Stretching across 120 miles of gin-clear water, sapphire sandbars, and 365 cays, the Exumas are the crown jewel of the Bahamian Out Islands. Whether you are meeting a chartered motor yacht at Staniel Cay Yacht Club, vacationing at a private island retreat like Fowl Cay, Little Pipe Cay, or Over Yonder Cay, or staying beachfront on Great Exuma, flying privately from South Florida transforms a full day of commercial connections into a scenic one-hour flight. Latitude 18 North Charter connects travelers with short-field turboprops and business jets through our vetted charter partner network to serve every airstrip in the Exuma island chain.
Understanding Exuma's Key Airports: George Town (GGT) vs. Staniel Cay (TYM)
Planning a private charter to the Exumas requires matching your aircraft category and arrival airport to your exact island resort or yacht anchorage:
- Exuma International Airport in Moss Town / George Town (IATA: GGT, ICAO: MYEF): Located on Great Exuma, GGT features a 7,000-foot asphalt runway, full Odyssey Aviation FBO services, Jet-A fuel availability, and dedicated on-site Bahamas Customs and Immigration. GGT easily accommodates light jets, midsize jets, and super-midsize jets departing Fort Lauderdale Executive (FXE), Miami-Opa Locka (OPF), or Palm Beach International (PBI). It is the primary arrival point for Grand Isle Resort and Residences, Peace and Plenty, Little Exuma beachfront villas, and luxury estates along Emerald Bay and Tar Bay.
- Staniel Cay Airport (IATA: TYM, ICAO: MYES): Situated in the heart of the central Exuma Cays—minutes by yacht tender from Pig Beach at Big Major Cay, Thunderball Grotto, Compass Cay's nurse sharks, and the sandbars of Pipe Creek—Staniel Cay features a 3,030-foot paved runway. Because of this shorter runway and compact ramp footprint, private jet operators generally restrict business jets from landing at TYM. Instead, high-performance short-field turboprops such as the Pilatus PC-12 NGX, Beechcraft King Air 250, and Cessna Grand Caravan EX are the gold standard for flying straight into Staniel Cay.
- Norman's Cay Airport (NMC / MYEN) and Black Point (BPS / MYEB): Positioned in the northern and central Exuma Cays, Norman's Cay features an upgraded 4,760-foot runway with customs services for guests visiting McDuff's, Highbourne Cay, and northern Exuma anchorages inside the Exuma Cays Land and Sea Park.
Customs Procedures for Staniel Cay vs. Great Exuma
Exuma International (GGT) and Norman's Cay (NMC) are full Bahamas Ports of Entry where passengers clear customs immediately upon landing. When flying into Staniel Cay (TYM) from Fort Lauderdale or Miami, your flight crew either coordinates advance customs officer attendance at TYM when available or makes a brief, fifteen-minute technical customs stop at an official entry port such as South Bimini (BIM), Nassau (NAS), or North Eleuthera (ELH) before continuing directly to the Staniel Cay runway steps from the Staniel Cay Yacht Club dock.
Yacht Rendezvous, Crew Rotations, and Island Provisioning Flights
The Exumas are the premier winter and spring cruising ground for superyachts and charter catamarans departing South Florida and Nassau. Many yacht owners, captains, and charter brokers use our referral service to coordinate mid-charter guest swaps, urgent marine spare parts delivery, or fresh provisioning flights directly into Staniel Cay (TYM), Norman's Cay (NMC), or George Town (GGT). Turboprop aircraft such as the Pilatus PC-12 and Cessna Caravan feature wide cargo doors that allow crew to load luggage, Seabobs, watersports equipment, and provisions effortlessly.
U.S. Re-Entry and Customs Clearance on Your Return to Florida
When your Exuma island retreat or yacht charter concludes, your flight crew handles all outbound Bahamas departure formalities and electronic Advance Passenger Information System (eAPIS) filings with U.S. Customs and Border Protection. Whether you depart directly from Exuma International (GGT), Norman's Cay (NMC), or Staniel Cay (TYM), your aircraft touches down at the private general aviation U.S. Customs facility at Fort Lauderdale Executive (FXE), Miami-Opa Locka (OPF), or Palm Beach International (PBI), allowing you to clear U.S. re-entry in minutes and step straight into your car.
Customizing Your Exuma Cays Charter Itinerary
Whether your mission calls for a short-field Pilatus PC-12 landing directly at Staniel Cay (TYM) steps from your yacht tender or a light jet into Exuma International (GGT) for a week at Grand Isle Resort, choosing the right aircraft and arrival airport makes all the difference. Contact us today to compare turboprop and jet options from Fort Lauderdale, Miami, or Palm Beach to the Exumas.