In late August 2023, we saw the launch of BermudAir, a new airline offering service between Bermuda and the United States. The airline initially offered flights from Bermuda (BDA) to three destinations — Boston (BOS), Fort Lauderdale (FLL), and Westchester (HPN). The airline is now adding service to two additional cities.
In this post:
BermudAir adds more United States routes
As flagged by @IshrionA, BermudAir is expanding its service in the coming months, with new flights to Baltimore (BWI) and Orlando (MCO).
As of March 18, 2024, the airline will add 3x weekly flights from Bermuda to Baltimore, operating with the following schedule on Mondays, Thursdays, and Saturdays:
2T551 Bermuda to Baltimore departing 8:15AM arriving 9:50AM
2T552 Baltimore to Bermuda departing 10:45AM arriving 2:00PM
The 820-mile flight is blocked at 2hr35min westbound and 2hr15min eastbound.
Then as of March 26, 2024, the airline will add 3x weekly flights from Bermuda to Orlando, operating with the following schedule on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Sundays:
2T751 Bermuda to Orlando departing 3:30PM arriving 5:40PM
2T752 Orlando to Bermuda departing 6:40PM arriving 10:10PM
The 1,028-mile flight is blocked at 3hr10min westbound and 2hr30min eastbound.
Both routes will be operated by the carrier’s Embraer E175, as the airline has two of these in its fleet. Tickets for these flights are already on sale.
My take on BermudAir’s expanded service
BermudAir deserves credit for having actually launched operations, unlike so many other “airline startups.” In fairness, the airline is taking a pretty conservative approach, in the sense that it flies only two Embraer E175s, which were acquired after Flybe went out of business. To my knowledge, the airline doesn’t have any concrete growth plans beyond that.
So the airline might as well utilize these jets as efficiently as possible, as it’s easy to have each of these aircraft perform two daily rotations to the United States, for a total of four daily flights. That comes out to a total of 28 weekly roundtrip flights between the two aircraft. At least that assumes that there are no mechanical issues, in which case passengers are in trouble.
What I find more puzzling about BermudAir is how quickly the carrier’s business model has shifted. The initial plan was for the airline to be an all-business class carrier, with an innovative 1-1 seat design throughout the cabin.
However, since then, the airline has decided to ditch the all-business class concept, and is instead also offering economy. Not only that, but there is no firm timeline for when the airline will actually offer the business class product it has been promising all along, which is being blamed on delays with suppliers.
So the jet continues to have an 88-seat cabin in a 2-2 configuration, and business class passengers simply get an economy seat with an empty seat next to them, plus better service.
Even with a low cost structure, I’m skeptical of how this airline is supposed to make money flying in these markets year-round, especially with no feed. I’m curious to see how BermudAir evolves…
Bottom line
BermudAir is expanding as of March 2024, with new routes to both Baltimore and Orlando. These routes complement the carrier’s existing service to Boston, Fort Lauderdale, and Westchester. BermudAir’s business model has evolved quite a bit in the months since launch, and I’m curious to see what the future holds for the airline.
What do you make of BermudAir’s expansion, and the carrier’s overall prospects?
A 55 minute turn around time in BWI seems very optimistic.
Eh. It is not as cheap as you make it sound. Most outbound fares to Bermuda are $99. Some are $299. Return fares you need to add extra money to all of them - mostly $199. And legacy carriers can solve issues if there is a problem, but with this new airline there are only a couple of planes in their whole fleet. Consider if you could not leave for your trip, it may not be worth going if you are only going for a short time by the time they actually got you there.
I've been travelling to Bermuda from the US regularly for more than 10 years now and I don't think I've ever seen a fare to Bermuda for anywhere near $99, either outbound or inbound. I'm not sure that I'd want to travel on an airline that charges that little for a Bermuda flight.
Personally, I have no problem paying a little more for flights between Orlando and Bermuda to be able to get a direct...
I've been travelling to Bermuda from the US regularly for more than 10 years now and I don't think I've ever seen a fare to Bermuda for anywhere near $99, either outbound or inbound. I'm not sure that I'd want to travel on an airline that charges that little for a Bermuda flight.
Personally, I have no problem paying a little more for flights between Orlando and Bermuda to be able to get a direct flight. Currently there are no direct flights between Orlando and Bermuda and it is becoming harder and harder to find flights with even 1 stop that will get you into Bermuda on the same day that you leave Orlando. Besides, I don't think that their prices are that much more than say Delta or American, who are both busy reducing the number of flights between the US and Bermuda.
My wife and I wish BermudAir lots of luck going forward and plan to support them as much as we can. With the ability to get direct flights, I think we'll be going over there more frequently than we've done since Covid.
BermudAir needs a A220 with the range for Canada and Chicago.
Lots of wealthy Canadians and Chicagoans looking for refuge from the harsh winter cold.
So, they're trying to promote a premium product but fly to 'low cost'/off the beaten track airports like Westchester and BWI? Confused!
Lots of old Blue Blood wealth near Baltimore and Captains of Industry (more likely Finance & Banking) live just north of NYC.
Westchester is far from a low cost airport. It effectively serves Westchester, other lower NY counties, northern NYC, northeast NJ, and western CT, oneo f the wealthiest parts of the US.
I wouldn't call Boston, Ft Lauderdale and Orlando "low cost/off the beaten track" airports.