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Airlines serving Bermuda

Several American, 2 British and 1 Canadian carriers provide regular scheduled services

By Keith Archibald Forbes (see About Us) exclusively for Bermuda Online

To refer to this web file, please use "bermuda-online.org/airlines.htm" as your Subject.

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Departing passengers William and Paula Forbes, of Bermuda

Airlines flying from Bermuda are not required under Bermuda law, as they are required in the UK since January 2008 and Europe earlier under their laws, to include compulsory taxes and charges in their headline prices.

In 2006, with the confirmed arrival in May of JetBlue from the USA, going to and from Bermuda became less expensive, for American visitors after five years of wooing by the Government. Prior to that, locals and visitors cited the airlines - unfairly - as the cause of the problem of high air fares. Airlines have a uniform policy of building into their fares structure wherever they go a standard formula for the cost of doing business there. They use a system based on net operating ratio per territory they cover, with its impact on net operating revenues and net operating expenses. In airport user charges and taxes and fuel costs for refueling locally, they pay vastly more per square mile for a place of Bermuda's total geographical size  for their airport and city offices and other services than anywhere else they go. Government airport fees are midway in the world's list of airports including the world's busiest and/or biggest, yet don't offer any of the same price advantages to travelers in air tickets that the latter do. 

Major reasons for all these costs to consumers - taxpayers, visitors and airlines -  is the cost of the Bermuda Government including its 47 legislators in 21 square miles - each Member of Parliament has a constituency of less than 2 square miles and less than 2,000 registered voters on average. Also, there is an army of government employees, Bermuda's biggest single employer by a huge margin, with more people on the government payroll by far than any other country in the world per square mile. Airline tickets are by far and away the most expensive in the world per square mile to any destination. The airport departure tax payable to the Bermuda Government is by far the highest in the world per square mile of Bermuda. 

These, not airlines' overcharging, are main reasons why the cost of flying from New York, etc. to the Bahamas is just over half the cost of flying from New York to Bermuda, yet Bermuda is so much closer to New York than the Bahamas. Barbados is so much further from New York and London than Bermuda, yet it is far less expensive to fly to Barbados, from the USA, Canada, United Kingdom and Europe. Puerto Rico and the United States Virgin Islands - St. Thomas, St. Croix, St. John's - are so much further from the US East Coast than Bermuda, yet they are far less expensive to get there than Bermuda. The factors that limit airlines from coming are not bureaucracy or monopoly but the market-force laws of supply and demand, the costs versus the returns. The market is simply not big enough for them. What is bad - and this time is no fault of the Bermuda Government - is that British Airways charges passengers originating from the UK more than twice the fares of passengers originating from Bermuda.

Bermuda has no airline of its own - although this was not always the case - see Bermuda's Aviation Pioneers. The last one was Eagle Airlines (Bermuda) Ltd in the late 1950s.

Bermudians and locals going to the UK and elsewhere should be aware that British and other airlines flying out of UK airports have devised new ways to levy extra charges on passengers, including on luggage; putting it in a hold; handling fees on bookings, etc. 

Bermuda's location

Bermuda is 568 miles east of North Carolina, 693 miles south east of New York (with direct daily connections by air), 729 miles south of Nova Scotia (with a seasonal once-weekly direct connection by air), 770 miles south east of Boston (with a direct daily connection by air), 788 miles north east of Nassau (no direct connection by air but via the USA), 1115 miles south east of Toronto (with a direct daily connection by air), 1290 miles north of Puerto Rico (no direct connection by air but via the USA), 2055 miles from Winnipeg (no direct connection by air but via Toronto) and 2996 miles from London, England (with a direct six times a week in summer and  three times a week in winter connection by air).

It is NOT in the Caribbean.  The International Air Transport Association (IATA) refers to it rightly as in North America. 

