What about the Maltese? (1)

We have been hearing so much about the possible introduction of low-cost airlines in Malta, because they would bring many more tourists, hotels will no longer be empty, more work for everyone...

On the other hand I read with regret articles by Mr Merzhäuser who wrote to convince us that Malta does not need low-cost airlines.

Malta International Airport and Mr Merzhäuser are always claiming that there are already 20 low-cost airlines flying to Malta. This is not true at all. The low-cost airlines which fly to Malta, like Air Berlin to mention one, fly to Malta without any 'low-cost' prices! With Air Berlin, one can fly to Germany from Ireland or from Spain for as little as £9 one-way. Air Berlin flies to Malta for €100 one-way.

These carriers are just flying to Malta as low-cost airlines but they are low-cost in name only. The reason? The hefty charges MIA imposes, as it is the only airport.

Now we hear that the MIA has offered big discounts to selected destinations on the Iberian peninsula. But is this enough? The government said that it wants to increase the inflow of passengers from under-served routes. Are these the only underserved routes? What about the Czech and Slovak republics? What about Slovenia, Hungary, Poland and Scandinavia? Air Malta only flies to Prague once a week in summer and does not even fly to the Slovak Republic.

Correspondents have also claimed that if Ryanair were to fly to Malta from London, the airline would take passengers from Air Malta and there would be no increase in tourists. This is wrong. True, Ryanair is taking passengers from Air Malta, but instead of flying them to Malta, it is flying them to 12 destinations in Spain, two in Portugal, six on the French Riviera, and seven on the Italian Adriatic coast, which are our direct competitors.

Why would these tourists come to Malta if they can fly to these destinations with Ryanair's prices? Ryanair is also flying these passengers for weekend breaks in Poland, Slovakia, the Czech Republic, the Baltic States, Scandinavia and so many others.

People prefer to come to Malta rather than go to an unknown destination in Germany (such as Lübeck) or to Lodz in Poland. But they would rather fly for £20 (including taxes) and spend their money in accommodation and leisure rather than on the flight.

I have recently been to Bratislava and I was impressed with all the activity low-cost airlines brought to Slovakia. A huge difference from my first visit five years ago.

What irritates me most is that Maltese people are never mentioned in this debate. Mr Merzhäuser has said that if low-cost airlines flew from Malta, the Maltese would no longer take weekend breaks in Gozo. He just wants the Maltese to take holidays in Gozo to sustain the Gozitan tourism industry.

Why do the Maltese have to spend over Lm100 to leave this island? Why is Government still restricting our freedom of movement? Why does one have to pay Lm49.50 in taxes just to go to Sicily for three days?

By voting yes to join the EU I was promised more opportunities to travel in Europe. What happened? Restrictions to low-cost airlines to operate here and a ridiculous discriminatory Lm20 travel tax which the government is reluctant to remove.

However, as Mr Cawley was quoted as saying in The Times on August 10, people at the helm change and so do governments. We just have to hope for a change.