famous, a spokesman said yesterday.

London-based Imperial Airlines, which is registered in Bermuda, plans eight charter flights to the Island from Zurich and Frankfurt, beginning on July 9.

News of the proposal was announced in the House of Assembly this week by Tourism Minister the Hon. C.V. (Jim) Woolridge.

Bermuda has increased marketing spending in Europe in an effort to grab a larger share of the huge European visitor market, especially from Germany. Mr.

Andre Brenner, Imperial's general sales agent, said the new airline had specially equipped two DC-8 aircraft with 88 first-clas seats, a lounge in the front, and a bar in the back.

There would also be a massage area, an in-flight doctor, and a purser, he said.

"It's a little bit like flying in the old times,'' Mr. Brenner told The Royal Gazette .

The airline, which was recently started under president Mr. Robin Gibbs, was originally intended to offer around the world flights to "the rich and famous,'' he said.

Because it was registered in Bermuda, the airline felt it had a responsibility to provide local service, he said. The airline also felt it could make use of Mr. Brenner's contacts with European tour operators.

For the last three years, Mr. Brenner was heavily involved in developing European business for Cambridge Beaches. He recently started his own company, Connect AB Ltd., to represent exclusive resorts through offices in London, Frankfurt, and Zurich.

Imperial was now in negotiations with two major tour operators, one in Switzerland and one in Germany, he said.

The Department of Tourism was also involved, he said, but the Bermuda Government was not guaranteeing any seats on the charter flights.

The first flight would be out of Zurich, with the remaining seven arriving about once a week until September.