A group of 20 scantily clad cheerleaders grabbed everyone’s attention as passengers on the first AirTran Airways flight from Atlanta to Bermuda.Transport Minister Terry Lister joked that no one was interested in him anymore as the cheerleaders for the Atlanta Falcons’ American football team attended yesterday’s press conference. The women are here for the weekend to shoot their 2012 swimsuit calendar on the Island’s beaches.Mr Lister gave all the passengers a warm pink-carpet Bermuda welcome as the inaugural flight touched down at the LF Wade International Airport at about 2.30pm.Tourism Minister Patrice Minors and AirTran Airways’ senior director of planning John Kirby were on the flight to celebrate “the big day.”But it was the cheerleaders who got the most attention as they ran into the press conference wearing black and red hot pants and bra tops with white knee-high boots.They were greeted with a huge round of applause as they excitedly waved around their glittery pop poms. It was described as a “really significant day” for tourism as Bermuda now has five gateway cities served by low-cost direct flights.Mr Lister, who wore green as that’s AirTran’s colour, thanked airport General Manager Aaron Adderley and Mr Kirby, saying they had worked hard “to make things happen.”He said: “This is the first day for the flight but it will continue for many, many years.“We absolutely hope this is the start of a long and happy relationship with AirTran Airways. We’re now one of the best connected little islands in the world and once people get here we have a lovely place to enjoy.”The press conference’s welcoming committee was like a who’s who of the tourism industry including director of tourism William Griffiths, Fairmont Hamilton Princess boss Jon Crellin, Coco Reef’s John Jefferies and Sallie Singleton from Bermuda’s Tourism Board.There was also a strong presence of politicians eagerly awaiting the arrival of the cheerleaders, including Health Minister Zane DeSilva, PLP MP Randy Horton, PLP MP Lovitta Foggo and former Attorney General Phil Perinchief. As the media commented that they had never seen a press conference so well attended, the Ministers joked “let the floor show begin” and “don’t block my view.”Surrounded by the cheerleaders, a grinning Mr Lister said: “I’m going to make a special request that these ladies attend all my press conferences. I’ll automatically be a success, it won’t matter what I say.”As Mr Lister, who was standing in front of the Feel The Love billboard, added: “It’s a very exciting day, you can see I’m excited,” his cabinet colleagues yelled out: “You’re getting a divorce.”Mr Adderley joked that he had never seen so many airport workers so eager to work, adding that it may have been a security breach with so many men out on the airport’s tarmac.Ms Minors said the first flight to Atlanta had been a “celebratory event” and she was thrilled with the “type of exposure and coverage that Bermuda will receive” from the cheerleader’s calendar. But she did suggest that it was only fair if “next time the guys come.”Ms Minors said: “The Atlanta area is also an important gateway market for Bermuda.“Atlanta is a very popular locale for our residents as we have a very large contingent of Bermudians who work, reside and study in Atlanta and the surrounding area. We are also expecting this new flight will be popular with potential visitors and we’re very excited that AirTran is offering this outstanding service to Bermuda.”Ms Minors added that Bermuda continued to be “a premier business and leisure destination” even at a time when many air carriers were scaling back their services. Mr Kirby, who was described as “a real friend to Bermuda,” was presented with a Bermuda coat of arms plaque.Cheerleader Erin P told The Royal Gazette the flight had been “really great” and it was her first time visiting Bermuda.She said: “We’re so excited to be here, we’re looking forward to spending some time on the Island. This is my third season with the Atlanta Falcons. We’ll be shooting morning, afternoon and night for our calendar, but we hope to have some free time.”Another ten Atlanta Falcon cheerleaders will fly in today with individual and group calendar photo shoots taking place at secret locations across the Island. Also on board the flight was a delegation of six business owners called The Buckhead Coalition. The Chamber of Commerce type organisation from Atlanta has arranged a “sister community” agreement with Bermuda.They are here for two days and will visit Deputy Premier Derrick Burgess and Hamilton Mayor Charles Gosling.Charlie Crawford, CEO of Private Bank of Buckhead, said: “We’re excited about being here to meet business leaders and establish good working relationships for years to come.”AirTran Airways began offering flights from Bermuda to Baltimore last month. The low cost carrier will now operate two daily flights to Atlanta and Baltimore.