Last updated November 1, 2026 · By Seth Semilof
The Bahamas has some of the shortest international private jet flights from the U.S. The Bahamas Ministry of Tourism puts Bimini about 50 nm and Grand Bahama about 60 nm from Palm Beach, Miami and Fort Lauderdale. Nassau, Eleuthera and Abaco are each less than 200 nm from South Florida’s business airports. Winter is peak season. Thanksgiving, Christmas and Junkanoo on Boxing Day and New Year’s Day, then Presidents’ Day weekend, fill the islands’ ramps and hotels at the same time. This guide covers which airport to use for Nassau, Exuma, Harbour Island and Abaco, how Bahamas customs works on a private flight, what U.S. Customs requires on the way home, and how to time your trip for the 2026–27 season.
Haute Jets is a private jet charter broker, not an operator. We arrange flights with Wyvern- and ARGUS-rated FAA Part 135 operators, with access to 3,500+ vetted aircraft. No jet cards and no membership fees. Most quotes arrive within 60 minutes.
2026–27 winter calendar for the Bahamas
| Date | What happens | Planning note |
|---|---|---|
| November 26, 2026 | Thanksgiving | The first big holiday push from Florida and the Northeast |
| November 30, 2026 | Atlantic hurricane season officially ends | Still check the forecast close to departure |
| December 26, 2026 | Boxing Day Junkanoo on Bay Street, Nassau | The parade runs in the early-morning hours; arrive by the 24th or 25th |
| January 1, 2027 | New Year’s Day Junkanoo, Nassau | Book the return leg at the same time as the outbound |
| February 15, 2027 | Presidents’ Day (U.S.) | A popular long weekend for Exuma, Harbour Island and Abaco |
Sources: Government of The Bahamas and Bahamas Ministry of Tourism (Junkanoo); NOAA National Hurricane Center (season dates). Junkanoo also takes place on several Out Islands, and parade times can change.
Junkanoo is the Bahamas’ national festival, listed by UNESCO in 2023 as Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. Groups in handmade costumes “rush” down Bay Street to cowbells, goatskin drums and horns, starting in the early hours after midnight and finishing in the morning. If watching the Nassau parade is the reason for your trip, book the aircraft and the hotel together. The days around Christmas and New Year’s are the hardest of the year to find both.
Which airport for which island
Your first landing in the Bahamas must be at an official Airport of Entry, where customs and immigration clear you. The government’s list of ports of entry covers the main islands, so most travelers can fly straight to their island without a stop in Nassau.
| Island | Airport (ICAO) | Airport of Entry? | FBO listed by Bahamas Tourism | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nassau & Paradise Island | Lynden Pindling International (MYNN) | Yes | Odyssey Aviation; Jet Nassau | Paradise Island, Junkanoo, night arrivals |
| Great Exuma | Exuma International (MYEF) | Yes (George Town, Exuma) | Odyssey Aviation | George Town, Exuma Cays by boat |
| Harbour Island & North Eleuthera | North Eleuthera (MYEH) | Yes | White Crown Aviation | Harbour Island and Spanish Wells |
| Abaco | Leonard M. Thompson International, Marsh Harbour (MYAM) | Yes | Cherokee Aviation | Marsh Harbour, the Abaco cays |
| Grand Bahama | Grand Bahama International, Freeport (MYGF) | Yes | Freeport Flight Centre | Freeport and Lucaya; the closest major island to Florida |
Sources: Bahamas Customs Department, ports of entry list; Bahamas Ministry of Tourism, private aviation FAQs and FBO list. Staniel Cay and Black Point in the Exumas appear on the customs list as “upon request”; confirm with the operator before planning a first landing there.
Harbour Island has no airport
Harbour Island is reached by boat. You land at North Eleuthera (MYEH), take a short taxi ride to the dock, and cross by water taxi. The Bahamas Ministry of Tourism describes the crossing as a five-minute ferry. Ask your hotel to arrange the car and boat so they meet the aircraft.
Night arrivals: Nassau and Freeport
The Ministry of Tourism’s private aviation FAQ says Nassau and Freeport are the only Bahamas airports with instrument approaches for IFR arrivals after sunset. It also lists normal customs hours as 9:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. daily, with specific hours varying by airport. For Exuma, Eleuthera and Abaco, plan to land in daylight and within customs hours. If your day runs late, the usual fallback is Nassau that night and a short hop out the next morning. The operator confirms the plan for your aircraft and crew.
How far is it? Flight distances from Florida and New York
| From | Nassau (MYNN) | Exuma (MYEF) | North Eleuthera (MYEH) | Marsh Harbour (MYAM) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Miami Opa-locka (OPF) | About 160 nm | About 280 nm | About 195 nm | About 175 nm |
| Fort Lauderdale Executive (FXE) | About 160 nm | About 280 nm | About 195 nm | About 165 nm |
| Palm Beach (PBI) | About 175 nm | About 295 nm | About 200 nm | About 160 nm |
| Teterboro (TEB) | About 965 nm | About 1,040 nm | About 930 nm | About 875 nm |
Great-circle distances calculated from OurAirports coordinates and rounded. Actual routings are longer. The operator confirms flight time and aircraft for your date and payload.
From South Florida, these are short international hops, so range is rarely the issue. The real constraints are runway length at the island you choose, the weight of your group and luggage, and whether the island has customs and fuel when you need them. From New York (about 875–1,040 nm), many midsize and larger jets can fly nonstop. The operator confirms this for your payload, and groups often move up a cabin size for space rather than range. See our best private jets for the Bahamas for aircraft ideas.
