamians waited for relief flights that were not guaranteed to arrive.
Yes, Hurricane Dorian almost completely destroyed the Grand Bahama International Airport in 2019. The airport was left under six feet of water and heavily damaged.
No, the Lynden Pindling International Airport, the largest airport in the Bahamas, does not appear to have been destroyed. It is still operational and continues to be the largest international gateway into the country.
After the hurricane, stranded residents and visitors gathered at the remaining operational airports, such as the Lynden Pindling International Airport, hoping to catch relief flights to Nassau or the United States. Police and officers from the Royal Bahamas Defence Force were present to maintain peace as tensions rose over access to limited supplies.
