BermudAir is pushing deeper into the Caribbean with new nonstop flights from Fort Lauderdale to Belize City and to Providenciales in the Turks and Caicos Islands, while also moving its Orlando-area Bermuda service from Orlando International to Orlando Sanford.
The expansion was reported by The Bulkhead Seat on October 9 and by InsideFlyer on October 10. It marks one of the broadest network moves yet for the Bermuda-based airline, which has so far been best known for linking Bermuda with cities on the U.S. East Coast and in Canada.
New flights from Fort Lauderdale
BermudAir will connect Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport (FLL) with Philip S. W. Goldson International Airport (BZE) in Belize City and with Providenciales International Airport (PLS) in Turks and Caicos. Both routes are planned at three flights per week, operating on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays.
Fort Lauderdale is a natural base for Caribbean flying. It sits in one of the largest leisure travel markets in the United States, has a big population with family ties across the region, and already hosts several low-cost and leisure airlines serving the Caribbean and Central America.
Belize City is the main international gateway to Belize, popular with travelers heading to the barrier reef, the cayes and inland nature reserves. Providenciales is the main tourism hub of Turks and Caicos and home to Grace Bay, one of the region's best-known beach areas.
Orlando service moves to Sanford
BermudAir is also changing airports in Central Florida. From October 31, its twice-weekly flights between the Orlando area and Bermuda's L.F. Wade International Airport (BDA) will move from Orlando International Airport (MCO) to Orlando Sanford International Airport (SFB).
Sanford is a smaller airport north of Orlando that is used heavily by leisure carriers. The switch may lower costs and simplify operations for a small airline, but passengers who are used to flying from MCO will need to plan for a different terminal and different ground transport.
More routes to follow
The Fort Lauderdale flights are only part of the plan. BermudAir intends to add Belize City service from Boston Logan International Airport (BOS) and Raleigh-Durham International Airport (RDU).
Turks and Caicos is set to gain BermudAir flights from Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport (BWI), Boston, Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR), Raleigh-Durham and Toronto Pearson International Airport (YYZ).
InsideFlyer reported that the new service begins on October 31, but launch timing appears to vary by route, and the reports did not give a full start date for every new link. Travelers should check the specific route on BermudAir's booking site before planning a trip.
The Embraer E190 product
All of the flights will be operated with Embraer E190 regional jets. BermudAir flies the E190 in a two-cabin layout with no middle seats, and the airline includes complimentary snacks and beverages for all passengers.
The E190 is a good fit for thinner leisure routes. Its size lets the airline offer a few weekly frequencies on routes that would not support a larger narrowbody, while still flying nonstop on sectors of a few hours from the U.S. East Coast to the Caribbean.
Why it matters
The new routes show BermudAir growing beyond a Bermuda-only network and building a wider presence in the Caribbean. Belize and Turks and Caicos are both strong winter sun markets, and adding them from multiple North American cities gives the carrier more ways to keep its small fleet busy outside Bermuda's traditional peak season.
For travelers, the main benefit is more nonstop choice. Instead of connecting through large hubs such as Miami, Atlanta or Charlotte, passengers in Fort Lauderdale and, later, in cities such as Boston, Raleigh-Durham and Toronto will be able to reach these islands and Belize on a single flight.
The flip side is frequency. With service planned at around three flights a week on the Fort Lauderdale routes, travelers will need to fit their dates around BermudAir's schedule rather than expect a daily option.
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