Bermuda could get increased airline service from the US East Coast within the next two years.

And a weekend flight from the southwestern states is also looking like a possibility, following talks between Bermuda Tourism heads and regional airlines.

Tourism Minister David Dodwell told The Royal Gazette last night that a recent meeting with top regional carrier Southwest Airlines had left both sides with "a win-win situation''.

"We told them what Bermuda is doing, what we want to achieve and why we deserve it,'' he said. "They understood our direction and focus. They liked everything we are doing and the goals we are setting.'' But he admitted Bermuda would probably not see Southwest Airlines service for a year or two.

"But when they go international from the East Coast, my interpretation is that Bermuda would be their destination of choice,'' he said. "It will be in our interest to do everything we could to assist them in that process.'' Southwest Airlines, which has slowly increased its routes and service through the US after its beginnings as a carrier in Texas, is now moving into the East Coast market.

It is the largest and most profitable low-cost, low-fare US airline.

"Their profit outstripped all the others put together,'' noted Mr. Dodwell.

"Those are the reasons we spoke to them. They are expanding and they have been extremely successful.'' However the airline only operates within the US and none of its jets -- which are all 737s -- are certified to operate over water.

These factors would have to change if the airline was to begin service to Bermuda, said Mr. Dodwell.

But the airline would bring expanded routes to the Island including flights out of cities such as Providence, Rhode Island, and Manchester, New Hampshire.

Meanwhile, a second regional carrier Tourism officials have spoken with is Legend, who are not yet set up, despite being in a strong financial position.

"Legend is not in business yet. They are in the process of certification,'' said Mr. Dodwell.

The airline intends to operate DC-9s with an emphasis on serving the business traveller and will begin operations out of Texas.

This created the potential for Legend to operate a service, possibly from Dallas, on weekends when there were fewer business travellers flying.

The flight would be boosted with marketing help from the Department of Tourism, he said.

He noted that regional carriers did not compete directly with mega-carriers like Delta Airlines and American Airlines.

"I want to have both. We can use both and have a good relationship with both.

The regional carriers can benefit us because they are low-cost and price-competitive and vacationers like them. That is why we are exploring them.''