Bermuda has scheduled commercial flights to/from Atlanta; Baltimore; Boston MA Logan (BOS);  Charlotte/Douglas, NC, high season; Chicago-O'Hare (ORD), high season; Fort Lauderdale, seasonal; Halifax; London Gatwick (6.75 to 7.75 hours); Miami International (MIA); Munich (high season: New York (JFK); NYC Newark (EWR); New York - La Guardia (LGA); Philadelphia, PA (PHL); Toronto; Washington DC (DCA) and Washington-Dulles.  There are no commercial scheduled  direct flights between Bermuda and any of the Caribbean islands. Going via the USA or Canada are the only ways.

Non-stop service to Bermuda by these airlines

Some are daily year-round, others are seasonal (usually May to October)

	Air Canada	From Toronto daily, Halifax (YHZ) weekly.
	American Airlines	From JFK New York and Boston's General Edward Lawrence Logan International (BOS) daily in high season
	British Airways	From London, England (Gatwick) daily from March 29 through October 27, 2006.
	Continental Airlines	Daily from NYC Newark (EWR)
	Delta Air Lines	Daily from William B. Hartsfield Atlanta International Airport (ATL) and  General Edward Lawrence Logan International (BOS)
	Munich Airlines/Eurofly	From Munich, Germany, seasonally on Saturdays only. The service originates in Italy and flies to Munich before making the trip to Bermuda.
	JetBlue	From JFK New York and Boston to Bermuda
	United Airlines	In 2006 weekly from Chicago-O'Hare (ORD) and Washington-Dulles (IAD) both seasonal
	USA 3000	Tuesdays, Fridays, from Baltimore/Washington (BWI), seasonal.
	US Airways	Daily from Baltimore/Washington (BWI); General Edward Lawrence Logan International (BOS); Charlotte/Douglas, seasonal; Fort Lauderdale, seasonal; Philadelphia (PHL); New York - La Guardia (LGA); Washington DC (DCA).

Air charters from USA to Bermuda 

• Apple Vacations of USA and some other services, are allowed in from the USA to carry tourists going both ways but are not allowed to carry one-way passengers including Bermudians and residents. 
• TNT Vacations of USA also operate charter flights to Bermuda. Dr. Brown, Minister of Tourism and Transport, has admitted the $49 ticket below currently being offered to North American air visitors by TNT Vacations is being subsidized to the tune of $1 million by the Bermuda Government. Under the plan, twice-weekly charter flights costing $49 for a round-trip from New York and Boston were offered to North American visitors between February and April. Although these cheap flights will not be available for outward bound Bermuda travelers because they are a government promotion to bring more visitors to Bermuda, they will provide more than 8,000 seats to Bermuda during the “off-season." TNT Vacations charters a 189-seat plane from Xtra Airways to make the twice weekly - Sunday and Thursday - flights until April 27. In the two-month period from late February late April they brought over 5,000 visitors. 

Air charters from Bermuda

• Island Aviation Ltd. Fax 295-4927 or E-mail info@islandaviation.bm. Operates executive and air ambulance charters, using IAI Westwind aircraft.
• Longtail Aviation Ltd, a  Bermuda company. Phone 293-6083 at the airport or e-mail charterbermudaoneways.com.  Or at Suite 224, 12 Church Street, Hamilton HM 11. It announced in May 2006 it will fly a customer one way to or from the US East Coast for US$10,000. Pets are allowed.
• There are periodic, pre-arranged return charter flights (but no scheduled air services) to places including Barbados and Cuba, from Bermuda.

Air Cargo. For a list of such services see under "Air Cargo" in Employers.

Airport closes at night

Bermuda International Airport closes at night after the last flight. Under no circumstances are any passengers allowed to sleep there overnight. When it closes, all facilities - restrooms, etc. - close as well. Security guards enforce the closure. All are expected to go home or to an hotel.

Bereavement rate

Passengers who have to travel unexpectedly because of death of a parent or son or sibling or nephew or niece may qualify for a bereavement rate. It will be a small but appreciated gesture to help compensate for the fact that passengers will not be eligible for any apex or other pre-planned fares. But passengers may be asked to supply certain information re the deceased, or supply a Death Certificate, or both. So when they say their final goodbye to their loved one, or attend funerals, they should make a point of asking for an adequately certified copy of a Death Certificate.

