Lynden Pindling International Airport (NAS), formerly known as Nassau International Airport, is the largest airport in The Bahamas and the most common first point of entry into the country. It is often abbreviated as LPIA. It is named after Sir Lynden Pindling, the first Prime Minister of The Bahamas and a key figure in the nation's independence.
The airport is 9 miles west of downtown Nassau on New Providence Island, between the West Winds Estates, Jacaranda Estates, and Lake Killarney.
LPIA showed a significant growth in 2024, serving over 4 million passengers and ranking as the fifth busiest airport in the Caribbean.
Major Airlines - Bahamasair, Western Air
The flag carrier of the Bahamas, Bahamasair, is the airline with the most flights at LPIA. It connects Nassau to other islands of the archipelago, plus several international destinations. Bahamasair uses LPIA as a hub.
Other domestic airlines based in Nassau include Pineapple Air, LeAir, and Western Air.
Several Caribbean and Latin American airlines offer nonstop flights around the region. Some of the largest ones include Copa Airlines (flies to Panama) and Caribbean Airlines (flies to Jamaica).
Nonetheless, most of the international airlines serving NAS come from the USA. Most of the American air carriers have scheduled flights to and from LPIA, using a dedicated terminal for US-bound flights. These include:
American Airlines
JetBlue Airways
Delta Air Lines
United Airlines
Alaska Airlines
Lastly, other international carriers serving LPIA include:
British Airways
Air Canada
WestJet
About 77% of all passenger traffic at LPIA is international, with the busiest routes being to Fort Lauderdale, Miami, and New York JFK.
15 airlines serve LPIA on a regular basis, offering direct flights to over 40 destinations. Check a full list of airlines or destinations.
Terminal Layout and Gates of LPIA
Lynden Pindling International Airport has three terminals:
Terminal A (Domestic and International Departures Terminal): Serves mostly domestic flights but also a few international routes not bound for the US.
Terminal B (US/International Arrivals Terminal): Handles incoming international flights with modern baggage claim and customs facilities.
Terminal C (US Departures Terminal): Features US Customs and Border Protection pre-clearance facilities, allowing you to complete US immigration and customs procedures before departure. This way, flights bound to the US are considered domestic upon landing.
The airport has a total of 34 gates, of which 10 use a jet bridge.
The terminals are not connected airside because each has a separate Security area. To move between them, you can walk - the distance between the two terminals farthest apart is only about ⅓ of a mile.
Practically all connecting flights will require that you clear Immigration, Customs, and Security at Nassau before proceeding to your new gate (and often new terminal). In practice, if you arrive from abroad (US or not) and proceed to a domestic flight, clear Immigration and Customs at the arriving terminal, walk to the domestic one, clear Security on your way in, and proceed to your gate.
Wi-Fi
LPIA provides complimentary Wi-Fi throughout the terminals. The network’s SSID is “LPIA Free Wi-Fi.”
To connect, select the network, wait for your browser to open automatically to the welcome page, and then follow the on-screen instructions.
Dining Options at LPIA
Most of the places to eat at LPIA are situated in Terminals A and C (the Domestic/International one and the US Departures one).
The dining options are mostly foreign cuisines, fast food joints, and bars.
Here are some of the most popular places in the U.S. Departures Terminal (Terminal C):
Bootleggers Bar: Full-service bar with televisions (near Gate C-44).
Dunkin’ Donuts: Baked goods, sandwiches, beverages (near Gate C-41).
TCBY: Frozen yogurt (near Gate C-42).
Rhum Runners: Full-service bar with televisions (near Gate B-22).
The Domestic/International Departures Terminal (Terminal A) has a dedicated Food Court where most of the places to eat are concentrated. Some of them include:
Dunkin’ Donuts: The world’s favorite desserts and other baked goods.
Parma Pizzeria: The best place for pizza at the NAS airport.
Quiznos: Fresh toasted sandwiches.
Rhum Runners: Full-service bar with televisions, so you will never miss your sports game at NAS.
Rythm Café: Casual dining with a bar and a patio.
Sushi Rokkan: Sushi bar and other Asian fusion or classic Japanese (including vegetarian) cuisine.
Wendy’s: Burgers are their famous offering, but they also serve salads and desserts.
KFC: Freshly fried chicken from a secret recipe.
Mañuelo's Restaurant: Casual dining with fresh, flavorful, healthy meals.
Last but not least, you can buy coffee from Starbucks, together with sandwiches, cookies, and other snacks.
Lounges in LPIA
LPIA has only 1 airport lounge: The Lignum Club.
It is located between the escalators and the Food Court in the Domestic and Non-U.S. International Departures area
This exclusive lounge offers an open bar, freshly made hot and cold food, a business center, including private rooms, and an outdoor deck.
It’s open from 10 AM until 9 PM on Mondays, Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays, and from 10 AM until 4 PM on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Sundays.
Transport options at LPIA
Public transport at the airport and in Nassau is served by local jitney buses that go to various parts of the city. These normally cost 1.25 to 1.50 USD per ride. It’s the most authentic way to travel, though you may need to put up with some discomfort - crowded buses, a little chaotic, and no formal stops.
Most foreign travelers use taxis. They are readily available outside each of the terminals. Taxi rates are based on two passengers, with each additional passenger incurring an extra charge of 4 USD. Oversized luggage also carries a fee of 3 USD. The rates themselves are set based on your destination; for example, a trip to downtown costs 36 USD.
Should you wish to drive a car and remain flexible, several rental car companies operate on-site, including Avis, Budget, and Hertz.
Last but not least, it’s worth looking into a private transfer, especially if your hotel doesn’t provide a complimentary shuttle. Dozens of providers serve arriving passengers at the airport. It’s worth booking in advance.
Parking at Lynden Pindling Airport
LPIA provides two parking options - one for short stays of a few hours and one for long-term parking.
Short-Term Parking: Situated in front of Terminals B and C. The rate for the first 30 minutes is 2.05 USD. One hour of parking costs 3.05 USD with an 8-hour limit of 16.35 USD and a daily maximum of 20.45 USD.
Long-Term Parking: Located across from Terminal A and offers better rates for stays of a minimum of 2 days. The daily rate is 11.25 USD.
Park’N’Go subscriptions are available for frequent travelers. You can buy a package for between 250 USD and 1000 USD, depending on how often you travel, valid for a year.
All parking transactions are cashless and require a valid debit or credit card.
Hotels near LPIA
There are no hotels inside any of the terminals, and no airport hotels on the airport grounds.
LPIA is close enough to the beachside, to the tourist resorts, and the city to not require airport hotels. Remember that the island of New Providence is only 21 miles at its longest!
Nonetheless, if you want to stay close to the airport, you can easily do so.
For example, A Stone's Throw Away is a cozy 3-star hotel just 1.5 miles from the airport.
A more upscale accommodation option is the Ocean West Boutique Hotel, about 3 miles from the terminal building.
You can check out more hotels near LPIA here.
Nassau, Bahamas
