Updated Travel Restrictions – October 7th, 2020

Trust all is well and you are all keeping safe and healthy.

Due to the COVID19 outbreak, The Government of the Bahamas has restricted air transport into and throughout The Bahamas. Odyssey Aviation has received approval to operate with specific guidelines.

Today, Wednesday, October 7, 2020  our Prime Minister addressed Parliament – The current situation in New Providence and Abaco requires new restrictions in order to reduce the number of infections and, most importantly, to save lives. Full speech https://opm.gov.bs/house-of-assembly-communication-7-october-2020/  (See highlights below).

New Providence and Abaco Only.

  • The following provisions will take effect on Friday, the 9th of October 2020 at 7 p.m.
  • Effective, beginning this weekend,  there will be a full, 24-hour curfew. The weekend curfews will begin Friday evenings at 1900L and end Monday mornings at 0500L.   
  • This holiday weekend, there will be a full three-day 24-hour curfew, beginning Friday October 9 at 1900L to 0500L Tuesday, October 13, 2020.
  • During the weekend 24-hour curfews, only essential services, including the uniformed branches, Customs and Immigration Departments, public health services, sanitation services and essential utility services will be permitted to operate.
  • Weekday curfew, Monday to Friday 1900L nightly to 0500L the following morning.

SEA AND AIRPORTS WILL CONTINUE TO OPERATE AND THERE WILL BE NO INTERUPTION TO FLIGHTS.

The measures I have outlined have no effect on air travel. There has been no change to the current travel regime. The opening of the international tourism sector remains set for the 1st of November 2020.
Indeed, we are also taking these measures in order to reduce our case numbers in preparation for the broader opening of the tourism sector.

The Government of The Bahamas Introduces New Travel And Testing Protocols Designed To Eliminate The Need To Quarantine (Copy of release attached). Updates will be forwarded as received.    https://www.bahamas.com/tourism-reopening

PROTOCOLS THROUGH OCTOBER 31, 2020.

All Persons (Bahamians, Residents, Home Owners & Visitors) Must Present Negative RT-PCR COVID-19 Test from an accredited lab within five(5) days of arrival, Complete an Electronic Health Visa and receive approval prior to arrival to be granted Entry. 14-day mandatory Vacation-in-Place (Quarantine) is required.

PERMITTED

  • Citizens & Residents Of The Bahamas, Homeowners In The Bahamas and Incoming Visitors – refer to website for protocols –  https://travel.gov.bs/international  & https://www.bahamas.com/tourism-reopening
  • International Private Charter Flights Arriving Empty To Collect Passengers.  Private pilots who do not deplane, are not required to take the test.
  • US Military, Emergency Medical Flights (Grand Bahama included).
  • Private Pilots arriving and will be in country for less than 24 hours even if overnighting are requested to complete the Bahamas Travel Health Visa https://travel.gov.bs/ and upload their pilot Identification.  If you are in Country for less than 24 hours you do not require a RT-PCR Covid-19 Molecular   Swab Test with negative results from an accredited lab but you will have to Vacation-in-Place (quarantine) at you hotel facility.
  • Children under Ten (10) are not required to take a test.
  • Cargo & Courier Flights. Private pilots who do not deplane, are not required to take the test.

Vacation-in-Place (Quarantine) –  14-day mandatory Vacation-in-Place is required. A private residence, rental property, hotel or private/chartered yacht are considered Vacation-in-place) quarantine facilities.

  • All persons must submit to monitoring and install the Hubbcat App on their cellular phones for purposes of contact tracing.
  • After the 14 days, all persons intending to remain in the country will be required to complete another COVID-19 test, at their own expense, to exit Vacation-in-Place (quarantine).

Air Travel

  • Wear a face mask –  Entering and transiting terminals.
  • All persons entering the country may be subject to Thermal Temperature Screening.
  • (Passengers showing symptoms of COVID-19 may be transferred to an on-site quarantine area for further evaluation).
  • All persons entering the country will continue to be monitored by the Ministry of Health.
  • Follow physical distancing directions.

Inter-Island Travel To & Within Family Islands.

Prior approval is required for flights – request to be forwarded to covid19info@bcaabahamas.com ,

(For  more information visit https://www.opm.gov.bs/ . All travelers traveling within the Bahamas are required to complete an electronic Health Visa prior to departure https://travel.gov.bs/domestic .  Any airline or sea vessel operator who permits a passenger to board without wearing a face mask and without an approved Health Visa will face a fine per passenger not in compliance.

  • Charters are allowed, including inter-island charters, provided that individuals comply with the inter-island travel Orders. 
  • Inter-island commercial air travel has resumed.
  • COVID-19 negative test results are no longer required for inter-island travel, except for those travelling from New Providence .
  • Travelling from New Providence to any family island, you  will have to obtain a COVID-19 RTPCR negative test result and on arrival to the island you will be required to quarantine for 14 days .  
  • To be clear, if individuals travel to New Providence and seek to return to any other island they will be required to obtain a COVID-19 RTPCR negative test result and will be required to quarantine for 14 days upon arrival at their destination.

HOURS OF OPERATION – ODYSSEY AVIATION LOCATIONS  –  7 DAY A WEEK BEGINNING JULY 27, 2020

All Ground Handling Requests are to be forwarded via email to the respective location in advance of operation and confirmation received prior to arrival.

  • MYNN (Nassau)  info.mynn@Odysseyaviation.com  –  0700/1100UTC – 1800L/2200UTC
  • Family Island Locations – 0800L/1200UTC – 1700L/2100UTC
  • After-Hour Operations – Request for flights will be reviewed on a case by case basis – Inbound or Outbound. Prior approval for operation is required.
  • Emergency or Military flights allowed After-Hours.

Thank you for your understanding of the same. We are committed to the safety and wellbeing of our partners, our citizens and our employees.

We thank you for your continued support of our operations and we look forward to being of service. Please do not hesitate to advise should you have any questions.

Wishing you a great day.