British Airways flew its top executive in North America to Bermuda last week to hear concerns about lack of business and club seats on the new 767 jet, The Royal Gazette has learned.

BA's executive director for North America, Dan Brewin, met Transport Minister Dr Ewart Brown and leading business figures at separate meetings last Friday.

Mr. Brewin will report the concerns directly to BA's chief executive in London, Rod Eddington.

The move was in response to complaints -- mainly from the business community -- that the Boeing 767, which is smaller than the 777 previously used on the Bermuda to London route, does not have enough business and club seats for executive travellers.

Until March this year, BA used the larger 777 on the London to Bermuda route, but only had three flights a week.

On March 25, the airline began using the smaller 767, but increased frequency to five flights a week -- moving to six next month.

Tourism Minister David Allen said at the time that an upmarket tourist and business destination needed the 777 and that the Island would settle for less frequency if it could get back the 777.

David Ezekiel, the chair of the International Companies Division of the Chamber of Commerce, was among a group of eight business figures who met Mr.

Brewin.

He said Mr. Brewin promised the 777 will be back on the Bermuda to London route by next year.

He told The Royal Gazette yesterday: "We told him we wanted the 777 back and he was explaining that because BA is going through a large refurbishment programme with planes, they haven't got one available at this stage.

"His message was, with everything else being equal, they are looking to bring the 777 back next year. The 767 is not the plane the 777 is and part of the problem is, having given everyone a taste of the 777, people feel the 767 is a step backwards.

BA boss hears seating concerns "Frequency came up and I'm not sure if there was a direct trade off between the bigger plane and less frequency.

"With the smaller business class capacity, a lot of people, even with greater frequency, are having problems getting here from Europe, and a number of people are not getting here on the day they wanted.

"Clearly this was a high level contact and he got the message, and I got the feeling this trip did a lot of good.

"It was very fruitful, and a great idea to get him down here.'' BA's Bermuda public relations consultant Sallie Singleton told The Royal Gazette : "We can confirm that British Airways executive director for North America, Dan Brewin, was in Bermuda last week.

"He was delighted to meet the Minister of Transport. He was here to listen to Bermuda's concerns and will be reporting back to BA's chief executive Rod Eddington.'' Dr. Brown could not be contacted for comment.