Bahamas Airways Limited (BAL) was formed in 1936 to takeover the operation Inter-island Charter Services (1933). In 1943, Pan American Airways (Pan Am) took a 45% stake in 1943 but was bought out by British South American Airways (BSAA) and in 1949 was subsequently was absorbed into British Overseas Airways Corporation (BOAC).
BAL’s network spread from Nassau, New Providence Island, out to surrounding islands including Bimini and Grand Bahamas, plus additionally West Palm Beach from Grand Bahamas. Other services connected Nassau to Miami and Fort Lauderdale. In March 1956 it inaugurated a service to Grand Turk, Turks Island via San Salvador Island, Mayaguana and Great Inagua.
As tourism grew, BAL faced extensive competition from Pan Am, amongst others, and was not profitable. BOAC tried selling off the airline in April 1959 when Skyways Bahamas Holding Co Ltd took a 80% share, but in December 1960 BOAC bought back this holding.
By 1968, following a dispute between BAL staff and BOAC over pay, BOAC was looking for a way out. The Bahamian government declined to take a 49% share of BAL. Instead in October 1968 Bahamas Airways was taken over by John Swire & Sons (Cathay) with BOAC retaining a 15% stake.
Bahamas Airways finally ceased operations on October 9, 1970.
Postcards
1970 – Calypso Distributors Ltd (10×110800 Series)
References
- Bahamas Airways Pt 1: Money for Nothing
- Bahamas Airways Pt2: Swire’s Flamingo
- Bluegrass Airlines Feature of the Month – Bahamas Airways ‘59 (2011) – Allan Lowson
