Air Canada is “optimistic” its winter service to Bermuda could climb back to pre-pandemic levels, said the transport minister.

Wayne Furbert added that his talks with representatives of the carrier at its Montreal headquarters included “key discussion points” on the potential for bigger aircraft to serve the island more frequently from Toronto in the short term.

He said discussions revolved around Air Canada’s priorities in potentially enhancing service to the island.

“Air Canada acknowledged the promising signs of recovery in destinations encompassing Latin America, the Caribbean, and Bermuda,” Mr Furbert said.

Mr Furbert was joined by Mark Guishard, the chief administrative officer of the Bermuda Airport Authority; Brad DiFiore of Ailevon Pacific Consulting, the air service development consultants to the Bermuda Airport Authority; and Aaron Adderley, the president of Skyport, which operates LF Wade International Airport.

Air Canada was said to be committed to working with the Bermuda Tourism Authority in promoting the island to Canadian visitors.

Mr Furbert said: "Both Air Canada and the Bermuda team departed from the meeting with a shared purpose to strengthen our collaboration and optimise air service offerings for residents and visitors from Canada.”