convenient, says a top airline executive.

The good news for passengers comes from British Airways executive vice-president Mr. John Story, the airline's man in charge of North America and Bermuda.

Mr. Story, visiting the Island for talks with Government, the Governor and BA staff, said benefits for travellers would flow from the company's new link with USAir.

Earlier this year BA pumped $300 million into the American carrier, giving BA access to the internal US market, which it needs to achieve its ambition of becoming a global airline.

The two companies are now smoothing the way of passengers making trips that involve them both.

This could mean improved journeys between London and Bermuda on days when BA does not have a direct flight.

"It could mean, in the long term, a whole series of alternative ways of getting to London on those days BA doesn't operate non-stop,'' said Mr. Story.

Over the next year the two carriers would be setting up special partnerships at 38 US airports, offering passengers a one-stop reservation service.

For example, passengers flying from Cleveland to Philadelphia to London could get boarding cards for both parts of the journey at Cleveland, and get their bags checked right through to London, even though they were using two airlines.

Transfer from USAir to BA at Philadelphia would be smoother too. "Over the coming months we hope to discuss with USAir our Bermuda schedules, and see whether or not there are any opportunities for making changes to enable passengers to get to London via a US point on those days when they can't go on BA directly,'' said Mr. Story.

"Once we can get our schedules co-ordinated there will be much faster connections to London from Bermuda and to Bermuda from London.'' Some changes may be possible by summer 1994, he added.

The link with USAir was made more convenient in Bermuda because the two airlines have shared a Front Street office for five years, Mr. Story said. He added it was "early days'' to judge the performance of BA's new third weekly flight between London and Bermuda.

"There are still some empty seats on it but the initial signs are encouraging.'' He was pleased to learn that BA staff found it difficult to track down an empty hotel room for him. This was an optimistic sign for the travel industry, he noted.

He also praised BA's takeover of UK airline Dan Air, which he said had given Bermuda good connections to Europe via London's Gatwick airport.

BETTER BERMUDA LINKS -- British Airways executive vice president Mr. John Story (left) and local BA manager Mr. Philip Troake welcome their new partner USAir.