Government House has not been courted by airlines offering alternatives to the present British Airways service to the UK.

The rebuttal came earlier today in response to an article in The Royal Gazette, in which Shadow Transport Minister Lawrence Scott spoke on the need for alternatives to the British Airways service.

Mr Scott said the Bermuda Government had been successful in acquiring alternative routes from the United States — but suggested that Governor George Fergusson might be “protecting the UK’s interests when it comes to not allowing competition for BA as the UK’s flagship carrier”.

A statement issued by Government House read: “An Opposition spokesman has reportedly asked whether the Governor is protecting the UK’s interests when it comes to not allowing competition among air carriers. The answer is no. Government House has not been approached by any airline carriers wishing to fly to Bermuda from London or any other European destination and we are not aware of any proposals in this area.

“If such an approach were received it would be given proper consideration, and in the first instance would be a matter for the Bermuda authorities.”