culture was the vision unveiled by Transport Minister Dr. Ewart Brown on Friday.

And there are new air links on the cards.

Dr. Brown said: "Efforts are being made to interest another flight from Europe.

"We think there is a good chance something good is going to happen. And a consultant is here from Florida to assist us with a Bermuda/Florida link. In April and May there will be summits to move forward in this area.'' The airport terminal will be improved with television screens to broadcast documentaries about some of the highlights of the island including the Gombeys and the forts as well as items about the history of the airport.

Dr. Brown said: "Generally the airport gave the message that Bermuda was a financial centre, but never gave the message that Bermuda had a cultural life.'' He mentioned the musicians who greet new arrivals at the airport as being especially popular, including with British Foreign Office minister Baroness Scotland, who mentioned the band when she arrived this week.

There was much to look forward to elsewhere, said Dr. Brown.

He said: "Restaurant facilities are likely to be finalised during next year.'' The delay on getting this started was due to uncertainty on the issue of fast food restaurants while the McDonald's issue was still being thrashed out in the Privy Council, said Dr. Brown.

Additional funds will be targeted at the new runway which will be two-thirds completed by the end of the year. New fire sprinkling systems and CCTV were also being brought in.

A state-of-the art air conditioning system costing $3.6 million will be funded by energy savings from new plant monitoring technology.

There will be more space for kiosks -- and rent from those will help offset the costs of running the airport, said Dr. Brown.

And fees charged for using baggage carts could also be scrapped, he revealed.

The Minister emphasised that Bermudians were achieving top posts in his Ministry and said the airport's acting general manager Marshall Minors was set to get the post on a permanent basis before too long.