Bermudians can look forward to low cost flights from the United States with news yesterday that JetBlue has applied to fly to the Island next year.

Transport Minister Dr. Ewart Brown has been wooing the budget airline for some time and said yesterday he was delighted the company had decided to fly to the Island.

?This is excellent news. This represents a significant step forward for the travelling public?s desire to achieve low cost fares to Bermuda,? said Dr. Brown.

JetBlue, which was launched four years ago, is the fastest growing airline in the US and has set new standards in low cost high quality air travel.

Competition from JetBlue has lowered air fares on other routes, said Dr. Brown.

A Government statement did not specify which routes JetBlue would fly, but the airline?s hub is New York?s John F. Kennedy Airport.

JetBlue becomes the second budget airline to announce this year they are travelling to Bermuda, whose tourism industry has traditionally been dogged by high fares. USA3000 will be flying two flights a week to Bermuda from Baltimore.

The Island will have 20 percent more flights this summer compared to last year, with new services to London, Philadelphia, Fort Lauderdale, Orlando, Baltimore, Chicago, and New York.