Atlantic time zones to ring in the New Year on two different continents.

The British Airways Concorde, which averaged 1,077 miles per hour in arriving from Shannon, Ireland in two hours and 51 minutes, roared across the Bermuda Airport tarmac at 35 minutes before midnight.

The 97 travellers, most of whom began celebrating at Heathrow Airport in London 12 hours earlier, had already clinked glasses in Shannon at 8 p.m.

Bermuda time.

Many looked wobbly as they stepped down the ramp to be greeted by Tourism Director Mr. Gary Phillips, St. George's Town Crier Mr. Bob Burns, and the Gombeys who danced to pounding drums.

"We've been up for 22 hours,'' said Mr. John Hammond of London. "And we don't feel tired,'' said his wife, Mrs. Maria Hammond. "It's most unusual -- it must be the excitement.'' They drank champagne and kissed at midnight in the Airport terminal before moving on to the Southampton Princess Hotel for a two-day stay.

After a reception yesterday at Royal Bermuda Yacht Club, an island cruise, and a black tie ball at the hotel, the group boarded the Concorde for New York this morning and the last two days of the unusual holiday.

Atlantic Time Tunnel Ltd. president Mr. Eric Barton, who organised the trip, said the visitors will earn a place in the Guinness Book of Records as the first to celebrate New Year's twice on one night, in two continents.

The flight was also the fastest ever between Ireland and Bermuda, he said. The Concorde, which was visible from Kindley Field Road to those returning home from festivities in St. George's, has touched down in Bermuda before, but only on direct flights from Heathrow.

The cost was 3,000 British pounds, considerably less than the 5,850 pounds Atlantic Time Tunnel originally intended to charge.

In addition to a handful of journalists, the travellers clad in tuxedos and fancy gowns were "millionaires, people who have got life savings, entrepreneurs, old money, new money, and people who have just decided that the recession is over,'' Mr. Barton said.

"This is a recession-beating trip.'' Among the group was television personality Mr. Alan Wicker of Wicker's World, who said he looked forward to exploring Bermuda for the first time.

"I've passed through a lot,'' but "I'm dying to see it,'' he said. In about 1965, he planned to visit Bermuda for a story about the Governor, but the plans had to be changed, he said. As for the Atlantic Time Tunnel trip, which Mr. Wicker was not filming, he said it was "great,'' but Bermuda Airport was "not the most romantic place in the world'' to celebrate New Year's.

"I'm not going to get hysterical about it.'' After a dinner of black sole, caviar, lemon and lime sorbet, and duckling in Shannon, the travellers ate canapes and continued to party on the plane, said senior first officer Mr. David Edmondson.

"There weren't many sleeping -- maybe one or two,'' he said. "Most were still bouncing.'' The aptly-named Mr. Mike Rockett, British Airways cabin service director aboard the Concorde, said there were "a few casualties'' crossing the Atlantic.

"We had a couple who were sick, as we often do,'' Mr. Rockett said. "And one unfortunately passed out and needed oxygen, but I think it was more of a medical case than it was alcohol.'' FIRST CLASS CELEBRATION -- Concorde travellers arrived in Bermuda from Ireland late on Thursday night to celebrate the New Year for a second time. They were welcomed by Tourism Director Mr. Gary Phillips and St. George's Town Crier Mr.

Bob Burns.