Air travel monopoly - January 15, 2003

It is only natural that we shall be having a spate of contributions on the refusal of a licence for a new airline, some even implicating the tourism situation. This I find unsavoury, as our tourism is not only British.

The applicant company commented that for them "it doesn't make any difference to which country our clients go...". Thank you very much! How Maltese! So if they obtained traffic rights, they would have probably used the airline to fly passengers to wherever, especially if we join the European Union!

Air Malta was set up 29 years ago and is committed to serve us. From birth it took up the challenge, grew from strength to strength, and boldly opened up new routes, irrespective of profits.

Their losses were Malta's gain! Without a shadow of doubt, sometimes even at great sacrifices, along with its devoted staff, our airline has unfailingly served Malta more than well, and this through thick and thin!

Our islands' tourism successes owe a lot to Air Malta. Let us protect our national airline for as long as possible!