More flights to Malta

Please refer to the letter by Adrian Camilleri entitled Aeroflot In Malta (November 3).

Mr Camilleri was correct when he quoted the Minister for Tourism and Culture as saying on March 1 that 14 airlines would be increasing their flights frequency to Malta, or operating flights for the first time. That was the position on that date. Between them the 14 airlines provided 26 more flights weekly and were the protagonists in the increase in the number of tourists between May and September.

Among the airlines mentioned there was Aeroflot. This airline was to increase its service between Moscow and Malta from one to two flights a week. In fact it results that whereas in 2003 Aeroflot operated 56 flights between Moscow and Malta this year they operated 86, that is 30 more flights than last year.

It is also a fact that Aeroflot will be closing their representative office in Malta as from December 1 as the airline is, for its own reasons, suspending its flights. That however does not minimise in any way the overall importance of the statement made by the Minister for Tourism and Culture on March 1.