Seniors and disabled rate and facilities

Seniors - over 60 for British Airways - get a 10% discount on apex Economy British Airways fares. Also on Air Canada. For the registered permanently physically disabled of Bermuda, The Bermuda Physically Handicapped Association is trying to get the same rate from the airlines as for seniors.

There are no airport jet ways in Bermuda so passengers in wheelchairs or who cannot mount and dismount aircraft steps unaided should ask ahead of time for airline assistance when arriving and departing.  If they ask ahead of time from the airline concerned or travel agency, disabled passengers may be able to obtain bulkhead (but not exit row) seats and certain other relevant services.

Departure tax and Airport Security Fee

From January 2002, in addition to the Departure Tax of $29 per adult, all passengers pay a Bermuda Government Airport Security Fee of $4.25, to be added on to the cost of an airline ticket. The Bermuda Government paid about $400,000 for the new airport security machine but will make the payment of the fee indefinite, to bring in an additional $2 million in revenue each year.

Lineal inches of bags and luggage

When these are shown below or are part of airline policy now, note they are the sum of length plus width plus height. Be aware that some low-cost airlines may have much higher than average costs than the premium-cost airlines. For example, in carrying modes of transport for young children, or wheelchairs for the physically handicapped (disabled), or golf clubs for the sports-minded. (In the UK, low-cost airlines such as Ryanair, EasyJet, FlyBe and BMI charge £15 or more for certain items that British Airways carries for free).

Seat pitch comfort level in Economy

Seat pitch is the space between your seat and the one in front of and behind yours, for hip, leg and face room.  It is shown separately below for each airline.  Airline maker is not responsible as individual airlines configure the interiors.  For more information, go to http://www.uk-air.net/seatpitch.htm

  Air Canada

Formed in 1937 as Trans Canada Air Lines, It first flew in 1939. In September, 1946, in one of the first not pressurized Canadian North Star aircraft, it surveyed the route from Montreal to Bermuda. In 1948 it began a Montreal Toronto Bermuda route and established air to ground communications systems it needed, in Bermuda, Goose Bay, Labrador and Gander, Newfoundland. It filed for bankruptcy protection on April 1, 2003 and is still encumbered. It commissioned the 1986 book "It Seems Like Only Yesterday" by Philip Smith to commemorate its 50th anniversary. Today, Air Canada is the British Commonwealth's most frequent flag carrier serving Bermuda, with year round non stop daily service to and from Toronto - no longer Montreal - and a weekly seasonal (spring, summer and fall) to and from Halifax, Nova Scotia. The executive office (open Monday to Friday 9:00 am to 5:00 pm) is at the Bermuda International Airport, 3 Cahow Way, St. George's Parish, Bermuda, telephone (441) 293-0793, fax (441) 293-0667. Telephone Aero plan 1-800-623-0752; Passenger Reservations & Information 1-800-776-3000 (7 am to 3 am, 20 hours daily); Air Freight (441) 293-2480 or 2105; Baggage (441) 293-0794; Flight Information (441) 293-1777. The City of Hamilton ticketing office is at Windsor Place, Church, Queen and Reid Streets, Hamilton, open Monday to Friday, 9:00 am to 5:00 pm.

Seat pitch comfort level in Economy

Acceptable/Good (generally 32"-34" on 2-hour Bermuda flights) for hip, leg and face room for a journey of 2 hours or less.

  American Airlines

It began daily non-stop service between Bermuda and New York (now JFK) on September 8, 1975. It was when Pan American World Airways (which began flights to Bermuda in 1936 but no longer exists) and American Airlines agreed to orchestrate an airline route swap, whereby American would service Bermuda and certain Caribbean destinations (but not necessarily to and from each other) and Pan Am would service Hawaii and certain Pacific destinations (as Pan Am once did much earlier). That first Bermuda flight on American was a Boeing 707 from Boston's General Edward Lawrence Logan International (BOS). It has been flying to Bermuda ever since. 

