ST. AUGUSTINE, Fla. - The Northeast Florida Regional Airport and the Bahamas Ministry of Tourism are partnering to connect people just a plane ride away.
Leonard Stuart, the aviation manager for the ministry, visited the airport on a scouting mission Monday. He said promoting the airport will get more visitors to fly to the Bahamas from North Florida.
According to Elliot Mintzer, a spokesman for MySky Aviation Group, many people drive to Miami or other cities to get direct flights to the Bahamas.
"The long drive to South Florida -- they would rather go to North Florida and get over to the Bahamas as quick as possible," explained Stuart.
NFRA has direct flights through charter and private planes and because the facility has its own customs office, visitors do not need to make stops at larger airports before reaching their final destination.
Airport officials said the partnership is good for both the Bahamas and St. Augustine.
"The emphasis is to really create a free flow of people from the Bahamas and from North Florida down to the Bahamas," said Michael Slingluff, manager of Galaxy Aviation. "We're really the gateway to the islands and we're also a gateway for the islands to the Southeast U.S."
For the most part, the regional airport hosts private and charter planes, but Stuart believes a commercial airline would be interested in utilizing the facility for regular flights.
"It would be a super thing for our community," said Airport Authority Executive Director Edward Wuellner.
Stuart did not mention which airlines would consider operating out of St. Augustine.
The airport will host an event called "Destination... Bahamas" on June 4, so that more people can learn about flying from NFRA to the islands.. The event is open to the public.
First Coast News