Bahamas startup carrier enters Caribbean cargo market

A startup cargo carrier in based out of the Bahamas is looking to “take back some of the flights from foreign carriers,” according to its president, Captain Christopher King. After obtaining approval to operate flights to the United States, Junkanoo Air now caters to freight forwarders, pharmacies, hospitals, clinics and medical labs, transporting time-sensitive equipment and medication.

The upstart carrier offers flights between Florida, The Bahamas, Turks and Caicos, Haiti, Cuba and other locations in the region. Junkanoo currently operates two twin piston) Piper PA-31-350 Chieftain freighters. Moving forward, the carrier said it hopes to add Beechcraft 1900 turboprops in the coming year.

King said he is optimistic about his company’s growth prospects. “Bahamian businesses are poised to expand with the ability to have supplies flown to The Bahamas within hours as opposed to taking days with boats. Inter-island commerce can take off now,” King told local media.

He also said there is growing potential in the regional crafts and arts exports. Junkanoo Air is offering transport for straw work and carvings from the Family Islands – the islands that make up the Bahamas with the exception of New Providence Island and Grand Bahama Island – to Nassau and international markets.

“In the not too distant future, we hope to acquire larger aircraft,” Capt. King explained. He added that Junkanoo Air could, “take goods out of the country to nations such as Haiti and the Dominican Republic, and bring goods out. You have a lot of different nationalities here that want to send goods back to their families.”

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