After four years of burger wars, a new chapter for food concessions at the Bermuda International Airport has begun.

Government is finally moving forward with plans for better food service at the airport and invitations for proposals are being sought by July 28 from parties interested in providing "Bermudian fare'' in a food court-type setting.

Airport Operations acting manager Marshall Minors said the revamped food service in the airport's departure lounge would be opened -- pending Parliamentary approval -- before next year's tourist season.

Food service at the airport became a contentious issue in the late 1990's when Grape Bay Ltd. tried to offer McDonald's fast food there.

Grape Bay's plan, brought with the backing of former Premier Sir. John Swan and MP (now UBP Senate Leader) Maxwell Burgess, was approved by senior United Bermuda Party Government officials.

But the move caused a deep schism in the party, sparking a Parliamentary revolt by the UBP's "rebel five'', who subsequently sponsored the the Prohibited Restaurants Act of 1998 which banned all restaurants "with a foreign flavour'' from operating on the Island.

In 1997, Rock Island Coffee was given the temporary right to offer light food and drinks at the airport, pending the resolution of the burger debate.

Once chosen, the new concession will have to be approved by Parliament before operations can begin.

"We're hoping to create a food court area in the US departures' lounge with a food and beverage area available to the general public in what is now the Last Call pub,'' Mr. Minors said.

"We're not going to specify the type of food, but we're hoping it will be typical Bermudian cuisine,'' he added, "which would likely be fish sandwiches, hamburgers, fish chowder, that sort of thing.'' Mr. Minors said the plan was part of the general improvement of the airport's services and said his department's aim was to integrate the more than 6,000 square feet of food court into the whole airport plan.

"This is a great opportunity for local entrepreneurs,'' he said.

"This is a call to help identify exemplary food and beverage providers.'' Mr. Minors added: "We're hoping that leading edge concessionaires will apply and it is up to them what type of food they'll provide.

"We want it up and running by April 1 to give them the opportunity to get the best bang for the buck.'' RESTAURANTS EAT