By David L Snelling

Miami– In an effort to strengthen its relations with the Caribbean islands, American Airlines is offering nonstop connection from Miami to Bimini, Bahamas.

The flights will commence Feb. 14, 2026.

Miami International Airport (MIA) is the tourist hub of the nation and beyond and American Airline passengers have been requesting more flights to the Bahamas including Bimini.

The Bahamian government has been actively working to increase air transport to the islands, according to the Bahamas Chronicle.

The government’s focus is on attracting more airlift throughout the entire archipelago and addressing the state of airport infrastructure in Grand Bahama and the Family Islands.

Currently, Jetways Airlines and Aztec Airways are the only two airlines to fly to Bimini, Bahamas from anywhere in the United States.

Jetways operates a seasonal route to Bimini and Aztec offers a direct flight from Fort Lauderdale to Bimini twice a week.

American Airlines currently offers 11 nonstops flights to Nassau from various U.S. cities and Florida.

But starting next year, American will operate three flights per week to Bimini on Mondays, Wednesdays and Saturdays from MIA.

“American knows that travelers are looking for unique and varied experiences, and that’s why we’ve added destinations like Bimini to our network,” said Brian Znotins, American’s Senior Vice President of Network Planning.

“We recently announced new routes for travelers to explore unique architecture in Prague or Budapest or ski down exciting slopes in Sun Valley, and now we’re offering a new island option in the Bahamas.”

Located 50 miles off the coast of Florida, Bimini is a popular tourist destination, according to Island Life Caribbean.

Referred to as the Gateway to the Bahamas, it is known for its pristine white-sandy beaches, vibrant marine life and water activities such as snorkeling, diving and fishing.

But the biggest attraction is Atlantis Paradise Island, a luxurious resort which offers a variety of amenities and activities for tourists.

It features the largest waterpark in the Caribbean with over 20 swimming areas and 14 pools and private beaches, a cluster of restaurants and shops and casinos.

The demand for more airliners to travel to Bimini was sparked by record-breaking numbers of visitors in the past five years.

In 2023, the Caribbean nation set a record for the most tourists, a total of 9,654,838 including visits to Bimini and other destinations.

It represents a 38 percent increase over the previous year, indicating a strong growth in tourism across the Bahamas.

American Airlines customers can connect through MIA to Bimini from more than 80 destinations in the U.S. and Canada.

Bimini will be American’s seventh destination in the BaThamas his winter, American will operate more than 30 peak daily flights to the Bahamas, the most of any U.S. airline.

In addition to being the only carrier connecting Bimini with the U.S. nonstop, American is also the only U.S. airline flying to Governor’s Harbour (GHB) and Freeport (FPO).

In response to continued traveler interest in the Bahamas, American has also added additional frequencies during the December holiday season to Marsh Harbour (MHH) and North Eleuthera (ELH).