LIVERPOOL’S first-ever regular trans-Atlantic air link to New York starts today, with a little help from JLA’s friend, Yoko Ono.

She will be at the airport to officially launch the daily service to New York’s JFK airport.

She will also unveil Flyglobespan’s Boeing 757 in a new livery which includes the line “Across the Universe” along the fuselage.

The link, by Scottish-based flyglobespan, will give Merseysiders the chance to fly to New York direct from Liverpool.

Tourism chiefs also hope that as word spreads about the new link in the US, it will open the gateway to increasing numbers of American tourists to Liverpool and Merseyside.

Last night, Liverpool JLA spokesman Robin Tudor said: “We are delighted at the launch of this new regular service to New York.

“The service is being marketed both here and in the US. The millions of people who already use JFK will get use to seeing the name Liverpool JLA on the destination board, and that alone will attract attention.

“Obviously, for the first few weeks, the return passenger loads will be lower than the outgoing flights, but that is to be expected. We are confident it will be a popular and a successful service from Liverpool.”

City council leader Warren Bradley said: “It is tremendous that we will have an air link with New York. It shows the changing prosperity of our city. As the airport built up its links with mainland Europe, it was always an aspiration to look towards trans-Atlantic flights.”

Martin King, director of tourism at the city region's official tourist board, The Mersey Partnership, said: “The US is a massive market with huge potential for us as a visitor destination. It’s also a very complex market where consumers and business travellers alike have a very wide range of travel options. Today’s inaugural flyglobespan flight establishes a new landmark link between Liverpool and New York – two iconic world-class cities which have already developed strong bonds.

“Our destination has enormous appeal to US travellers. For many, there is the genealogy and ancestry trail; The Beatles; the unique challenge of England’s Golf Coast; Liverpool as a World Heritage City and, of course, the entire Capital of Culture programme for 2008.

“As the city region's tourist board, we have worked with partners here, including LJLA and flyglobespan, to promote the destination to the US market and our message has been very warmly welcomed and well received by US travel trade and media alike.

“Our challenge now is to ensure numbers of US visitors to our city region continue to grow.”

THE Liverpool Daily Post has some great exclusive offers for readers and can provide packages to New York from Liverpool from as little as £399 for three nights. Contact number for the Daily Post & Echo Travel Service is 0151 227 5987.

larryneild