Transport Minister Dr. Ewart Brown will be in Washington next week continuing to woo JetBlue - and he is hopeful it will result in the airline coming to Bermuda.

The low cost New York-based airline is one of the few in the industry to flourish since September 11, posting a $17.6 million quarterly profit last week and announcing it is buying 65 new Airbus jets.

Dr Brown said he is hopeful JetBlue will fly to Bermuda next year when it expands its services.

The Minister will be in Washington next week to meet the airline's legal counsel, and Democrat Congressman Gregory Meeks, whose district includes JetBlue's hub, John F. Kennedy Airport.

"I am meeting JetBlue next week in Washington. It is to make sure we are steady in our course to bring JetBlue to Bermuda," Dr. Brown told The Royal Gazette.

"We are talking to a number of carriers, but JetBlue is still top of our list in terms of preference.

"We are going to continue to nurture the relationship. I'm hopeful (they will come next year).

"They have just ordered 65 aircraft and that makes me cautiously confident that Bermuda will be in their plans for next year.

"The CEO has said they are only adding one more route this year and I don't think that includes Bermuda."

Dr. Brown said he will be in the US capital for about five days but would not disclose his other plans because they have not been finalised.