Bermuda is to get even more flights this summer when American Airlines launches a new service to New York La Guardia and increases its daily flights to John F. Kennedy International Airport from two to three.

Transport Minister Ewart Brown said yesterday this will boost the number of summer flights by 20 percent this year and give Bermuda the "best opportunity in years" to bring in more tourists.

"Bermuda International Airport has scheduled a 20 percent increase in flights this summer," said Dr. Brown.

"This accomplishment is the direct result of our air service development programme and lot of hard work by Transport Ministry staff, and it offers Bermuda the best opportunity in years to score hefty gains in tourism."

The new Saturday service from La Guardia will leave New York at 11 a.m. and will offer competition on the same route for US Airways. The return flight leaves Bermuda at 3.30 p.m. arriving in the Big Apple at 4.44 p.m.

American is also increasing its daily flights to JFK from two to three. Departures from JFK will now be at 7.30 a.m., 9.20 a.m., and 7 p.m. Return flights to JFK will be at 8 a.m., 1.10 p.m. and 3 p.m.

"The increase in capacity on the JFK to Bermuda route is especially encouraging and it continues a trend the ministry of Transport first observed last summer when American started a third flight from JFK at weekends.

"Another recent example of this positive trend was American's decision to retain its daily New York flight this winter ? arriving in Bermuda at noon ? instead of reducing their New York winter frequency to just one night time flight as in past years.

"Load factors on this second, mid-day flight have been quite good all winter, I am pleased to say, often surpassing on American's heavily patronised flight 1444."