BermudAir launched its non-stop Halifax service on Saturday, announcing year-round links, as of this weekend’s inaugural flight.

The first touchdown in the East Canada city was welcomed with the traditional water cannon salute.

BermudAir’s team also celebrated the inaugural flight with gifts and Canada-themed food and beverages for passengers on board, along with a gate celebration on arrival at Halifax Stanfield.

The ribbon-cutting ceremony included greetings from Mike Savage, the Mayor of the Halifax Regional Municipality, and Joyce Carter, the president and chief executive of Halifax International Airport Authority.

The weekly flight departs Bermuda on Saturday mornings at 8.15 and arrives at Stanfield International at 10.40; turning around at 11.25 out of Halifax and landing in Bermuda at 1.40pm.

BermudAir said the regular 2½-hour flights reinstated direct air links after a hiatus of more than ten years.

Adam Scott, the founder and chief executive of BermudAir said: “We’re delighted to launch this highly anticipated service for Bermuda and Halifax. This is clearly a route that has been underserved for a considerable amount of time.

“Given the centuries-long commercial, cultural and historical links these two markets share, we’re very pleased to help make leisure and business travel between them easier and more convenient.

“This also applies to the many students from Bermuda studying in Halifax, at universities such as Dalhousie, St Mary’s and Mount St Vincent, and their families.”

He added that this also provided Canadians with another travel option out of Halifax, an attractive vacation opportunity year-round.

Mr Scott said: “We’re happy to support further tourism development in Bermuda by opening this route for visitors from Halifax, along with our Toronto service.

“We look forward to welcoming many additional travellers to the island on board.”

The airline said the new route also provided local residents with direct access to the Canadian Maritimes for leisure travel.

“Halifax is a natural gateway to many beautiful areas of Nova Scotia, including New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island, Newfoundland and Labrador for local travellers,” Mr Scott said.

Ms Carter said: "We are excited to welcome BermudAir to Halifax Stanfield, re-establishing a strong connection between Nova Scotia and Bermuda.

“This service is more than just a new flight; it is a gateway to endless possibilities for leisure and business growth in both destinations. Welcome aboard, BermudAir.”

BermudAir believes there is strong demand for Canadian air links and market interest in a Halifax route since the airline’s launch.

It added: “As well as being connected to the island via familial, education and tourism ties, Halifax is a strategic location for subsidiaries of Bermuda-based financial services and technology companies.

“Therefore, demand for Halifax on that basis has helped drive the decision to provide service year-round consistent with the airline’s other routes, beyond periods of seasonal air service that was previously in place.”

Mr Scott said: “After operating for less than a year, the addition of Halifax, along with service to Toronto, which launched on May 17, now brings our strategic network expansion to seven routes between Bermuda, Canada and the USA.

“We have an incredible team and this remarkable achievement in such a short period of time is a testament to their hard work and effectiveness.”