From Broward to Bahamian heights
A direct private flight places you on Cat Island’s quiet runway in just over an hour. Customs and immigration are handled at New Bight, where you walk off the aircraft into the open air without the waits and connections that commercial service demands. With bags in hand, you’re only minutes from beaches, fishing docks, and the stone path to the Hermitage.
Because there’s no Nassau transfer, more of your travel day belongs to you. Spend it hiking to the island’s highest point for 360-degree sea views, snorkeling at Mermaid Hole’s sheltered basin, or exploring Loyalist ruins overgrown with bougainvillea. Flying private trims away the wasted hours and makes the transition from city to cay seamless.
Recommended Aircraft
King Air 260
Rough Estimate
$17,100 (Round Trip)
Capacity
8 People
Flight Time
1:05
Island arrival made predictable
AvSky coordinates your customs clearance at New Bight, aligns the schedule with the airport’s daytime staffing, and presents a single, line-item price that covers airport handling from the start. Once confirmed, everything is set. No piecemeal charges, no loose ends — just a clear plan that gets you from Fort Lauderdale to Cat Island without detours.
All price estimates are for a round-trip, Friday through Sunday itinerary. Actual quotes vary depending on factors like season, available aircraft and more. Your quoted price may be more or less than the estimates on this page.
Citation CJ3+
7 people
$26,300
Learjet 60XR
8 people
$33,100
Praetor 600
10 people
$44,600
Gulfstream G450
14 people
Runway too short. Land at Nassau.
Broward departure points, Cat Island’s Port of Entry
Fort Lauderdale Executive (FXE) is our first choice for fast turnarounds and 24-hour U.S. Customs. Fort Lauderdale–Hollywood (FLL) works well when travelers connect from airline flights and offers extra hangar space in high season. On Cat Island, New Bight Airport is the island’s customs-ready Port of Entry with a resurfaced 5,400-foot runway. Arthur’s Town is limited to daytime domestic arrivals for those staying farther north.
Departing Fort Lauderdale
5301 E Perimeter Rd, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33309
100 Terminal Dr, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33315
Arriving Cat Island
New Bight, Cat Island
Arthur’s Town, Cat Island
Hawks Nest Creek, Cat Island
From Lauderdale’s skyline to Cat Island’s cliffs
Walk the steep path to Father Jerome’s stone Hermitage at Mount Alvernia, swim the turquoise basin of Mermaid Hole, and finish the evening with grilled snapper at a beachside shack.
We recommend the King Air 260 for this route. It seats up to eight in a comfortable club layout and has a separate baggage compartment for duffels, rod tubes, and camera cases. The wide, low door simplifies loading, and its performance works well on shorter runways such as Cat Island’s.
Fishing lodges see peak demand November through March, while Easter rake-and-scrape celebrations fill the ramp and hotels. Afternoon showers form in summer after 2 p.m.; midday departures usually avoid them.
Rental cars and small SUVs are the main way to explore Cat Island, and driving is on the left. Fuel stations and card readers can be inconsistent, so carrying cash is wise. Restaurants often close by 9 p.m., and groceries are limited outside New Bight, making advance meal planning a good idea for longer stays.
What gives Cat Island its character
A hand-carved chapel crowns the island’s 206-foot peak, offering a 360-degree panorama of forest and reef.
New Bight’s field comes alive with saw rhythms, goatskin drums, and crab ’n’ rice served from roadside tents.
A coastal trail winds past blue holes and opens onto Atlantic headlands where waves crash into sea caves and spray the ledges.
At low tide, a pale sandbar arcs into the Sea of Abaco just off Pigeon Cay. Visitors can wade across ankle-deep shallows, beach small boats, and watch for bonefish flashing silver in the flats.
New Bight handles all international arrivals and is centrally located, making it the best fit for most itineraries. If your villa or lodge is on the far north end, Arthur’s Town can shorten the drive, but it only accepts domestic flights after clearing customs elsewhere. AvSky matches your arrival point to your final destination to minimize road time.
Yes, with coordination. Hawk’s Nest (MYCH) is a private strip with a 3,100‑ft runway, no lights, no fuel, and no customs. With resort permission and daytime arrival, we can position there after clearing at New Bight.
We plan inside posted daytime windows and confirm the exact schedule before quoting. Published sources note daily coverage; the Immigration contact page lists standard office hours. Your proposal will reflect the window we book.
Vehicles drive on the left, and roads outside the main settlements are narrow and unlit after dark. A U.S. license is accepted, but you will be issued a temporary Bahamian permit at the rental counter. A compact SUV is recommended for the island’s uneven tracks. Gas stations and card readers can be inconsistent, so carrying cash is wise.
BTC 4G covers New Bight and Arthur’s Town, but coverage drops quickly on the west coast and inland trails. A local SIM provides better speeds than U.S. roaming. For remote flats or hikes, downloading offline maps and tide charts before departure is a smart precaution.