executive jet lounge at the Airport, Minister of Transport Wayne Furbert yesterday told The Royal Gazette , and an announcement should be forthcoming by the end of February.

It is understood that Bermuda Aviation Services have received approval in principal to offer the service geared to easing Customs and Immigration clearance for international business people and jet setters.

BAS president E. Eugene Bean however confirmed his company -- which operates off the north ramp of the Airport -- has been given the green light.

And the company, confident of final approval, has also submitted architectural drawings to the Department of Planning, advising it has the backing of the Ministry of Transport to proceed with the project.

Mr. Furbert nevertheless indicated BAS may have "jumped the gun'' a little.

No final decision has been made and Cabinet has yet to be advised, he said.

Mr. Furbert's comments were seconded by Mr. Mike Osborn, Manager of Terminals at the International Airport, who said only that the process was on-going and nothing had been finalised.

According to documents submitted to the Department of Planning, BAS intends to construct a 1,252 square-foot facility housing executive and crew lounges, showers, a "snooze room'', kitchen facilities, and Customs and Immigration offices at their Kindley Field headquarters.

The project is designed by Context Ltd., and is geared to "enhance service for executives'' and provide clearance for rapid arrivals and departures.

"The ironic part is a lot of people think passengers will be using the facilities, but they really don't; the main users will be the crews. They're the ones we're actually catering to,'' said Mr. Bean.

About 1,200 to 1,400 private jets alight on Bermuda annually and BAS employs a staff of four to cater to their needs; Mr. Bean does not expect additional staff will have to be hired.

"There's no doubt that we deserve this,'' said Mr. Bean, who pointed out BAS was 95 percent Bermudian owned.

Fears surfaced last summer that an offshore company would be given the nod to operate the service, prompting Mr. Furbert to tell The Royal Gazette : "There is no doubt, at the end of the day, there are Bermudian firms qualified and most likely they will end up with the work.'' BUSINESS BUC