Michael Dunkley has hailed talks with JetBlue bosses as “very productive” and says the airline is looking to expand its presence in the Bermuda market.

The Premier led a small delegation to New York last week to meet with JetBlue officials, including CEO Robin Hayes, to discuss the airline’s service to the island.

Mr Dunkley told The Royal Gazette that 2016 marked the tenth anniversary of the airline’s inaugural service to Bermuda out of New York.

“Needless to say, Bermuda is a very important and dear market to JetBlue, one that the airline wants to expand its presence in,” he said. “That could include the introduction of service from new markets and/or the expansion of existing service from the New York and Boston markets.

“While Bermuda continues to be a very strong market in the spring and summer months, we discussed the desire to improve performance during the rest of the year as the airline is committed to continuing its year-round presence.”

Mr Dunkley was joined on the trip by Shawn Crockwell, the Minister of Transport and Tourism Development, Derrick Binns, the cabinet secretary, Aaron Adderley, the airport’s general manager and Bill Hanbury, CEO of the Bermuda Tourism Authority.

During the meeting, Mr Crockwell provided the JetBlue officials with an overview of the tourism development initiatives in progress including the introduction of casino gaming and new hotel development projects.