At Bermuda International Airport is 3 Cahow Way, St. George's Parish, telephone (441) 293-0938 or fax (441) 293-1000. The City of Hamilton ticketing office is at the Russell Eve Building, 21 Church Street, Hamilton, open Monday to Friday, 9:00 am to 5:00 pm and Saturday 9am-1pm. Other telephone numbers are Passenger Reservations & Information 1 (800)-433-7300 or (441) 293-1420; Airport Passenger Services (441) 293-1556; Air Cargo & Freight Information & Pickup (441) 293-2100; Accounting Office (441) 293-1700; Marketing (441) 292-4743. Enhanced security and hand baggage restrictions affect all flights.

Seat pitch comfort level in Economy

Very Good. (33"-35"on Bermuda flights) for a journey of 2 hours or less. The best of all airlines serving Bermuda in seat pitch.

  British Airways (BA)

A Front Street City of Hamilton ticketing office is open Monday to Friday from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm. Also at Bermuda International Airport, 3 Cahow Way, St. George's Parish. Telephone toll free 1800 AIRWAYS (1-800-247-9297) for automated services 24 hours daily including fares, schedules, flight arrivals, departure times. But there may be quite a wait before you reach an airline agent. Local telephone numbers are Airport Customer and Baggage Service (441) 293-1944; Executive Office (441) 295-0710; and Sales Manager (441) 296-2031.

Bermuda is one of BA's long-haul destinations. In February 2008 its long haul fuel surcharge on the London-Bermuda and Bermuda-London route was £116 ($232) and excess baggage charge was £150 ($300).

It began flying in UK in 1919 as Daimler Air Hire, then Daimler Airway. Handley Page Transport was added to the stable, then Instone Air Line and British Marine Air Navigation (BMAN). The amalgamated service became Imperial Airways in 1924 and British Overseas Airways Corporation (BOAC) in 1939, then British Airways again. It began services to Bermuda on May 18, 1937 with a survey flight on May 25, the first passenger carrying flight on June 8 and official inaugural flight on June 12, via flying boat G-ADUU RMA "Cavalier" shipped to Bermuda in parts from Britain. It and Pan American World Airways - now gone - were the original pioneers of commercial air services to Bermuda.

It is the only airline with daily high-season non-stop direct flights to and from Bermuda and London, England (Gatwick), via a Boeing 77. It is now BA's single most profitable route, by far, with no competition, the highest fares in the world per passenger mile and with passengers originating in the UK being charged nearly twice as much as passengers originating in Bermuda. Enhanced security and hand baggage restrictions affect all flights.

Its cabin service is certainly better than on any other airline serving Bermuda and alcoholic drinks are free - unlike on other airlines crossing the Atlantic from North America. It once flew between Bermuda, New York and Miami and Bermuda to the Caribbean. Even in 1994, it had periodic scheduled flights between Bermuda and Nassau, Bahamas; San Juan, Puerto Rico; and  Tampa, Florida. All such flights ceased.

Seat pitch comfort level in World Traveller Plus economy

Excellent ( 38" on Bermuda flights on a 777 via World Traveller Plus) for a long haul journey of 7.5 hours to Bermuda and 6.5 hours from Bermuda. Economy Class seats - in terms of width - are better than on any other airline serving Bermuda.

The World Traveller Plus has its own dedicated cabin with 40 seats, all equipped within-seat power and telephones.  With an additional seven inches of legroom and wider seats, you have the space and comfort to relax or work in-flight.

Seat pitch comfort level in World Traveller economy

Bad (only 31" on Bermuda flights on a 777) for a long haul journey of 7.5 hours to Bermuda and 6.5 hours from Bermuda. Economy Class seats - in terms of width - are better than on any other airline serving Bermuda. But in seat pitch, the second-worst.

The mere 31 inches of seat pitch in BA Economy - compared to at least 33 on American airlines - turns into an uncomfortable flight, especially for the disabled and seniors. Making the cramped conditions in Economy even worse is the fact that flights between Bermuda and London at popular times, such as before and after Christmas and any time in June, July, August and September are invariably full, so full that it is clearly not possible to do the anti Deep Vein Thrombosis exercises the airline recommends without seriously disturbing someone in the next seat. If you are in Economy and are trying to read a magazine or work - for example, trying to use a lap top computer - forget it completely if the seat ahead of you is reclined.

