The Ministry of Transport is focusing on non-traditional markets such as golf charters from the US and Europe to diversify and increase Bermuda's tourism market.

“I know that members opposite will be unfamiliar with these concepts but we in the Ministry of Transport in particular and this Government as a whole are dedicated to never being constrained by the status quo,” Transport Minister Ewart Brown stated in the House of Assembly on Friday.

Part of this effort included using smaller aeroplanes for non-stop scheduled service to destinations such as Chicago, Detroit, Cleveland, Miami and Denver, he said.

“Meetings have already taken place and more are in the offing, with specific airlines to initiate service to these new cities,” he said.

Dr. Brown said in a later press conference that Southwest Airlines was not one of the airlines targeted in this effort. The reason for targeting these cities, he said, was in part a response to tourism numbers.

“I would not have mentioned this today if it had not gone beyond a mere formality,” he said.

Government was now seeking to forge alliances with certain charter operators specialising in first-class destinations such as Bermuda, he told MPs in the House of Assembly.

“We are in very promising, on-going discussions to that end with USA3000 Airlines and, in Europe, with Martinair ... for charter flights from Frankfurt and Amsterdam.”

One reason for these airlines to fly to Bermuda included golf charters, he said later. “It's no longer a high season then a low season (for tourism) but beach season, golf season,” he said.

In his statement to the House of Assembly Dr. Brown updated MPs on other developments within the Ministry's strategy for air service development. Along with Airport General Manager James Howes and Director of Civil Aviation Ian MacIntyre, Dr. Brown said he had met with all the US air carriers serving Bermuda.

“At these meetings, we have had a thorough exchange of views with American Airlines, Continental, Delta and US Airways, having as our goal improved fares and schedules,” he said. He said he had also had discussions with airline CEOs, including the CEO of British Airways, regarding high fares to Bermuda.

Dr. Brown told members of the House he was “encouraged” that British Airways would now give serious attention to the issue, although he admitted in a later press conference that the airline, which presently has the monopoly on direct flights from Bermuda to England, was a “difficult nut to crack”.

He also updated MPs on the status of talks with the air carrier Jet Blue.

“I met again with officials from Jet Blue as recently as last Friday, and am hopeful that this excellent, low-fare airline, renowned for its outstanding in-flight amenities, will be flying to Bermuda as early as next year.”