flights between Bermuda and Canada.

But as local market demand for its product increases, Air Canada will strive to meet it, stressed Air Canada vice president for sales and product distribution Mark Rosenburg.

He was on the Island yesterday with Air Canada president and CEO Lamar Durrett to celebrate 50 years of service to Bermuda by the airline.

Mr. Durrett said it would be misleading for him to suggest that there might be a reduction in fares on the carrier in the future.

Airlines lost a lot of money in the first half of the 1990s, he said. The prices now being charged by carriers were simply responses to market demand.

And Air Canada was working to improve demand for its service between Bermuda and Toronto, stressed Mr. Rosenburg.

It had already enjoyed limited success on its seasonal run between Halifax and Bermuda, he continued. This service was being extended in length year after year to meet increasing demand.

This year the service would start up in February, said Mr. Rosenburg.

And as business to Toronto strengthened, he continued, Air Canada would increase its service from there to the Island.

Air Canada was billing Bermuda as a tourist destination across Canada in order to boost North American business.