A luxury ?boutique airline? will begin five-day-a-week flights between Bermuda and London from April onwards, it was reported yesterday.

Although Fly First Class had initially planned to start the service from next month, reports in the US media stated that this will now happen around Easter, once final government permission has been secured.

The Florida-based company is targeting both the business and leisure markets with the service, which will also visit Wilmington, North Carolina two days a week.

It will use 767 wide-body aircraft, which are equipped to carry 90 passengers in a cabin that is big enough to accommodate 200.

Unrestricted year-round fares for the round trip from Bermuda to Stansted Airport in the UK will range from $5,200 to $1,399.

According to US press reports, chief executive Darrell Richardson, said that the airline only needs to get the final signatures necessary before the first service takes to the air. He added that the airline will announce final ticket prices and start accepting reservations next month.

However, a spokesman for Fly First Class yesterday refused to comment on the reports of an April start-date.