BermudAir lands at Charleston International, offering a first-of-its-kind nonstop

by Megan Fernandes at mfernandes@postandcourier.com.

Bermuda's pink-sand beaches are just a two-hour flight away for Lowcountry residents, now that BermudAir has launched its newest nonstop route.

"Ladies and Gentlemen, the first Bermuda flight to Charleston has just landed. We will be boarding shortly," an airline gate agent said over the intercom as the first direct flight from Bermuda touched down on the CHS runway April 19.

The landing was followed by applause from passengers waiting to board. 

The excitement drew onlookers from nearby gates to the window to watch as the plane, marked with a colorful bright tail, pulled into gate A1. The pilots, still in the cockpit, waved to the crowd.

Fran Tucker Griffiths was among the group, waiting with her ticket and passport in hand to board. Though she spends most of her time in South Carolina now, she lived in Bermuda for 38 years and raised her children there. To her, the island is still home.

"The day they announced this flight, I booked it," Griffiths said. "I'm so excited. I've been waiting since 1982 for a nonstop route. We've had to fly Delta through Atlanta and make a whole day of it, but this two-hour flight saves us a day of travel."

She already has tickets booked for additional May and June trips.

"Bermuda has amazing golf and the most beautiful beaches and people. It's just a special place," Griffiths said.

BermudAir, the resort island's carrier, will serve Charleston year-round with a once-weekly Saturday flight to and from L.F. Wade International Airport in the historic town of St. George.

The weekly flight departs CHS at 5:30 p.m. every Saturday and arrives in St. George's about two hours and 10 minutes later. The return leg will touch down around 4:45 p.m. every Saturday.

BermudAir took to the skies slightly over a year ago, with two Embraer ER-170 jets to serve three U.S. cities: Boston, Fort Lauderdale and the New York City area. Before the carrier hit its first anniversary, it had entered seven markets in North America. BermudAir now flies to 10 destinations in the U.S. and three in Canada. 

The carrier is the first to be headquartered on the island, which is about 900 miles nearly due east of the South Carolina coastline.

CEO Adam D. Scott said year-round service is key to Bermuda's goal of becoming a destination for business and leisure travelers beyond the summer vacation months.

"We're really pleased with the interest from both directions," Scott said.

The CEO was on the inaugural CHS flight, which was more than 60 percent full. He said it can be hard to anticipate how balanced the outbound and inbound traffic will be, but the equal interest from day one is "indicative of the demand in both markets."

More than 40 passengers deplaned at CHS, and another 30 boarded shortly after.

"Charleston a great historic city with a lot of unique character, and so is Bermuda," Scott said. 

Among those landing in Charleston was a Daniel Island family returning from a spring break trip. Frank Pete, his wife Katy and their two children chose Bermuda as their vacation destination because they could take the BermudAir flight home.

"It was nice clearing customs in Bermuda, because it made flying back a breeze as if we were flying domestic," he said. "The experience was great. We enjoyed the stalagmite caves, beaches and cliff jumping on the trip."

The once-weekly route is not ideal for those looking outside of a seven-day trip, but Scott said the target is to move to a twice-weekly flights in the future if interest remains strong. He doesn't see it as a deterrent in the meantime since passengers can always return to Charleston via a domestic connection.

Bermuda is known as a vibrant, tropical and cosmopolitan getaway with blush-colored sand, coral reefs, historic sites and an international finance sector.

Travelers from Bermuda shared their favorite sights to see beyond the pink sand beaches it's most known for — crystal caves, the history of St. George, the Royal Naval Dockyard and other spots.

Charleston International CEO Elliott Summey said the schedule between the Lowcountry and Bermuda "marks a significant milestone for both regions" and promotes business and leisure travel between the two areas.

“This new route enhances our international connectivity and strengthens economic and cultural ties between the Lowcountry and the island," Summey said.

Debi Ray-Rivers is an example of that business demand. She's a Bermudian who recently moved to Hilton Head Island full-time. She was on her way to Bermuda April 19 to manage her nonprofit and has a return ticket booked for next week.

"I will be flying back and forth regularly, so I am very excited to have this convenient option," Ray-Rivers said.

Before BermudAir, she'd fly out from Savannah-Hilton Head International to a connecting flight in Atlanta.

"I hope people come visit Bermuda because of this route. We have the most beautiful island and it's an absolute gem in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean," Ray-Rivers added.

Beverly Connell, a Bermudian that lives in the Beaufort area, said the route saves her from the usual long layover in Atlanta or Charlotte airports.

"I couldn't believe there would ever be a direct flight to Bermuda from Charleston. The less airports you have to go through the better," Connell said.