Bermuda officials have met the founder of Breeze Airways about the Bermudian market as efforts continue to improve flight connections to the island.

Wayne Furbert, the Minister of Transport, was among those who met David Neeleman while the airline founder was a guest speaker for the Wings Club, an organisation dedicated to promoting the advancement of aeronautics.

Mr Neeleman has established five commercial airlines, including JetBlue, WestJet, Azul Brazilian Airlines, Morris Air and Breeze Airways.

Mr Furbert said: “David Neeleman is a highly accomplished and experienced airline executive, and it was a pleasure to meet him and gain insights into his successful ventures within the industry.”

A government spokeswoman said that during the meeting Bermuda officials shared an update on the Bermudian market, including upcoming hotel developments.

The spokeswoman added: “The Ministry of Transport and the air-service team remain committed to fostering engagement with Breeze Airways and other airlines as part of their strategic efforts to enhance airline seat capacity.

“By actively engaging with industry leaders, the ministry aims to strengthen existing partnerships and attract new airlines to increase the island's air-travel network.”

Lester Nelson, the chief executive of the Bermuda Airport Authority, and Aaron Adderley, the president of Skyport, also took part in the meeting in New York.

Last year, Ken Hassard, the commercial director of Skyport, discussed long-term plans to bring new flights to the island from smaller airports such as Hartford in Connecticut and Providence, Rhode Island.

He believed that the recent meeting with Mr Neeleman aligned with this strategy.

Stakeholders are looking at “airline start-ups that have the potential to fit strategically with what we see as a way forward in developing new markets”, he said.

• UPDATE: this article has been updated to include a comment from Skyport.