layoffs at Bermuda Aviation Services in approximately three weeks, The Royal Gazette has learned.

BAS chief executive officer Mr. Eugene Bean confirmed on Friday that the Canadian national airline will begin boarding all meals for its Canada-Bermuda flights in Toronto and Halifax at the end of the month.

"(The shift) will mean quite a reduction in revenues for BAS' catering division,'' Mr. Bean told The Royal Gazette . "It will also mean staff reductions and a restructuring of the entire division.'' Although Mr. Bean admitted some employees would be laid off to offset the drop in revenues, he could not say how many might be affected.

In November, the aviation supply company was able to avoid laying off staff after Delta Airlines decided to replace the hot meals it provided on its Bermuda flights with a light snack and beverage.

In that case, Mr. Bean told The Gazette , employees were transferred from the company's catering unit to its field division.

He said a similar transfer was unlikely in the case of Air Canada.

Earlier in 1993, a total of ten people were laid off at BAS after Northwest Airlines suspended its flights to Bermuda in July and Continental Airlines discontinued using BAS catering services.

Last year, BAS announced a profit for the year of $491,831.

Mr. Bean also confirmed that a recent plan by American Airlines to eliminate hot meals on its short-haul flights had no bearing on Bermuda, pointing out that the policy affected only US domestic flights.

In a move to trim costs and eliminate wastage, the Dallas-based airline has launched a more casual "Bistro'' meal service on its short flights. Under the service, passengers pick up their breakfasts or lunches from coolers set up by the boarding gate, with only first-class travellers and those who have requested special meals getting meal service at their seats.

The service, which is already in operation at Houston and Washington National Airports, will be limited to flights of two to two-and-a-half hours.

Beverage service will still be provided on the flights.

Last week, local American Airlines representative Mrs. Carole DeCouto said there were no plans to extend Bistro internationally.

"Should the service spread to international routes, we would have to gauge the level of service remaining before making a determination on any reduction in staffing levels or what effect it would have on BAS,'' Mr. Bean said.

American Airlines currently serves Bermuda from New York City. The trip is approximately one-and-a-half-hours long.