Air arrivals on the Island were up six percent last month compared to May 2005 ? with 26 percent more people flying in from New York.

Airport data ? which unlike the Department of Tourism?s statistics also counts returning locals ? showed that around 4,000 more people walked through the arrivals gate.

Airport General Manager James Howes attributed the increase to the success of the new budget JetBlue flights from New York which began on May 4, together with daily British Airways flights from London since March.

?We were expecting to see this and we felt vindicated,? he said. ?The main problem we have seen is high air fares. That?s why, with the introduction of JetBlue, the fares dropped on the other airlines. The introduction of JetBlue has brought a 26 percent increase in passengers from New York on all three airlines including American and Continental.?

?We saw no drop in traffic with American and an increase on Continental as well. The introduction of JetBlue has not resulted in any loss of business, it?s brought it in.?

In addition, said Mr. Howes, there has been a 12 percent increase in air arrivals from Boston compared to last year. He put this down to increased advertising in that area by the Bermuda Department of Tourism.

The last quarterly statistics released by that department last month showed that air visitors to Bermuda fell 1.4 percent in the first three months of the year compared to 2005.

Minister of Tourism and Transport Dr. Ewart Brown said of the Airport statistics last night: ?The numbers are definitely up and JetBlue undoubtedly has had an impact.?

And he added: ?I would think that Mr. Howes? number is conservative.?