It will be business as usual tomorrow, when American Airlines begins its second quarter century of service to the Bermuda market.

Since September 8, 1975, when the first American flight - from Boston - touched down at what was then Kindley Field (now Bermuda International Airport), American Airlines' airplanes have served Bermuda every single day for 25 years, weather permitting.

No big celebrations are planned, although a small staff party will be held to mark the occasion. In the 25 years since the first American Airlines passenger stepped onto the tarmac at Kindley, American has boosted its schedule to three flights a day to and from the Eastern Seaboard, in the season, and a single New York flight year round.

Over the years, American has served various North American cities: Raleigh, North Carolina from 1989 to 1995; a brief daily service non-stop from Chicago in 1983, which did not attract sufficient customers to be continued for another season; and Philadelphia for three years, among others.

"New York has always been our main focus,'' explained Carole DeCouto, general manager of American Airlines in Bermuda. "We started by serving La Guardia, for the first ten years and now we fly into and out of Kennedy.'' Mrs. DeCouto explained that the airlines that serve Bermuda tend not to tread on each others' toes. Other airlines fly into and out of New York, but, talking to Mrs. De Couto, it is clear that the Bermuda staff of American Airlines think of New York as "theirs''.

American has a ticket office in Hamilton, upstairs at Windsor Place, another ticket office at the airport and an administrative office behind the scenes, also at the airport.

AA staff use the ticket counters which the airport supplies, which is where most travellers come into contact with American's 30 staff on the Island.

American also has a VIP lounge, upstairs at the airport, for the use of its first class passengers. "We would dearly love to be able to extend the facility to all our passengers,'' said Mrs. De Couto, "but it's actually quite a small space and fills up quickly when first class is full that day.'' Cargo and aircraft maintenance has been sub-contracted to Aircraft Services Bermuda.

As frequent travellers will know, American also operates a 24-hour reservations system, which is hooked through to the United States when local staff are not working, making the facility available around the clock.

With the first flight of the day at 7:25 a.m., American's first shift starts at 5:30 in the morning and runs until 2:00 p.m, when the day's flights in and out have been processed. Administrative staff work from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

and a second shift checks in late in the afternoon to process the evening arrival of the aircraft which will, the following morning, take off again for New York.

Thus, in Bermuda, American has staff working from 5:30 in the morning to 10:00 at night.

Mrs. DeCouto said she was impressed with the renovations to the airport that have seen the buildings housing the arrivals process improved considerably of late.

"We're very pleased with the way it turned out,'' she said.

Preparing for take off: American Airlines Boeing 757s fly in and out of Bermuda at the speed of 530 miles per hour. They have provided Bermuda with excellent service over the years.