Cherokee Aviation
Marsh Harbour, CO
About Cherokee Aviation
Cherokee Aviation has provided FBO services and private charter flights in the Abaco Islands of the Bahamas since 1987, operating at Leonard M. Thompson International Airport in Marsh Harbour. The company is a family-owned, fully Bahamian business that rebuilt its facilities after Hurricane Dorian devastated Abaco in September 2019, demonstrating a deep commitment to the island community.
The FBO operates 24/7 and provides Jet A and 100LL fueling, ground handling, hangar space, customs and immigration processing, and ground transportation on Great Abaco Island. Cherokee Aviation also runs its own charter operation with aircraft including a Cessna Caravan capable of carrying nine passengers and a Piper Aztec for smaller groups, offering inter-island connections and flights to southeastern Florida.
The facility at Marsh Harbour serves as the primary aviation hub for the Abaco chain, a string of islands and cays stretching about 120 miles through the northern Bahamas. Popular destinations accessible from Marsh Harbour include Hope Town on Elbow Cay, Green Turtle Cay, Man-O-War Cay, and Great Guana Cay, all reachable by ferry or water taxi from the main island.
Abaco is known for its sailing waters, bonefishing flats, and a laid-back atmosphere that contrasts with Nassau's commercial bustle. The islands attract a devoted following of boaters, anglers, and second-home owners, many of whom arrive by private aircraft from Florida, which is less than 200 miles to the west.
For charter passengers, Cherokee Aviation offers the kind of personal, local-knowledge-driven service that only a long-established island operator can provide. The team knows the Abacos intimately and can advise on everything from ferry schedules to restaurant bookings. The rebuilt post-Dorian facilities continue to evolve, and the company's nearly four decades in Abaco private aviation speak to genuine resilience and island commitment.
Amenities and services
Operations at Leonard M. Thompson International Airport
The airport sits roughly 1.5 miles from central Marsh Harbour. Taxis meet most arriving flights, and several local rental car agencies operate from or near the airport. Drive time to the town docks is under 10 minutes. For the outer cays, water taxis depart from Marsh Harbour's ferry docks. Hope Town is about 30 minutes by ferry, Green Turtle Cay around 45 minutes with a connecting road segment to the Treasure Cay ferry dock, which is closer to MYAT than MYAM.