Airline Delays Wilmington, N.C., to London Flights Again

This time, Darrell Richardson is being extra cautious. He "missed badly" before, he said.

The chief executive officer of the upstart Fly First Class predicted last December that the airline would begin to offer flights from the Port City to Bermuda and London around Easter 2006. That date came and went without the service from Wilmington International Airport.

"I don't make predictions on Wilmington," he said. "I just don't do it anymore."

Although behind schedule, Fly First Class still plans to offer international air service between Wilmington and London, with a stop in Bermuda. The service would operate twice a week, on Fridays and Sundays, according to a preliminary plan. Fly First Class would operate a Boeing 767 with 90 seats in three classes.

Tuesday, Richardson said international flights should arrive at ILM some time in 2007. While the airline is "shooting for spring," Richardson made no promises or firm projections.

The Fort Lauderdale, Fla.-based company is awaiting necessary permits from regulatory agencies in Bermuda, the United States and the United Kingdom. It has encountered more red tape than expected, he said.

"Everything's in place," he said. "We're just sitting here waiting on the final go-ahead."

Richardson also didn't offer fare estimates, but he has said the rates would be competitive with current rates.

Avid travelers and shoppers, Bermudans could use the service to make quick trips to the U.S. mainland for vacations or to pick up cheap goods. Bermuda is a wealthy island, fueled by its banking and insurance industries. Europeans have also shown strong interest in golfing vacations and other East Coast destinations, company and airport officials said.

Duty-free at ILM?

ILM officials were so enthusiastic about the new service to the island destination last year that they bought Hawaiian-style shirts for hospitality employees to promote the flights. The purchases might have been a bit premature, but Airport Director Jon Rosborough said he remains excited about the possibility. If international flights make it to ILM, the airport would consider offering duty-free shopping, he said.

Richardson said Fly First Class would offer a higher level of service in all classes than what transatlantic carriers are offering today, such as personal video devices for all passengers, free drinks and gourmet meals, such as "jumbo lump curried crab cakes" or "portabella mushroom and asiago cheese quiche."

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