Bermuda could become an air hub between the Caribbean and Africa, Lawrence Scott, the former transport minister has insisted.

Mr Scott, who is a trained pilot, made the comments while launching a new charter service he is involved with called TXKF Direct. He said he might take command of some of the flights himself.

The government MP said the service would begin with flights between Bermuda and the Dominican Republic in August to coincide with the Cup Match holiday.

Mr Scott added that another charter flight to Jamaica would follow later in the year, with a long-haul service planned for 2024.

He said he would like to see the routes expand to other Caribbean islands, and then Ghana and South Africa.

Mr Scott said a route from the Caribbean to Africa via Bermuda would have far less visa issues than transfers going through US airports.

The new service comes after American Airlines announced it had suspended direct flights from Bermuda to Miami this summer.

Mr Scott told The Royal Gazette: “We are doing this to help the island connect. To open up trade routes.

“We picked-up on the Dominican Republic because it is a breadbasket nation, they generate not just enough food to feed themselves, but also to export the excess.

“This is just the first of multiple ventures.

“Later, we are thinking of going to Ghana. It is part of a much bigger strategy to connect the Caribbean and Africa.

“The Caribbean is trying to connect itself with, and to, Africa. But there is, right now, no tangible connection that is convenient for the Caribbean to depend on.

“So, Bermuda could become the hub for that.

“We would firstly create the link to Bermuda.

“Then we would create connectivity between Bermuda and West Africa, because people from the Caribbean don’t need a visa to come here.

“Our business model is organic growth, so we start small and go from there.”

Mr Scott plans to fly some of the charter aircraft himself. “I am a pilot. I have my pilot’s licence,” he said.