Jazmin Li
Grand Bahama International Airport (GBIA) is an international airport in Freeport, The Bahamas. It is the fourth-largest airport in the Bahamas and is located 18.8 miles from Grand Bahama Island. The airport code for Grand Bahama International Airport is FPO. The airport has a runway that is capable of handling the largest aircraft in service.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Name | Grand Bahama International Airport |
| Address | Queen's Cove, P.O. Box F2441 Freeport, Bahamas |
| IATA | FPO |
| ICAO | MYGF |
| Runway Length | 3,359 m × 46 m (11,020 ft × 151 ft) |
| Distance from Grand Bahama Island | 18.8 miles |
| Airlines | American Airlines, Bahamasair, Silver Airways, and Sunwing Airlines |
| Destinations | 7 |
| Notable Incidents | Hurricane Dorian in 2019, multiple plane crashes |
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What You'll Learn
Grand Bahama International Airport (FPO)
Grand Bahama International Airport (GBIA) (IATA: FPO, ICAO: MYGF) is located in Freeport, The Bahamas. It was privately owned until the Bahamian government purchased it for one Bahamian dollar on April 29, 2021, following the devastation caused by Hurricane Dorian in 2019, which left the airport heavily damaged and almost completely destroyed. The airport boasts a 3,359-metre runway capable of handling the largest aircraft in service.
The facility covers 741 acres of land and is adjoined to the Freeport Harbour Company Limited, together known as the Sea Air Business Centre (SABC). Grand Bahama International Airport is accessible by many major air carriers and has experienced a number of notable incidents and accidents throughout its history.
On November 12, 1964, a Lockheed Lodestar N171Q stalled and crashed after take-off, resulting in the deaths of all four people on board. Another incident occurred on November 22, 1966, when a de Havilland DH.125 N235KC of Florida Commuter Airlines crashed into the sea off Grand Bahamas during an illegal flight from Miami, Florida, with no survivors. On November 24, 1979, a Convair 440-86 operating an international flight experienced an engine fire, causing the plane to depart the runway and end up in the sea upon landing. Fortunately, all 46 passengers escaped safely.
More recently, on July 20, 2000, a Douglas C-47A cargo plane suffered engine failure shortly after take-off, crashing while attempting to return to the airport and resulting in the deaths of both crew members. In 2014, a Lear 36 Executive Jet crashed during its approach to the airport, claiming the lives of all nine people on board, including evangelist Myles Munroe and his wife. In February 2017, a Western Air Saab 340 passenger plane experienced landing gear failure, resulting in a crash landing at the airport, but all 30 passengers survived with only minor injuries.
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Freeport Harbour Company Limited
The history of Freeport Harbour Company Limited can be traced back to the Hawksbill Creek Agreement (HCA) signed on August 4, 1955, between the Government of The Bahamas and The Grand Bahama Port Authority, Limited (GBPA). This agreement gave birth to the city of Freeport and mandated the development of a deep-water harbour, an industrial community, and the necessary infrastructure. The GBPA was responsible for managing and providing services within the 'Port Area', which encompassed 230 square miles.
Over the years, the Bahamian government amended the HCA to encourage tourism and real estate development. In 1993, an agreement was reached to extend relief from real property tax until 2015, in exchange for various economic and social initiatives to be undertaken by the GBPA. Freeport Harbour Company Limited owns and operates 43,000 square feet of transit sheds and bonded warehouses. It also provides complete bunkering facilities through the Bahamas Oil Refining Company.
Pilotage is compulsory for most ships entering, leaving, or navigating within the Port of Freeport, and tug assistance is available from several independent contractors. The harbour has good offshore anchorage, with approximately 2,500 feet of sheltered waters located 1.5 miles northwest of the entrance channel. Freeport Harbour is adjacent to the Grand Bahama International Airport, which was also a joint venture between Hutchison Port Holdings and The Port Group until its purchase by the Bahamian government in 2021.
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Hurricane Dorian damage
Grand Bahama International Airport (GBIA) is the airport for Grand Bahama Island. The airport is located in Freeport, The Bahamas.
Hurricane Dorian hit the Bahamas from September 1 to 3, 2019, causing extensive damage to Grand Bahama Island. The Category 5 hurricane struck the Abaco Islands on September 1 and then hit Grand Bahama Island on September 2, stalling over the island for another day before finally pulling away on September 3. Dorian brought strong winds, flooding, and storm surges to the island, causing significant destruction.
Grand Bahama International Airport was severely impacted by the hurricane. By 07:00 UTC on September 2, the airport was underwater, with water levels reaching six feet (1.8 meters). Strong winds also battered the airport, severely damaging buildings and aircraft. The storm left debris strewn across the airport and surrounding roads, rendering them impassable. The airport was left heavily damaged and under several feet of water, with aircraft destroyed and infrastructure in ruins.
