Senator Michael Fahy said JetBlue’s year-round service from Boston and New York highlights a renaissance period for Bermuda’s tourism product as the first flight arrived yesterday.

The JetBlue craft made a grand entrance as two fire engines performed a festive cannon salute, spraying their hoses to form an archway that the plane drove through.

Passengers on the plane were given the chance to win prizes and were greeted with Gosling’s gift sets including a can of Dark ‘n’ Stormy, a glass, a flashlight and sunglasses.

It marks the beginning of a year-round service between Boston Logan International Airport and Bermuda and New York’s JFK.

The first passengers to come off the plane at LF Wade International Airport were Michael and Christine Giordano from Cape Cod who were coming to Bermuda for the third time.

Ms Giordano said: “It was a wonderful flight and we are really happy to be here. They made it really wonderful in every way. They gave out prizes and everybody was in a really good mood.”

Mr Fahy, the tourism minister, told a gathering of press and JetBlue passengers in the Graycliff Luxury Lounge: “Today represents the biggest development in our joint history since JetBlue started flying to Bermuda.”

JetBlue’s capacity has increased by 17 per cent both in New York JFK and Boston, Mr Fahy said.

“At JFK, we now have two daily flights operating to Bermuda for the summer which means twice as many opportunities to travel to Bermuda. One of these flights will continue to operate post-October and keep flying through the winter.

“This partnership is yet another indication in the return of confidence in Bermuda as a tourist destination and as a result of the hard work by the ministry, the Department of Airport Operations [now Skyport] headed by Aaron Adderley and the outstanding marketing efforts by the Bermuda Tourism Authority over the last few years. We are truly in a renaissance period for Bermuda’s tourism product.”

Director of JetBlue’s international cities, Giselle Cortes, thanked all the partners involved, adding: “Increasing service into this beautiful island of Bermuda is certainly a pleasure for us and we are very excited for the many years to come and the partnership.”