From South Florida, the Exumas sit roughly 280 nautical miles away—about an hour’s flight time in a light jet or turboprop out of Miami, Fort Lauderdale, or Palm Beach. Central Florida departures from Orlando or Tampa run 420 to 450 nautical miles, averaging 75 to 90 minutes. Exact flight times vary based on aircraft choice, winds, and the filed flight plan.

Private jets land at Exuma International (GGT) in George Town, whose 7,000-foot runway accommodates all private cabin classes. The airstrip at Staniel Cay measures only 3,031 feet and is restricted to turboprops and piston aircraft—jets cannot land there. If your destination is in the central cays, your flight touches down in George Town first, clears customs, and connects onward by a quick turboprop hop or private boat transfer.

No. Staniel Cay is not a designated port of entry on the official Bahamian aerodrome register. Any flight arriving from outside the Bahamas must clear customs and immigration at an authorized port of entry—typically George Town or Nassau—before continuing to Staniel Cay as a domestic flight. AvSky builds this mandatory clearance stop directly into your itinerary so your arrival is fully compliant and seamless.

Staniel Cay lies roughly 48 nautical miles north of George Town, right beside Big Major Cay’s swimming pigs and Thunderball Grotto. Reaching the cays takes about 20 minutes by chartered turboprop or around two hours by private boat. AvSky times this onward transfer to depart shortly after you clear customs in George Town, ensuring a smooth, direct connection from the runway out to the water.

Charter flights require valid Bahamas operating authority, secured in advance by your operator. Bahamas Customs assesses an entry fee of $150 per leg for aircraft seating more than four passengers ($75 for smaller cabins), alongside a $29 departure tax per traveler. Airport landing, handling, and security fees vary by aircraft weight. AvSky itemizes every applicable regulatory and handling fee directly in your quote.

Because the Exumas have no U.S. preclearance facility, homebound flights clear customs and immigration upon touchdown at their first U.S. port of entry—most commonly Fort Lauderdale, Miami, or Palm Beach. Your operator submits passenger manifests through APIS and secures landing permissions before departure, ensuring a quick, seamless clearance process directly on the ramp or private terminal upon arrival.

All passengers must hold a valid passport to enter the Bahamas. While U.S. citizens do not require a tourist visa for visits under 90 days, we recommend maintaining at least six months of passport validity beyond your trip dates. AvSky collects passenger manifests at booking and coordinates directly with the operator to file the general declaration before takeoff, streamlining immigration upon landing.

Charter pricing is driven by four primary factors: cabin size, repositioning distance, travel dates, and applicable government fees. Because the flight from Florida is relatively short, Exumas routes are among the most accessible international charters. AvSky quotes are fully transparent and itemized, detailing flight costs, handling fees, and taxes upfront—with any onward connections to the cays clearly specified.

Yes. Heavy private aviation traffic between Florida and the Bahamas regularly generates empty-leg opportunities as aircraft reposition. While these one-way legs offer significant savings, they remain tied to the primary charter’s schedule and can change or cancel on short notice. If your travel dates are flexible, they can be an excellent option; for firm travel plans, a dedicated charter guarantees your itinerary.

Baggage capacity is determined by your aircraft’s cargo hold. On short island routes, luggage volume often guides cabin selection more than flight range. Light jets accommodate standard luggage with ease, while groups traveling with oversized gear—such as dive bags, fishing rod tubes, or provisioning crates—benefit from midsize or super-midsize holds. Sharing your expected baggage during quoting ensures your aircraft accommodates everything comfortably.

The Exumas are a year-round charter destination. December through April offers warm, dry weather and the most settled conditions on the water, making it the most popular travel window. Summer and autumn bring quieter islands and broader aircraft availability, alongside occasional tropical showers. AvSky tracks weather outlooks for every booking, coordinating with operators to adjust flight windows proactively whenever weather margins require it.

Certain private islands in the Exumas maintain their own airstrips, allowing turboprops to land guests directly after clearing customs at a designated port of entry. For private jet arrivals, flights land at Exuma International in George Town, clear customs, and connect onward via a 15-minute regional flight or private boat transfer. AvSky coordinates directly with island management so your onward connection meets your aircraft on the ramp.