Those planning to go from Bermuda  to London Gatwick should know that 

• Gatwick is the second-busiest airport in the UK and is usually crowded and uncomfortable, with special seating for genuinely disabled passengers regularly abused without anything being done about it by BAA or the Civil Aviation Authority.
• London and UK public transport systems ( tube or subway, buses, trains except for the Gatwick Express) are not designed for passengers with suit cases and are hugely more expensive than far more comfortable-for-travelers systems in France, Germany, Belgium, Holland, etc.
• Passengers will not be allowed to take 0.75 or 1 liter bottles as hand baggage if going from Gatwick to any other UK or foreign airport.
• On 1st January 2008 the UK increased its duty-free allowance to £290 (US and BD $580) for residents and tourists arriving from non EU countries. 
• From April 1, 2008 travelers using London's two biggest airports can expect to be charged higher fees imposed by Britain's airline regulator. The Civil Aviation Authority said higher fees are needed to pay for improvements at Heathrow and Gatwick airports, and for increased security. British Airways accused the agency of caving in to pressure from the airport owner, BAA, a subsidiary of Grupo Ferrovial of Spain. Other airlines joined in the criticism, saying the regulatory system had failed. They called for an end to BAA's monopoly of London's big three airports, Heathrow, Gatwick and Stansted. The Civil Aviation Authority said it would allow fees to rise 23.5 percent at Heathrow to the equivalent of $25.82 per passenger, effective April 1. At Gatwick it is allowing a 21 percent increase to the equivalent of $13.70 per passenger. The fee is charged for each departure or arrival at the airport. Although the fee is assessed against airlines, the charge is generally added to ticket prices. On its web site, British Airways tells passengers: "You must pay any taxes, fees and charges imposed on us or on you by governments or other authorities, or by operators of airports." In the following four years, fees at Heathrow will increase by no more than retail price inflation, while Gatwick fees can go up by two points more per year than the inflation rate.

   Continental Airlines

It began flying to Bermuda in May, 1999. It offers inward and outward flights daily, from NYC Newark (EWR) - Newark Liberty International - to Bermuda and back. Newark Airport in New Jersey is closer to Manhattan than John F. Kennedy Airport. ts OnePass program is the only award-winning frequent flyer program where air miles never expire. For Reservations and Information, telephone toll-free 1-800-231-0856 or in Bermuda at (441) 293-3092. Enhanced security and hand baggage restrictions affect all flights. 

Seat pitch comfort level in Economy

Acceptable. (32"on Bermuda flights) for a journey of 2 hours or less.

  Delta Air Lines

Still as North East Airlines - before it changed its name - it inaugurated its Bermuda service in March, 1969, from Boston. For a while (certainly in 1994 but no longer) it had a direct flight between Bermuda and Hartford, Connecticut. Its daily non-stop Boston's General Edward Lawrence Logan International (BOS) to Bermuda (772 miles) and roundtrip route is year-round. It also offers the popular, daily, non-stop The William B. Hartsfield Atlanta International Airport (ATL) to Bermuda (1148 miles) and return. Effective May 26, 2006 it increased its daily service between Atlanta and Bermuda by offering a second flight. The office is at Bermuda International Airport, 3 Cahow Way, St. George's Parish. There is also a City of Hamilton ticketing office at 83-85 Front Street, open Monday to Friday from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm. Telephone Passenger Reservations and Information 1-800-221-1212; Flight Information 1-800-325-1999; Administration (441) 293-1024; Air Cargo (441) 293-2050; Baggage Service (441) 293-1022; and District Marketing (441) 293-1023. Enhanced security and hand baggage restrictions affect all flights.

Seat pitch comfort level in Economy

Acceptable. (32"on Bermuda flights) for a journey of 2 hours or less.

