Daily flights from Toronto will start in May at an introductory fare of $139 on WestJet, the Canadian low-fare airline.

The carrier announced the one-way cost yesterday, saying it was part of a seat sale.

Round-trip fares are $415 with taxes included. It is not clear what the regular price of flights will be.

Since yesterday's announcement seats have already been snapped up. One flight over a June weekend had six remaining seats at press time.

Premier Ewart Brown said: "We have been working on this for many years and are very excited that travellers can now go between Bermuda and Toronto for much less. We count this among our most significant victories in Tourism and Transport."

Flights will operate out of Pearson International Airport. They can accommodate 166 passengers and will leave Toronto at 10.20 a.m. and Bermuda at 3 p.m.

Until now Air Canada has had a monopoly on direct flights between Bermuda and Canada.

Air Canada flights regularly cost between $600 and $800. The airline is also running a seat sale at the moment with round-trip tickets costing approximately $400.

Opposition spokesman for Tourism Michael Dunkley said the news would be welcome by those in the industry but said it was still unclear what the terms of the deal between the Department of Tourism and WestJet were.