wait-and-see attitude concerning the announcement that another airline was being pursued by Government for a new gateway to Europe.

Local BA manager Phillip Troake said any competition would be welcomed by the arline, but he warned that previous direct connections "couldn't sustain themselves''.

Mr. Troake said BA's current London flight was already the "best gateway'' to Europe.

"I can understand the Government wants to develop business with Europe. That fits in with our plans,'' he said.

"If they attract a European carrier, that's competition that we would meet.'' Tourism Minister David Allen on Friday told the House of Assembly he was in "fairly advanced stages'' of negotiations with airlines to open up direct flights to the US Midwest and continental Europe.

And the European carrier could possibly continue to another gateway, he said.

Mr. Troake recalled the 1996 pullout of Condor, a charter subsidiary of Lufthansa, after less than two years of low reservations.

That year, the Department of Tourism launched a German-based media campaign to promote Condor's non-stop service to the Island from Frankfurt, Germany.

However, the airline averaged only a disappointing 35 passengers a week during a brief stint.

Then Minister of Tourism David Dodwell -- now Shadow Minister -- cited economic problems in Germany, a lack of promotion of the flight by the airline in Germany, and poor local advertisement for the charter's demise.

Mr. Troake said BA's numbers had been unaffected by Condor's presence, and suggested the company had targetted "a different sort of market''.

Earlier this year, increasing air arrivals from the United Kingdom prompted Mr. Troake to suggest BA might eventually opt for a daily service.

Mr. Troake