Bahamas customs on a private flight
On a charter, the crew handles most of the paperwork. Passengers still need to be ready with a few things:
- Passports. Every passenger needs proof of citizenship. Bahamas Tourism lists a passport for private flights.
- Bahamas immigration card. One per person, completed on arrival or in advance as the crew directs.
- Crew documents. The pilots file the C7A inward declaration (three copies) and the flight plan, and land at an Airport of Entry for the first stop.
- Pets. Bring an import permit. Bahamas Tourism says pets need one, and the application is on its private aviation page.
- Fees and taxes. Customs processing, landing, parking and departure taxes apply. Your operator confirms the current amounts in the quote.
Once you have cleared at an Airport of Entry, you can fly between islands without filing a new flight plan, according to Bahamas Tourism, as long as you can show the stamped cruising permit (C7A). The exception is Nassau airspace, which requires a flight plan.
Flying home: U.S. Customs (CBP)
The return leg is where trips slip, so plan it on the day you book:
- APIS manifest. CBP requires an APIS manifest for every person on board for all general aviation arrivals in the U.S. For private flights, federal rules (19 CFR 122.22) set the deadline at no later than 60 minutes before departure. CBP recommends sending it as soon as the passenger list is final. Send us full passport details early.
- Permission to land. Before the aircraft leaves the Bahamas, the crew must get permission to land from the CBP port where you will arrive.
- Customs airport. You land at an approved CBP airport of entry unless CBP has approved another location. Tell us your final destination. Sometimes the best plan is to clear customs in Florida and continue home on the same aircraft.
- Leaving the Bahamas. The crew files a Bahamas outward declaration (C7) and departs from an Airport of Entry. Passengers hand in the immigration card copy.
Bahamas Tourism also lists Florida “Gateway FBOs” at Opa-locka, Fort Lauderdale Executive, Fort Lauderdale/Hollywood and Palm Beach that can help with Bahamas departures and arrivals.
Booking tips for peak weeks
- Book holidays early. The Christmas–New Year’s window is when aircraft, FBO ramp space and island hotels are hardest to find at the same time.
- Keep island legs in daylight. Plan Exuma, Eleuthera and Abaco arrivals for daylight and customs hours; use Nassau when you must arrive after dark.
- Bring luggage counts, not just headcounts. Beach bags, fishing gear and dive kits change the aircraft choice on short runways.
- Decide whether the jet waits. A quick weekend often works best with the aircraft staying; a week-long stay usually means two one-way legs. It changes the quote.
- Pair it with Florida. Many winter trips combine a Bahamas week with Palm Beach season. For St. Barts over New Year’s, see our St. Barts guide.
Related pages: Bahamas private jet charter, Miami to the Bahamas, Fort Lauderdale to Nassau, Nassau to New York, Exuma to South Florida and our Bahamas private jet guide.
How to plan the trip with Haute Jets
- Send your dates, home airport, island and hotel, passenger count, bags and any pets.
- We compare aircraft from Wyvern- and ARGUS-rated operators that already fly into your island’s airport.
- We flag customs hours, daylight limits and CBP timing for the return leg before you book.
- We do not publish made-up charter prices. Your quote depends on aircraft, routing, dates and whether the jet waits. For general context, see how much it costs to charter a private jet in 2026.
Book with Haute Jets
Send us your Bahamas dates and we will line up aircraft options for Nassau, Exuma, Harbour Island or Abaco. Most quotes arrive within 60 minutes. Request a quote or call (800) 257-5661.
FAQs
Which airport do I fly into for Harbour Island?
North Eleuthera (MYEH). Harbour Island has no airport, so you take a short taxi ride to the dock and a water taxi across. Bahamas Tourism describes it as a five-minute ferry ride.
Do I have to clear customs in Nassau first?
No. You must clear at an official Airport of Entry on your first landing, but Exuma International, North Eleuthera, Marsh Harbour and Grand Bahama are all on the government’s list, so you can usually fly straight to your island.
Can a private jet land in the Bahamas at night?
Bahamas Tourism says Nassau and Freeport are the only airports with instrument approaches for IFR arrivals after sunset. Plan Out Island arrivals in daylight and within customs hours, or land in Nassau and hop over in the morning.
What documents do passengers need?
A passport for each passenger and one Bahamas immigration card per person. Pets need an import permit. The crew handles the aircraft declarations, flight plans and APIS manifests.
When is Junkanoo in 2026–27?
The main Junkanoo parades take place on Bay Street in Nassau on Boxing Day, December 26, 2026, and New Year’s Day, January 1, 2027. They start in the early hours after midnight and end in the morning.
How do I get a quote for a private jet to the Bahamas?
Request a quote at https://www.hautejets.com/request-a-quote or call (800) 257-5661. Most quotes arrive within 60 minutes. No jet cards and no membership fees.
Sources
- Bahamas Ministry of Tourism, Private Aviation Regulations & FAQ: bahamas.com
- Bahamas Ministry of Tourism, Private Flying in The Bahamas: bahamas.com
- Bahamas Customs Department, Ports of Entry: bahamascustoms.gov.bs
- Government of The Bahamas, Junkanoo: bahamas.gov.bs
- Bahamas Ministry of Tourism, The Joy of Junkanoo: bahamas.com
- Bahamas Ministry of Tourism, Getting to Eleuthera & Harbour Island: bahamas.com
- U.S. Customs and Border Protection, General Aviation Processing: cbp.gov
- eCFR, 19 CFR 122.22 (private aircraft APIS and notice of arrival): ecfr.gov
- NOAA National Hurricane Center, Tropical Cyclone Climatology: nhc.noaa.gov
- OurAirports, airport coordinates data: ourairports.com