Bermuda laid down a challenge to new air carrier TWA when its inaugural flight from St. Louis, Missouri, touched down late yesterday afternoon.

While welcoming the first passengers on the twice-weekly service, Transport Minister Dr. Ewart Brown said he hoped the flight would become daily.

He added that he hoped it would give the impetus for the airline to provide the Island with a flight to Florida.

But TWA officials urged caution and said their goals were to ensure the new service runs again next season.

TWA vice president of cargo Joe Vilman said the airline needed to be selling 70 percent of its seats by the end of the summer to make sure the planes returned again next year.

The 145-seat planes will fly on Mondays and Fridays until the end of October.

Mr. Vilman said: "We would like to fly more but we have to create demand between ourselves and the Department of Tourism for Bermuda. I think success breeds success.'' He added that any expansions were a long way down the road.

The first plane touched down shortly before 4 p.m. yesterday and was welcomed to the terminal building by a fountain of water from fire tenders.

The 30 passengers, mainly travel agents on a familiarisation tour of the Island, stepped off the aircraft to a welcome and ribbon cutting from Dr.

Brown, airport operations manager Marshall Minors and Tourism director Richard Calderon.

Dr. Brown said Government was true to its word that it would increase flights and make the airport more commercially viable.

"We hope the service will grow from Monday to Friday to daily and service will continue with a link to Florida,'' he said.

"We are ready for whoever wants to come to Bermuda and we are going to continue to grow air service.'' Mr. Minors praised the Minister for demonstrating that he could "get things moving''.

He said he anticipated TWA would increase their flight frequency to the Island.

Mr. Calderon highlighted how important the new flight was in bringing in extra capacity.

TRANSPORTATION TRA