A new all-business class airline called BermudAir, which promises window seats for everyone who buys a ticket, announced Thursday it intends to start six-day-a-week service to and from Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport on Sept. 22.
Headquartered in Bermuda, the airline bills itself as a “boutique” carrier and plans to operate Embraer-175 jetliners, which normally seat up to 88 passengers. But in a twist unseen by most travelers who fly regularly scheduled airlines, management is selling only half of those seats, and eventually will create a so-called “aisle class” service where a maximum of 30 travelers will be seated in their own suites that contain floor-level cabinet space for carry-on baggage.
Introductory fares will cost $199 one-way for a two-hour flight.
The suite seating, however, will not be immediately available. According to a statement, the airline will gradually roll out reconfigured cabins with planes initially flying with 88 seats. But the airline will sell only 44 tickets for each flight, “with both window and aisle access and plenty of space for carry-on bags.”
Flights will include free Wi-Fi and entertainment, and passengers will be permitted one complimentary checked bag.
The company said it expects its planes will be outfitted with their suite seating by Nov. 1. Going forward, each plane “will be configured with just 30 seats to feature unmatched privacy and ample workspace, with only two spacious seats (across) from each other in each row,” the statement said.
The cabins will be designed without overhead bins, allowing for quicker boarding and deplaning, the company said.
Although inflation is pressuring consumer pocketbooks, many Americans have been on the move this summer to foreign destinations. And BermudAir suggests it is filling a void.
“We are excited to launch BermudAir as Bermuda’s first carrier, maintaining our commitment to start filling seasonal service gaps and establish frequency of service to and from the island this fall,” said Adam Scott, the founder and CEO in the statement. “Our mission to elevate the travel experience for everyone and provide well-timed, traveler-centric, stress-free flights on these new routes is just the beginning.”
Getting there from here
It appears that the BermudAir flights will be the first direct service to the British Overseas Territory in the western Atlantic from Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International. But an airport spokeswoman had no immediate information about the carrier’s plans.
Most travelers seeking to visit Bermuda generally have to fly via another U.S. city to reach the island. But as the COVID-19 pandemic eased, cruises have been available out of Port Everglades.
The airline, which is based on the island, was granted an operating certificate by the Bermuda Civil Aviation Authority last month. It will fly out of L.F. Wade International Airport, which is near Hamilton, the territorial capital. According to the airport’s website, Bermuda is currently served by Air Canada, American Airlines, British Airways, Delta Air Lines, JetBlue Airways, United Airlines and Westjet.
Besides Fort Lauderdale, BermudAir said it will also serve Westchester County Airport north of New York City, and Logan International Airport in Boston.