Bermuda's Christmas air cargo woes may be alleviated with a new flight which started this week.

A courier firm has started a four times a week service from the US which will bring freight destined for Christmas sales and mail stuck in the US .

Operators DHL Airways believe the flight could relieve complaints levelled at scheduled carriers which bump cargo off flights because of a lack of space.

And starting this week, mail which had to be routed from the US to London and back to Bermuda will now be flown from New York direct to the Island.

DHL general manager Eric Bell said the flight, which is due to run until the end of December, may continue into January and February if it is a success.

He said the move was prompted by demand and last year DHL also had to route its materials via London to ensure they arrived on the Island.

The winter period often means Bermuda's regular carriers either downsize their aircraft or reduce the frequency of their flights. The move means there is less space available for cargo.

Island-bound mail is hit as airline officials leave bags of post at airports to make way for passengers' luggage. And freight is also left behind.

One importer, Music Box owner Eddie DeMello, is fuming that Delta's policy of using a smaller aircraft meant some of his Christmas stock could be up to a month before it arrives here.

"Every year we go through the same problems with these airlines. We want service all year round, '' he said. "During the summer we don't have a problem, but in the winter months they just give the worst possible service.'' Mr. DeMello, who says he spends thousands of dollars on freight a year, said Delta officials in Atlanta wouldn't commit themselves to the cargo arriving in a month's time.

In addition, he said the airline could not guarantee a priority service would get the goods to Bermuda.

As a consequence, he said he would be arranging for it to be shipped via Toronto.

Lester Nelson, Bermuda International Airport manager of air operations, said the problem was not new and was based on the economics of a slower winter season.

He said the airlines had to plan ahead for months when demand would be lower and could not react to a short blip in business around Christmas time.

He said some airlines, such as Air Canada, put on larger aircraft around this time of year to meet higher passenger demand.

In addition, he pointed out there was no outbound cargo from Bermuda, making freight costs high and that many islands do not get the level of service that Bermuda does from many airlines.