Bermudians can now enjoy direct flights into Florida after US Airways launched its new weekly service to Fort Lauderdale on Saturday.

The Saturday service runs until the end of August, but Transport Minister Dr. Ewart Brown said he was confident a daily flight to Florida will eventually be established.

A group of travel agents was among the 58 passengers on board the inaugural flight, and Dr. Brown said the new destination opens up Bermuda to tourists from Florida as well as giving Bermudians the chance to fly directly to the sunshine state.

US Airways is offering a fare of $299 for the route and is hopeful the Fort Lauderdale service can be continued after August 30.

It is the second new route to Bermuda announced by US Airways in recent weeks, after the carrier launched a service to Boston last month.

Dr. Brown, who was on the inaugural Fort Lauderdale flight with Education Minister Paula Cox, described the new route as a “very significant development in our aviation history.

“I cannot underscore the importance of this flight because at a time when many destinations are losing airline service, we are seeing new flights coming to Bermuda International Airport, and US Airways has been the lead player in making this happen.

“We are extremely pleased that we have not only retained all of our air services, but we have actually increased the number of flights.

“We are confident that the direct Florida service will prove to be highly successful and quickly able to stand on its own as a profitable daily route.

“This new flight will open and expand out horizons to new markets to introduce Bermuda's attractions to a new generation of tourists by an airline that has now become our most active carrier.

“In the development of out air services strategy, we have two primary objectives. One is to develop new gateways, and the other is to increase service from existing gateways. I think it is safe to say that we are successfully accomplishing both.”

US Airways' commercial director for the Caribbean and Latin America David Johnson said despite the problems besetting the industry, the airline believed there was a bright future for tourism.

“This is a harbinger of good things to come for the travel industry, for Bermuda, for Florida, and for US Airways,” he said.

Dennis Edwards, the senior vice-president of the Greater Fort Lauderdale Convention and Visitors Bureau, who was on the flight, described the new route as an outstanding opportunity for Florida and Bermuda.

There were 1.5 million people in Broward County who had the chance to come to Bermuda.

And Fort Lauderdale boasts Sawgrass Mills, the largest outlet mall in the world, with 428 stores.

“I am very confident that with all the hard work we've seen, that we can continue this service for more than 10 weeks and I look forward to the continued partnership and future growth of both destinations,” said Mr. Edwards.