welcome the inaugural flight of Kiwi Airlines, which rolled in to a spray of water and Scottish bag pipes.

Tourism Minister the Hon. C.V. (Jim) Woolridge exchanged gifts with airline chairman Mr. Danny Wright.

The airline will fly to the Island daily from Newark, New Jersey.

The flight, which was delayed one-and-a-half hours due to radar problems in New York, brought in 130 passengers, including a number of Bermudians arriving home.

On hand to welcome the passengers was United States Consul General Mr. Bob Farmer, Mr. Charles Webbe of the Tourism Department, head of Civil Aviation Mr. Donald Dane, and Transport Minister the Hon. Maxwell Burgess.

Overseas dignitaries aboard the plane included Secretary of the State of New Jersey Mrs. Lonna R. Hooks, Speaker Consulate Mr. Garabed Chuck Hayton, and Assemblyman Mr. Willie B. Browne.

"Kiwi has 1043 employees in the state of New Jersey, making it one of the largest employers,'' Mrs. Hooks said. "Small to mid-size employers employ half the population of New Jersey and since Kiwi has such a high percentage of our people working we are here to lend as much support to the airline as possible.'' Mrs. Hooks said that the flight to Bermuda was smooth and the service was excellent.

Also on hand to welcome the airline were the Bermuda Island Pipe Band and Airport firefighters, who supplied a welcoming water arch.

Mr. Woolridge shook hands with Mr. Wright and said he was pleased the long-awaited partnership between the Island and the airline was finally consummated.

"It has finally happened,'' he said.

Mr. Woolridge also complimented Mr. Wright on his newly-acquired Bermuda shorts stating that he was glad to see that he was "properly attired,'' for his stay in Bermuda.

"We are excited to be here at what we feel is the most beautiful Island in the world,'' Mr. Wright said.

Despite reports of cash shortages and management problems, Kiwi was recently voted the number three airline among domestic flights in North America.

Kiwi is scheduled to fly from Chicago's Midway Airport to Newark, New Jersey, where it will depart for Bermuda at 10.45 a.m. arriving on the Island at 2.05 p.m. The flight leaves Bermuda for New Jersey at 3.30 p.m. daily.