The Bermuda Government is confident that there is still an opportunity for two airlines to succeed in providing service to the Island out of Europe.

Shawn Crockwell provided the House of Assembly with an update on his recent trip to the World Routes Conference in Durban, South Africa, a trip which resulted in what he described as “significant conversations” with Norwegian Airlines, Virgin and Thomas Cook.

But the tourism minister’s report came under scrutiny from the Opposition.

Mr Crockwell said: “We met with several European airlines to discuss potential service to and from the United Kingdom and Europe and were pleasantly encouraged by their level of interest in Bermuda.”

He reminded the House that competing low-cost service Zoom Airlines caused no change in traffic numbers for British Airways, adding: “The presence of a competing carrier succeeded in growing the market rather than cannibalising it.”

Responding to concerns over the reliability of BA’s service, Mr Crockwell said that he had gained a guarantee from the airline that they would provide a dedicated aircraft for Bermuda.

“They have given us an assurance that they will use this dedicated modern aircraft and since that meeting we haven’t had any of those problems,” he said.

Mr Crockwell also attended London Shipping Week in September of this year to pursue a promotional campaign to attract ship owners to the Island’s shipping registries.

Marc Bean, Leader of the Opposition, asked Mr Crockwell to answer “with a yes or no” whether the decision to make the body governing civil aviation a quango had been influenced by a suggestion made by the Progressive Labour Party two years ago.

Mr Crockwell said he did not recall stating that the area of civil aviation should be privatised and that the “appropriate model” is a quango for opportunities regarding revenue.

David Burt, the Shadow Minister of Finance, also asked him to confirm that the Government had changed its initial position and are now following the PLP’s recommendation to make it a quango.

He did not concede, saying: “When we became the Government both registries were in a mess.

“We were given significant instructions that things had to happen because of gross deficiencies. They were in a mess and we had to clean that up. We were hoping to move forward collaboratively, but if they [the PLP] want to have the facts rolled out then these are the facts.”

He told the House: “Those meetings were very encouraging. They were looking at Bermuda as a potential destination. We are continuing to have significant conversations with two of them.”

Mr Bean said that he was grateful to hear that the ministry had followed his party’s recommendations.

When questioned about the rise in departure taxes, the tourism minister insisted that Bermuda remains in line with competitors regarding cost.

PLP MP Walter Roban asked if they would provide an opportunity to train locals in the shipping industry, to which Mr Crockwell responded, “Yes.”

“That is the desire,” he said.