For more than two decades, one of the Bahamas’ most beautiful islands hasn’t had scheduled Bahamasair service. That just changed. 

One of the Bahamas’ most overlooked islands is getting a major boost in connectivity.

Bahamasair has officially restored scheduled service to Cat Island, bringing back twice-weekly flights between Nassauand Arthur’s Town after an absence of more than 20 years. The return of the national carrier reconnects one of the country’s most authentic Out Islands with the capital, making it considerably easier for both Bahamians and visitors to reach a destination known for uncrowded beaches, boutique hotels and a pace of life that feels increasingly rare in the Caribbean.

The return of scheduled service was celebrated on Cat Island by Prime Minister Philip Davis, who was born on the island and called the occasion one that many residents had been anticipating for years.

“I had the privilege of returning home to Cat Island to mark something many people have been waiting a long time for: the return of scheduled Bahamasair service after more than twenty years,” Davis said.

The Prime Minister said the restored flights between Nassau and Cat Island will make travel easier for families, residents, visitors and local businesses while representing another important step in the island’s future.

“As a son of Cat Island, there are few moments that make me prouder than seeing our island continue to move forward,” he said.

The news means one of the Bahamas’ most rewarding destinations has become easier to add to an itinerary, with service on Thursdays and Sundays, according to Bahamasair’s website. 

Why This Flight Matters

The return of Bahamasair is about much more than another route on an airline schedule.

Reliable air service remains one of the biggest factors shaping tourism throughout the Out Islands, where improved connectivity can create new opportunities for local businesses while giving visitors greater confidence when planning a vacation.

With scheduled flights now operating twice each week, travelers arriving in Nassau from the United States, Canada and elsewhere in the Caribbean have another convenient option for continuing on to Cat Island.

It also restores a connection that has been missing for more than two decades, creating new opportunities for visitors looking beyond the Bahamas’ best-known destinations.

The island has always appealed to travelers seeking a quieter experience, but improved scheduled service removes one of the biggest hurdles that often kept first-time visitors from making the trip.

Why Cat Island Is Different

There are islands that revolve around large resorts, casino complexes and bustling cruise ports.

Cat Island has never tried to be one of them.

Instead, it has quietly built a reputation among repeat visitors as one of the Caribbean’s most peaceful destinations, where long stretches of white sand remain remarkably uncrowded and days are shaped by the rhythm of the sea rather than a busy itinerary.

You’ll find beaches where your footprints may be the only ones in the sand, small settlements where everyone knows each other and local restaurants that have become gathering places for both residents and returning visitors.

It’s an island that rewards travelers willing to slow down.

That sense of authenticity has become one of Cat Island’s defining characteristics. While many Caribbean destinations have experienced rapid tourism development over the last several decades, Cat Island has remained true to its Out Island identity, offering a Bahamas experience that feels genuine, relaxed and deeply connected to local culture.

For travelers searching for somewhere that still feels undiscovered, that’s exactly the appeal.

The Beaches Are the Main Attraction

The first thing many visitors remember about Cat Island is the coastline.

Miles of powder-soft white sand meet clear turquoise water, with many beaches remaining almost completely empty throughout much of the year. Unlike some of the region’s busier destinations, you rarely need to search for your own stretch of shoreline.

The island offers beaches on both its Atlantic and Caribbean sides, each with its own character, from wide expanses of sand to protected coves where the water is calm enough for swimming and paddleboarding.

It’s the kind of destination where you can spend an entire day moving from one beach to another without encountering crowds, beach clubs or rows of lounge chairs.

That simplicity has become one of the island’s greatest luxuries.

More Than Just Beautiful Beaches

While the coastline draws most first-time visitors, Cat Island rewards travelers who take time to explore inland.

The island is home to Mount Alvernia, the highest point in The Bahamas, where visitors can climb to The Hermitage, the small stone monastery built by the legendary Father Jerome. From the summit, panoramic views stretch across the island and surrounding ocean, offering one of the country’s most memorable viewpoints.

Throughout the island you’ll also find historic churches, quiet settlements, fishing communities and scenic coastal roads that encourage unhurried exploration.

Bonefishing remains one of Cat Island’s signature outdoor experiences, while the surrounding waters also attract snorkeling, diving and boating enthusiasts looking for reefs that see only a fraction of the visitors found elsewhere in the region.

The island doesn’t rely on a long list of attractions.

Instead, its greatest strength is the feeling that you’ve found a part of the Caribbean that still looks and feels much the way it always has.

Where We Like to Stay

One of the things we appreciate most about Cat Island is that its accommodations reflect the personality of the destination itself.

Rather than large international resorts, you’ll find intimate beachfront properties where the emphasis remains on location, hospitality and the natural beauty surrounding you.

Our top choice is Rollezz Villas Beach Resort, one of the island’s signature boutique hotels. Set directly on a spectacular stretch of beach, the property combines spacious villas with a relaxed atmosphere that encourages guests to spend as much time outdoors as possible. Whether you’re enjoying the ocean from your private terrace or walking the beach at sunrise, it’s the kind of place that immediately puts you into vacation mode.

Another longtime favorite is Fernandez Bay Village, a property that has earned a loyal following over the years thanks to its charming beachfront cottages, welcoming restaurant and exceptional location on one of Cat Island’s most beautiful bays. Guests return for the laid-back atmosphere as much as they do for the scenery.

We also recommend Shanna’s Cove Resort, a boutique property perched above one of the island’s most picturesque beaches. With colorful cottages, sweeping ocean views and consistently excellent dining, it’s one of those places where extending your stay quickly becomes tempting.

Each offers a slightly different experience, but all capture what makes Cat Island special: personal hospitality, remarkable beaches and a genuine connection to the island.

Don’t Miss Da Pink Chicken

Every island has one place that locals and repeat visitors tell you not to miss.

On Cat Island, that’s Da Pink Chicken.

Part beach bar, part neighborhood gathering place and one of the island’s best-known watering holes, it’s the kind of establishment that perfectly reflects Cat Island’s personality.

The atmosphere is relaxed, conversations come easily and visitors quickly find themselves talking with both locals and fellow travelers.

Whether you’re stopping in after a day exploring the island or looking for somewhere to spend an easygoing evening, Da Pink Chicken has become one of Cat Island’s essential stops.

It’s the sort of place that works because it’s authentic, welcoming and unmistakably Bahamian. In other words, just pass the cold Kalik. 

A Growing Focus on the Out Islands

The return of Bahamasair service also reflects the continued emphasis on strengthening connectivity throughout the Out Islands, where improved transportation plays an important role in supporting tourism and local economies.

For visitors, better air service creates more opportunities to experience destinations beyond Nassau, Paradise Island and Grand Bahama, introducing travelers to the quieter side of the country that has long been a favorite among seasoned Bahamas visitors.

Cat Island has always offered something different from the country’s larger tourism hubs.

More than 20 years after the last scheduled Bahamasair flights, Cat Island is once again connected by the national carrier. For one of the Caribbean’s most beautiful and least-developed destinations, it’s a meaningful milestone—and for travelers looking for a different kind of Bahamas escape, it couldn’t come at a better time.

What It Costs to Fly There 

I found prices of about $283.60 roundtrip, based on the national carrier’s reservations system. 

Of course, you need to add that to the price of flying to Nassau, which, thankfully, has some of the best air access of any destination in the region, with flights from just about every major gateway in the United States. 

I should note that there is already a way to get to Cat from Fort Lauderdale, with scheduled service on the very good boutique airline called Makers Air, which flies out of FLX to both New Bight and Arthur’s Town airports in Cat Island (they also operate flights to Long Island).