JetBlue

Began twice-daily service from JFK New York on May 4, 2006. and Boston in 2007 This low-cost airline came to Bermuda after five years of wooing by the Bermuda Government. It had been a target since 2001 in the expectation that its low cost tickets will entice more visitors to the Island and break the stranglehold of higher-cost carriers. Bermuda’s Hollywood couple Michael Douglas and Catherine Zeta-Jones attended a reception with JetBlue officials at the Grotto Bay Hotel to boost the allure of Bermuda to the airline. For the Bermuda service, it uses Embraer 190 aircraft with a single-class configuration of 100 seats, not the 77 Airbus A320 aircraft JetBlue uses on other routes. In busy periods it switches to a larger 156-seat plane. (1-800-538-2583) or 1-801- 365-2583, if calling from Bermuda. or visit www.jetblue.com. Enhanced security and hand baggage restrictions affect all flights.

USA 3000

New to Bermuda in 2004, from/to Baltimore/Washington (BWI), Terminal E Pier. Thrice-weekly direct flights to Baltimore from Bermuda end August 27 2007 and resume May 2008. A low cost carrier certified by the United States Federal Aviation Administration as a Part 121 Air Carrier authorized to perform scheduled, charter, domestic and international flight operations. It flies a fleet of Airbus A320-214 aircraft. Enhanced security and hand baggage restrictions affect all flights.

Seat pitch comfort level in Economy

Not yet known.

  US Airways

When still known as Allegheny, it began its services to Bermuda on June 1, 1989, flying from Baltimore/Washington (BWI) to Bermuda and Philadelphia. Now Bermuda's most frequent carrier, with some services daily year round and other seasonal. Once - in 1994 - it also flew from Bermuda to Pittsburgh, PA via a stop in Baltimore-Washington. It offers more non-stop seasonal flights between Bermuda and USA than any other airline, with services to/from Boston's General Edward Lawrence Logan International (BOS), Charlotte/Douglas (NC), Fort Lauderdale, New York - La Guardia (LGA); Philadelphia (PHL) and Washington DC (DCA). Its executive office is at Bermuda International Airport, 3 Cahow Way, St. George's Parish. Telephone Reservations & Information at 1-800-622-1015 or fax 1-441-293 1270. Air Cargo (441) 293-1972; Baggage (441) 293-3073. Enhanced security and hand baggage restrictions affect all flights.

Seat pitch comfort level in Economy

Acceptable/Good (32"-34"on Bermuda flights) for a journey of 2 hours or less.

 Zoom Airlines

Founded by Scottish entrepreneurs John and Hugh Boyle in 2004. Operated since June 2007 from some regional UK airports to Canada and from London Gatwick only to Bermuda. Scottish affiliate of low-cost airline flying between UK, Canada, New York and twice weekly from Gatwick to Bermuda. A two-class service from the UK to Bermuda and USA with designated seating and meals. Travelers to and from the UK, if they are prepared to go less frequently than British Airways, now have an alternative to British Airways and at less cost on the direct London Gatwick to Bermuda route. The Boeing 767-300ER aircraft it uses has 266 seats, of which 84 are premium economy and 182 economy. Zoom also applied to have a low-cost flight from Toronto to Bermuda in the summer of 2008, but it was turned down. Zoom blamed UK authorities.

Bermuda International Airport arrivals

From cities shown in USA, Canada and United Kingdom.

On this website,  flights shown are in order of time of arrival, to help persons collecting passengers from the airport. On arrival, passengers go through Bermuda Immigration and Customs. In Bermuda (unlike in UK) Customs are not Green Zone - Nothing to Declare or Red Zone - Something to Declare - but more tedious and with queues (lines). 

Note that some flights are seasonal.

  Bermuda International Airport departures

To cities shown. Refer to airlines for any changes. USA-bound passengers go through US Customs & Immigration pre-clearance in Bermuda.

Fights shown are in order of time of departure, to help persons taking them to the airport, or taxi owners and operators, or local mini-bus services for departing passengers. 

Departing passengers should check in to the airline ticket counter two hours before their departure times, to avoid being refused if they arrive too late to be questioned, screened and processed. Passengers going to Britain or Canada will encounter Immigration and Customs clearance when they arrive in London or Toronto. In the United Kingdom, if a spouse has a UK national passport, an accompanying husband or wife who is not a UK national may also go through the UK and European Community lanes instead of the far more lengthy other Immigration lanes.