Air fares and charges (1)

I was really pleased when I read on a local news Website that a new low-cost Italian airline, Meridiana, will start operating from Malta to Bologna regularly from next June.

I immediately logged onto Meridiana's Website to book a weekend break in Bologna in summer. A return ticket from Malta to Bologna departing August 3 and returning August 6 will cost me €39 for a one-way ticket, a total of €78 for a round trip (about Lm37), which I think is a very good price.

However, I soon discovered that I had to add the taxes/fees/charges. While the charges for the Bologna-Malta flight amount to €47.62, those for the Malta-Bologna flight amount to €100.61. The total adds up to €229.23 (including a €3 administration fee) which works out to around Lm99 for a flight from Malta to Bologna and back.

The most ironic thing is that the Italian charges for the flight amount to €47.62 while the Maltese charges amount to €100.61, more than double the Italians'. Is this the right way to treat Maltese travellers? Should not the taxes/fees/charges be adjusted to - at least - be the same as those charged by other countries?