were held up by casinos and US Customs, The Royal Gazette has learned.

The Press of Atlantic City reported that Michigan-based Spirit Airlines had planned to launch service from Atlantic City to Bermuda on May 15 with the help of casinos and other businesses in the New Jersey city.

Spirit president Ned Homfeld said the airline was forced to delay the service until June 12 and then postpone it further.

Service to the Island is now scheduled to begin on June 26 with an evening flight every day of the week besides Tuesdays and Wednesdays. Originally nine flights were planned.

Mr. Homfeld said marketing agreements with Atlantic City casinos were not ready in time for the original Bermuda flight start-up date.

These agreements have now been reached with six of the city's casinos which will provide hotel rooms and promotional support to help attract passengers to Spirit flights.

Further hold ups were caused by US Customs on the Island which normally close down at 5 p.m. Spirit's flight to Atlantic City is scheduled to depart at 6.05 p.m.

Spirit had to obtain special permission to have Customs inspectors stay on duty for an extra hour while their passengers were cleared for the flight.

Mr. Homfeld said: "Customs was hanging us up a long time on our ability to have the six o'clock departure.'' Tourism Minister David Dodwell said last night that Spirit representatives met with Tourism Department officials and discussed marketing and other issues yesterday. The airline's intention is to operate year-round to the Island, he added.

"One of the avenues they are likely to pursue is to take Bermudians on gambling junkets.'' But Mr. Dodwell also warned: "This could have an impact on USAir which flies out of Philadelphia to the Island.'' Bermuda would be Spirit's first international destination for its gambling and leisure flights.

It is understood the introductory price for a round trip ticket from Atlantic City to Bermuda will be $189.

Spirit is Atlantic City's only scheduled jet carrier and flies to Detroit, Boston, Orlando, Fort Lauderdale and Fort Myers. It has recently established new routes to Pittsburgh, Tampa Bay, Myrtle Beach and Cleveland.

The airline has also adjusted its schedules to allow passengers arriving in Atlantic City from Cleveland, Boston and Detroit to connect to Bermuda.