Government officials were on hand at LF Wade International Airport yesterday afternoon to welcome the arrival of Delta Air Lines’ inaugural flight from New York’s LaGuardia Airport.The Boeing 737 jet touched down on schedule at 2.30pm and, in true aviation tradition, was sprayed with plumes of water from two attending fire trucks on the runway after completing its maiden voyage.After passengers had disembarked, the plane’s captain and crew, along with airline representatives and a group of tour operators, attended a VIP reception hosted by Tourism Minister Shawn Crockwell.The landing marks the beginning of a daily service between LaGuardia and Bermuda and means that the Island now has access to all three of New York’s main airports.Minister Crockwell said the service will prove popular with US East residents “looking for a quick getaway to experience some of our famous Bermuda hospitality”.And he also pointed out that Bermuda residents will benefit from the route, pointing out that LaGaurdia is one of the Big Apple’s main gateway airports with connections to at least 50 further destinations.The Minister also praised the airline for having faith in the Island as a resort that could fill seats.“It was a couple of years ago that our friends and partners in the tourism industry expressed some reservations as to whether or not Bermuda had sufficient airlift out of the New York area — of course, our number one visitor market,” Mr Crockwell said.“And therein began the search for an airline partner willing to step in and take advantage of what we believed, was an opportunity to be realised.“It wasn’t long before one of our closest and longest serving partners, Delta Air Lines, decided to take another chance on Bermuda at a time when perhaps doing so was not such a slam dunk that it once may have been.“You see, it was a couple of years ago that Delta first opted to introduce a Bermuda service from New York LaGuardia and we didn’t quite see the results that we both wanted to.“Despite that — despite the incredible pressure airlines have, to realise immediate success in an industry faced with rising costs, consolidation and intense competition — Delta held steadfast, its belief in Bermuda, concluding once again that New Yorkers coveted a LaGuardia connection to the Island.”