Although no contracts have yet been signed, the Department of Tourism remains confident that low-cost airline JetBlue will launch a service to Bermuda in the future.

Director of North American Sales and Marketing, Glenn Bean, said he was confident that JetBlue Airways founder and CEO David Neeleman was serious about adding Bermuda to his list of destinations from the East Coast.

This follows a recent meeting in Florida between Mr. Bean, Mr. Neeleman, the Minister of Transport and Tourism, Ewart Brown and Bermuda International Airport general manager James Howes.

Mr. Bean said: ?We left there with a good feeling and we?re very optimistic, but discussions will be ongoing. No one has signed a contract as yet, but I?m optimistic about the possibilities.?

He said Mr. Neeleman was ?very serious? as he saw the Island as a ?great fit? for his airline.

Referring to JetBlue as ?high value transportation?, Mr. Bean said the airline fit in well with Bermuda?s product placement because the Island markets itself as a quality destination.

But the greatest hurdle, he said, was airline pricing.

?But we?re approaching this with a level of assertiveness, if you like, by bringing in more carriers to the Island and driving down the price by virtue of competition.?

Bermuda?s interest in JetBlue was not missed by guests at the recent Tony Jannus Award ceremony in Florida.

Besides being represented in person at the ceremony, Mr. Howes (the airport) paid $5,000 to sponsor the event.

The award was presented to Mr. Neeleman for his contribution to the growth and improvement of the scheduled airline industry.

Besides sponsorship, boxes of chocolates were presented to dinner guests ? including Mr. Neeleman ? containing a card congratulating the aviation power player for ?his brilliant success in the airline industry?.

In June this year the airline filed for permission from the US Department of Transportation to fly to Bermuda.