"Options open" on helicopter or fixed wing aircraft service to Gozo

The government is keeping its options open on whether the air service between Malta and Gozo should be provided by a helicopter or a fixed wing aircraft, Transport Minister Censu Galea has said.

Speaking with The Times, Mr Galea said the government was at this stage inviting organisations to submit proposals for a scheduled air service between Malta and Gozo.

Asked whether the government had fixed wing aircraft in mind instead of helicopters, Mr Galea said: "We are keeping our options open. It could be a helicopter service or it could be a fixed wing aircraft. No decision has been taken."

A service has so far been operated by Malta Air Charter using helicopters which fly between Luqa and the helipad near Xewkija.

Light aircraft are cheaper to operate but they would necessitate the building of an airstrip on Gozo. Plans for the building of such an airstrip some years ago had caused an outcry by environmentalists and the proposal was scrapped.

The only time Gozo had an airstrip was for a few months during the second world war, when some aircraft were stationed there before the invasion of Sicily in 1943. But the land was restored to its former agricultural use once military operations were over.

Mr Galea admitted that the use of a fixed wing aircraft could re-ignite the airstrip controversy.

Informed sources said that a third option of having the air service operated by sea planes was not being excluded.

Mr Galea said that since it was announced that the government or its entities would not continue to provide the service themselves, his ministry wanted to assess the interest of local or foreign operators in the service.

"We have issued a call for expression of interest in the local media as well as in an international aviation publication. Our aim is to assess different scenarios from local or foreign operators," he said.

He said that proposals had to make financial sense. "It is only logical that operators will only embark on such a project if it is financially feasible for them. It is for this reason that the government is keeping its options open. Some operators say a helicopter service is expensive. The government is saying let's see what foreign and local operators have to propose and then we will decide."

A few weeks ago the government said it was aware that various companies seemed to be interested in operating the service and, in line with its policy of liberalisation and in conformity with EU requisites, it would be liberalising the market.

Malta Air Charter, a subsidiary of Air Malta has accumulated a loss of Lm1.4 million and new investment and recurrent expenses would mean losses of Lm1.5 million per year because Air Malta was not geared to operate this type of service and did not benefit from economies of scale on this operation. The company has said it would continue to operate the service up to October 31.