Delta Air Lines historically has operated flights to several destinations in the Bahamas. The island nation is known for offering warm-weather leisure options like swimming at the beach, diving or snorkeling, boating and boasts some popular resorts. This summer, Delta will also be returning to Marsh Harbour after a nearly three-year hiatus.

Delta Air Lines returns to Marsh Harbour

Over the weekend, Delta Air Lines loaded into the schedule its return to Marsh Harbour's Leonard Thompson Airport (MHH), according to data from Cirium. Flights will start on June 6th and operate five times per week. No flights will operate on Wednesdays and Fridays. Delta will decrease flights to three weekly operations in September and October before bringing them back to five weekly operations from November.

Flights to Marsh Harbour will run from the airline's largest hub at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL) and operate on the following schedule (all times are local):

  • DL5511 will depart ATL at 11:05 and arrive two hours and 25 minutes later in MHH at 13:30
  • DL5509 will depart MHH at 14:30 and arrive two hours and 34 minutes later in ATL at 17:04

Flights will run on CRJ700 regional aircraft. The planes scheduled to operate flights to MHH will seat 69 passengers with room for nine in recliner-style first class, 16 in extra-legroom economy, and 44 in standard economy.

The rest of Delta's Bahamas network

Looking at data from May through August, Delta Air Lines has plans to fly an extensive amount of service to various cities in the Bahamas. The biggest winner is Nassau, which is the capital and largest city of the Bahamas and is the primary international gateway for the country.

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Delta Air Lines will fly to the Bahamas from Atlanta and New York. Photo: Cirium

Nassau's Lynden Pindling International Airport (NAS) will receive service the following service from Delta:

  • Daily service from New York's John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) using Boeing 737-800 aircraft (select flights on 737-900ER)
  • Twice-daily service from ATL in May, growing to three daily flights in June, July, and August on Boeing 737 aircraft (including the 737-800 and 737-900ER)

Delta will also offer flights to North Eleuthera Airport (ELH) from its hub at ATL. Daily flights in May will step down to six weekly flights in June and five weekly flights through July and August. The primary aircraft operating to ELH will be the CRJ900 featuring room for 76 passengers. This includes 12 in recliner-style first class, 20 in extra-legroom economy, and 44 in standard economy.

The airline's fourth destination in the Bahamas will be Exuma International Airport (GGT). Daily flights in May will step down to five weekly flights in June, July, and August. Delta will primarily fly 76-seat CRJ900s to GGT, with some flights operating on 69-seat CRJ700s.

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Delta is also leveraging its large connecting network to help support the expanded capacity. Photo: Getty Images

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Delta comes back to The Bahamas

Delta Air Lines has not flown to Marsh Harbour since 2019. Freeport (FPO) is also not back after Delta last flew it in 2019. While the crisis did upend some of Delta's plans, in 2019, another major event impacted aviation in the Bahamas and altered how the airline served the market.

In 2019, the devastating Hurricane Dorian hit. The Category 5 hurricane set records and wreaked havoc and devastation across the Bahamas. In the aftermath, Delta Air Lines jumped back into the market with cargo and humanitarian flights to aid in the evacuation and recovery efforts. This included special flights carrying cargo and humanitarian aid and operating evacuations to the United States.

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Delta Air Lines worked with local communities and the government to operate relief flights to the Bahamas in the aftermath of Hurricane Dorian. Photo: Delta Air Lines

In October 2019, Delta Air Lines temporarily dedicated a CRJ900 operated by Endeavor Air to assist in the recovery. The aircraft was the right size and could visit some airports where the hurricane impacted infrastructure and limited ground handling. Delta separately flew in non-perishable food, gas, generators, and other humanitarian supplies. The CRJ900 also flew hurricane survivors between Freeport and Nassau. Other humanitarian flights landed in places like Marsh Harbour to support the country's efforts.

With Marsh Harbour coming back, this represents the airline's continued return to the market. Flights to Marsh Harbour and Freeport were suspended shortly after the hurricane hit, with no official start date announced. Marsh Harbour is now coming back, but Freeport remains off Delta's schedule for now. Nevertheless, Delta will still offer multiple different ways to get to the Bahamas and support the local tourist-driven economy this summer.