Our Story
Welcome to Makers Air.
Our mission is to connect passengers to paradise by matching exceptional service with the excitement of flight.
Getting to Andros, the Exuma Cays (Staniel Cay), Eleuthera, the Berry Islands (Chub Cay and Great Harbour Cay), Scotland Cay, Marsh Harbour, and Cat Island has never been easier!
Our fleet of four, dependable Cessna Grand Caravans, including a brand new Caravan EX with the Executive Oasis interior, and our ability to offer “per seat” fares make us the most convenient, reliable, and economical option for passengers traveling to the Out Islands. Of course, we also offer private charters to any destination within a 500-mile radius as well as freight service into any scheduled destination. We fly out of a private hangar facility at the Fort Lauderdale Executive Airport (FXE). Your trip to the islands is faster and more comfortable than ever!
Below is some general information on our flight service. Please visit our website, watermakersair.com, for more detailed information.
Please arrive at our facility one hour before your designated departure time. If you are making connecting flights we recommend a 3-4 hour layover in case we experience any unforeseen delays with weather, customs, etc.
Carry-On Policy: Our planes are not equipped with in-cabin storage areas. Therefore, for everyone’s safety all carry-on luggage must be small enough to be held in one’s lap (approx. 5 lbs. or less). Any larger bags will need to be stored in a designated luggage compartment.
If you need transportation between airports, please visit our website for information on several options. (http://www.makersair.com/transportation/)
If you need to book hotel reservations in Fort Lauderdale we recommend the following 2 hotels located near our hangar. Each hotel will give you a discount because you are flying with us. The Sheraton Suites Hotel has a shuttle service that runs between the hours of 7 AM and 11 PM. If you are on the morning flight please have the Hotel call for taxi service. The Hampton Inn does not have shuttle service but is more than happy to arrange transportation for you.
Sheraton Suites Cypress Creek - 1 mile from airport - $98-$299 per room - Recommended Phone: 888-627-8250 and ask for "SET# 204927"
General Phone: (954) 772-5400.
Hampton Inn - 2 1/2 miles from the airport - $89-$140 per room - Phone: (954)776-7677
We require the following information from each passenger:
Name(s) as they appear on passport (Must be exact)
Date of birth
Gender
Weight
Country of Citizenship
Country of Residency
Country that Issued the Passport
Passport Number and the Expiration Date (very important!)
Physical Living Address in the US (No PO Boxes. If you are visiting the U.S. then the hotel name and city where you will be staying.
Where you are staying in the Bahamas (House name, Boat Name, Cottage Name, Island etc..)
Travel contact info: Where we can send any alerts related to your flight in the days preceding the flight.
Credit card number, expiration date and the security code
Once all of the above information has been obtained, we can confirm your booking.
History of Makers Air :
In 1981, Joe Hocher (co-founder and owner of the Staniel Cay Yacht Club - see www.stanielcay.com) started flying a Piper Cherokee Six to bring supplies into Staniel Cay from Nassau and Fort Lauderdale. About this same time, he founded Watermakers, Inc. in Fort Lauderdale, a manufacturing company dedicated to the design, manufacture, and service of reverse osmosis desalination equipment. Of course, the ability to access remote islands via a small plane became a big selling point for the desalination systems that Watermakers, Inc. was installing throughout the Bahamas. Soon, Joe and his Cherokee Six were busy flying parts and providing technical support all over the Bahamas. Over the years, the demands of both the Staniel Cay Yacht Club and of Watermakers, Inc. grew to the point where multiple airplanes (and pilots) became a necessary part of doing business.
In response to demand, ‘Watermakers Air’ was formed in 2002 for the specific purpose of flying passengers, as well as freight and supplies. Although the name harkens back to the time when our operation was primarily a support division of Watermakers, Inc., we are now a stand-alone FAA certified public charter operator for both passengers and freight.
In 2014, Exuma Cays Travel was formed for the purpose of marketing and selling individual seats on scheduled flights to multiple destinations in the Bahamas. As a “Public Charter Operator," approved by the U.S. Department of Transportation, Exuma Cays Travel has full authority to advertise and execute scheduled flights to any approved destination. While Staniel was, and continues to be, a favorite, we now offer scheduled flights to multiple islands in the Bahamas and we expect this list will continue to grow. In short, with the formation of Exuma Cays Travel, we expanded our offering from strictly “On-Demand private charters” to now include “per-seat, scheduled service” and travelers can now access our flight schedule and even book tickets online, as they would with any other commercial airline.
Our customers include vacationers, yacht guests, island residents, yacht personnel, etc. Because the destinations we serve are smaller and more remote, there are few if any direct flights from the States. Thus our service (both passengers and freight) into these destinations has become critical for the small hotels and marinas located there, not to mention the numerous rental properties and home owners in these various islands.
With our continued commitment to our customers and to the Islands of the Bahamas, we look forward to even brighter future!
Disclaimer
Neither Nealco Air Charter Services dba Makers Air, nor the Staniel Cay Yacht Club, is responsible for missed flights or monetary losses (room, board, etc.) due to any delay or flight cancellation, for reasons including, but not limited to, weather, mechanical issues, acts of God, delays at customs (US or Bahamas), etc. Both aircraft and operator of a given flight are subject to change without notice.
All flights provided by Makers Air are conducted in accordance with 14 CFR Part 135 of the Federal Aviation Regulations. Makers Air (FAA Certificate number N5CA865Y) is a certificated On-Demand / Commuter Air Carrier and holds Economic Authority issued by The Department of Transportation." Please visit www.dot.gov for more information on public charter flights.
