Low-cost travel

Maltese travellers, especially independent travellers, were surely delighted when lately it was announced that the low-cost airline Ryanair is showing a keen interest in starting flights to Malta. At last we may be able to spend a weekend in a European capital without having to fork out at least Lm150 for a flight or having to join one of our popular guided tours.

But we have already started to hear cautious comments that our national airline might be adversely affected by the operations of such airlines. Air Malta has had enough time to adjust and we have been reassured by successive chairmen that our national airline was fully prepared for such competition. The truth is that, even without the serious threat of big low-cost airlines, Air Malta still does not manage to retain its share of travelling by Maltese within Europe.

For example, during the winter schedule, Air Malta operates to Milan practically only in weekends even though Maltese commute regularly to Milan both for business and leisure. In contrast, Alitalia operates daily flights to Milan which, on many occasions, are almost full.

Air Malta does not fly to any destination in Spain or Portugal between November and March. The result is that you constantly meet Maltese on flights operated by foreign airlines to these destinations. And why does Air Malta persist in flying with empty seats and not offering last minute deals on its flights?

The benefits of low-cost airlines to our island are various. They will surely bring competition and more visitors to our island, which in turn results in more tourism-related jobs. Travellers across Europe are reluctant to pay high air fares for a two-hour flight, especially now that most scheduled airlines have even cut means to a minimum.

This is a reality all over Europe and the world and Malta is no exception. If we miss out on low-cost airlines, which are conspicuously present in all major European tourist destinations, we will surely keep on losing a big share of the European tourist market.

Low-cost airlines should not be hindered but given the best possible conditions to operate to Malta. It is sincerely hoped that the recent increase in departure tax was not intended to hinder such operations. If this is the case, we are surely a short-sighted nation.