The hurricane caused an island-wide power outage on Grand Bahama Island, and an oil refinery was also damaged. About 60% of the island was left submerged as Dorian moved away, and the storm surge inundated the two main supermarkets in Freeport, along with their warehouses. The Rand Memorial Hospital was contaminated by floodwaters and sewage, rendering many areas, including the operating room and intensive care unit, unusable.
The total damage caused by Hurricane Dorian in the Bahamas was estimated at US$3.4 billion, making it the costliest hurricane in the country's history. There were at least 74 deaths and 282 people missing. The storm also severely impacted housing, with an estimated 13,000 homes damaged or destroyed on the Abacos and Grand Bahama, constituting 45% of the homes in those areas. The shantytowns in Marsh Harbour, housing mostly poor Haitian immigrants, were completely destroyed.
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Aircraft crashes
Grand Bahama International Airport (GBIA) is located in Freeport, The Bahamas. The airport has experienced several aircraft crashes over the years, some of which resulted in fatalities.
On 12 November 1964, a Lockheed Lodestar N171Q stalled after taking off from Grand Bahama International Airport and was destroyed by fire in the subsequent crash, killing all four people on board. Less than two years later, on 22 November 1966, a de Havilland DH.125 N235KC operated by Florida Commuter Airlines crashed into the sea off Grand Bahamas during an illegal flight from Miami, Florida, resulting in an unknown number of casualties.
On 24 November 1979, a Convair 440-86 N444JM of Mackey International Airlines, en route to Fort Lauderdale International Airport, experienced an engine fire just after take-off. The aircraft attempted to land at Grand Bahamas International Airport, but the engine fell off during the approach. Upon landing, the aircraft veered off the runway and ended up in the sea. Fortunately, all 46 people on board escaped from the aircraft without fatalities.
Another tragic incident occurred on 12 September 1980, when Florida Commuter Airlines Flight 65, a Douglas DC-3A N75KW, crashed into the Atlantic Ocean near West End Settlement on Grand Bahama Island. The aircraft was operating a scheduled international passenger flight from West Palm Beach International Airport in Florida to Grand Bahama International Airport. Unfortunately, all 34 passengers and crew on board perished in the crash. Investigators attributed the probable causes to factors such as flying into a thunderstorm, unreliable instruments due to issues with the pitot-static system, and inadequate operational oversight.
More recently, on 20 July 2000, a Douglas C-47A N54AA operated by Allied Air Freight suffered an engine failure during take-off from Grand Bahama International Airport. The aircraft crashed while attempting to return to the airport, resulting in the deaths of both crew members. On 9 November 2014, a Lear 36 Executive Jet crashed during its approach to the airport, claiming the lives of all nine people on board, including evangelist Myles Munroe and his wife.
These incidents highlight the importance of aviation safety and the ongoing efforts to improve aircraft maintenance, operational procedures, and emergency response to prevent future tragedies and ensure the safe travel of passengers and crew.
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Airlines and destinations
Grand Bahama Island is served by Grand Bahama International Airport (FPO) in Freeport. The airport is located just one mile from the island. Five airlines operate out of the airport, offering nonstop flights to three cities.
American Airlines offers daily flights from Miami, Florida, into Freeport, with non-stop flights also available from Charlotte, North Carolina. Bahamasair operates daily flights from Fort Lauderdale and Orlando, Florida, and Silver Airways offers the same service from Fort Lauderdale. Sunwing Airlines offers non-stop charter flights from Toronto and Montreal, Canada, every Saturday during the winter season.
American Airlines is rated the highest out of the airlines that fly to Grand Bahama, according to Cheapflights users. A round-trip flight to Grand Bahama typically costs around $303, but prices can start from $128.
Grand Bahama International Airport has experienced several incidents and accidents. On 12 November 1964, a Lockheed Lodestar stalled after take-off and was destroyed by fire, killing all four people on board. On 22 November 1966, a de Havilland DH.125 crashed into the sea off Grand Bahamas during an illegal flight from Miami, Florida. On 24 November 1979, a Convair 440-86 suffered an engine fire after take-off and ended up in the sea, although all 46 people on board escaped. On 8 September 1980, a Douglas DC-3A crashed while on a scheduled international passenger flight. More recently, on 9 November 2014, a Lear 36 Executive Jet crashed on approach to the airport, killing all nine people on board.
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Frequently asked questions
The name of the airport in Grand Bahama Island is Grand Bahama International Airport (GBIA).
The airport code for Grand Bahama International Airport is FPO.
The airport is located in Freeport, Grand Bahama Island, and is 18.8 miles away.
Some of the airlines that fly to Grand Bahama International Airport include American Airlines, Bahamasair, Silver Airways, and Sunwing Airlines.
