time yesterday and may be doing so again on a regular basis.

The Royal Gazette understands that New Jersey-based Kiwi International Airlines -- recently voted the best US carrier by the readers of Conde Nast Traveler magazine -- has approached Government about providing as many as four flights a week to the Island from Newark.

Kiwi official Mr. Larry Weamer said that the airline approached Tourism with its request last year but didn't have enough time to get anything off the ground for 1994. "But (the Bermuda market) is something we're actively pursuing.'' Tourism official Mr. Peter Smith confirmed yesterday that the Department had talked to Kiwi exceutives on several occasions, had visited their offices in the United States and was basically receptive to their wish to serve Bermuda.

Each of the parties stressed, however, that nothing concrete has been established. Said Mr. Smith: "The ball is really in their court.'' In a sign of possible things to come, meanwhile, the first Kiwi charter arrived at Kindley Field yesterday afternoon.

Chartered by the New Jersey Bar Association, the Boeing 727-200 carried 144 people. It was the first of what Mr. Weamer hoped would be "a number of charters to Bermuda.'' Kiwi Airlines, which was established by former Eastern Airlines pilots and staff, operates some 11 aircraft and serves a number of cities in the US and Caribbean.