4 days Ago By Jonathan E. Hendry
Set just over two hours by air from the US East Coast, Bermuda is emerging from a period of low connectivity with the arrival of year-round BermudAir flights to several significant US destinations. Speaking exclusively to Simple Flying, BermudAir's CEO Adam chats about what goes into a successful airline startup and sets the new national airline apart. What goes into a route BermudAir was initially envisioned as a boutique airline with an all-business class configuration.
However, seat delays resulted in the airline beginning operations in September 2023 with two Embraer E175 aircraft configured in a traditional dual-class cabin. The airline's route development model is predicated on point-to-point services, taking into account current demand and historical traffic patterns. Get all the latest airline route news right here.
One way Scott is looking to gain a footing in crucial markets is by flying to airports where it can serve a wide range of passengers without significant competition from legacy airlines. Of the ten destinations the airline will serve next summer, only two face direct competition. It is one of three new US destinations from Bermuda, and passengers can take advantage of US Customs Preclearance on the return flight.
Speaking on the launch of flights to Raleigh-Durham, Scott explained that the city has a good mix of business travelers, leisure passengers, and friends and family traffic: "Raleigh has actually been on our hit list for quite some time. It was one of the first ones that came up a long time ago as we looked at those markets that we'd like to ultimately expand to. "We're also committed to providing a year-round service, so I think twice a week is a good start.
Hopefully over time, we'll be able to increase that to add to an even greater frequency." The airline serves secondary airports for major US cities as well. While it flies into Boston Logan (BOS) and launched services to Baltimore/Washington International (BWI) to serve the Washington DC region, its gateway to New York City is Westchester Airport (HPN).
For Scott, smaller international airports offer a level of convenience not seen at the likes of New York JFK: "If you're in Connecticut and fly with us out of Westchester, you can be in Bermuda by the time you'd otherwise be checking in at JFK. "I think that the one thing that we really like to impress upon people is it's the ease of getting here and the short travel time. You're in a completely different world in such a short period of time.
" Given the flight time of two hours and mild winters, the island can make for a convenient getaway year-round, but only if you can find flights. Not just seasonal services One of the key pain points Scott found during his time in Bermuda is the lack of regularly scheduled flights in the off-season. A range of international carriers serves the island, but Scott hopes to set BermudAir apart by offering services that operate throughout the year, noting: "Unless you're in New York, it's pretty difficult to get here consistently year round.
" Contrary to many other islands, where the island originating traffic can be a single-digit percentage of overall traffic, around 40% of outbound travel originates in Bermuda. From a business perspective, it also makes sense to offer year-round travel. Scott highlighted the fact that island residents are eager to travel for work and pleasure, and they travel frequently: "The reality is, Bermuda is really a year round destination.
It's a beautiful place, especially if you want to golf, if you want to see some culture. If you want to around Hamilton, it's a beautiful city, [as is] St George's. Even the water is beautiful in the winter.
It's a little bit chillier, you know, the water temperature drops to 70 from a robust 87 in July/August, it's still gorgeous. "People here also get a little bit of island fever. They want to get back to the US and Canada to go shopping, see friends and family, and do business.
And so, year-round is really critical for us. "And I think one of the things about Bermuda that's pretty special, that a lot of people don't really appreciate, is that Bermuda actually is a thriving financial center as well, with a lot of reinsurance industry and other offshore financial services." While Scott confirmed there is definitely a seasonality challenge, he noted the airline has recently added package holidays in an attempt to boost off-season bookings, a tactic he hopes will result in trickle-down economics for the whole island and its tourism industry.
A flexible fleet The airline currently operates a fleet of two leased Embraer E175 aircraft and plans to add a third and fourth aircraft early next year. According to Scott, they will arrive in time for the airline's late spring/early summer ramp-up. The jets are configured with two seats on each side, which Scott views as the ideal way to serve markets across North America economically: "I think that the big thing for us was having the right-sized aircraft so that we could make these smaller markets work for us.
" The carrier has experienced delays in its pod-style seating for the business class cabin, which will result in a 1x1 configuration, but it still plans to install them when they arrive. In the meantime, the carrier is operating a European-style business cabin experience with the seat beside each of its 14 business class spaces blocked for comfort, with Scott highlighting the onboard experience as a key selling point: "We also, of course, have a fantastic onboard product in terms of food and beverage, and all of that is sourced here in Bermuda as well. "I like to say the minute you get on the aircraft, you're already on your holiday, or you're already in Bermuda.
So that's something that really differentiates us." When pressed for specifics on the feet expansion plans, Scott declined to comment but confirmed the airline will stick with Embraer's E jet family of aircraft but will go " slightly larger than the 175 ." Embraer produces two larger aircraft in the range, the E190 and E195.
A personalized experience Another way BermudAir is looking to attract US visitors is by highlighting Bermuda's status as a preclearance getaway. The island's airport is certified by the US Customs and Border Patrol to conduct all the necessary passport checks and inspections so travelers land in the United States as domestic travelers. Fourteen international airports have United States Immigration and Customs preclearance.
Bermuda is one of several overseas locations facilitating the prescreening process, alongside airports in Ireland, Canada, and The Bahamas. For Scott, the expedited immigration is just one of the reasons people should visit Bermuda: "One of the great things about Bermuda is that we also have preclearance. So, the ease with which North Carolinians can travel here, get back home, and land as domestic arrivals just makes the whole experience that much better.
"So you get to come and experience arguably the most beautiful spot in the world, but it's literally like a domestic service for you guys. Of course, you still need to bring your passport, but I can assure you, it's well worth it. "The opportunity to be able to come to such a great place in about two hours without all of the aggravation of going through a major hub airport and a connection is a very appealing and attractive proposition.
" When asked his proudest accomplishment in the first year of operations, Scott pointed to the exceptional teamwork and welcoming environment throughout the organization, noting: "The one thing that really differentiates us from everybody else is that when you get on one of our aircraft, our staff actually smile at the passengers." For Scott, that commitment to creating a welcoming environment is what helps drive the airline forward and build a company that they can be proud of..
