David Allen confirmed yesterday.

And a priority for the new Government is to establish a service between Miami and the Island by next year.

Mr. Allen told The Royal Gazette that Government negotiations were well underway with the intention of establishing links to Europe and "west of the eastern seaboard'' of the US.

Of primary importance were talks with American Airlines on the possibility of establishing a service to the Island from Miami, he added.

And there could be as many as three new gateways in the offing, with the Midwest highlighted.

The Director of Tourism for Bermuda in North America, Toby Dillas, and local Director Gary Phillips recently met with AA principles and representatives from Delta Airlines, said Mr. Allen.

"The aim of this Government is to have a flight out of Miami by next year. We are more optimistic that it will be American Airlines.'' Mr. Allen revealed that a longstanding commitment had been in place between the Island and AA for the airline to put a plane on the route between Miami and Bermuda.

"We will hold them to it,'' he said.

Having AA on the run from Miami -- a major hub for the airline -- to the Island would put Bermuda in much easier reach of the Caribbean and South America, he pointed out.

But if AA fell through, another airline would be pursued, stressed Mr. Allen.

"We will have a service of one sort or another. We would like American to do it and it looks promising that they will do it.

"If they will not do it, we will cast our net around and make sure the service happens.'' In the House of Assembly on Friday, the Minister said there was a need for more competition on the existing routes, adding that there was resistance as the airlines were "doing very nicely''.

And Shadow Minister David Dodwell said there was a need to bring in competition, including charters, especially when the price of flying to Bermuda was so high.