Air Malta pricing

Air Malta refers to the letter entitled High-fare Travel by Michael Mifsud (September 28).

Standard airline practice is that every flight is split into a number of fare classes. The cheapest fares available are usually the first to be sold. The CRS (Computer Reservation System) is regulated to automatically offer the lowest available fare at the time of any enquiry.

Since Mr Mifsud bought his seats only one week before his travel date and both the departure and arrival flights had only a few seats left at the time of the reservation, only the highest fare level was available.

Air Malta wishes to reassure its customers that it offers full service treatment at consistently competitive prices.

The airline wishes to highlight the fact that airline seat prices may vary for a number of reasons ranging from levels of services offered, airports the airline operates to/from, demand, seasonality and conditions of ticket. As already stated, every flight is split into a number of fare classes and the cheapest fares available are usually the first to be sold.

Prices may also differ as a result of a number of taxes imposed by and paid to the local and foreign airports or government authorities, over which Air Malta has no control. All these factors must be taken into consideration when comparing airline seat ticket prices. Air Malta thus urges its customers to make an informed choice when booking airline seats by comparing prices and services offered.

Through its current Winter Sale Air Malta is offering 33 destinations at Lm15 one-way excluding taxes.

A substantial number of seats are on offer for travel between November and March 2007. Reservations and ticketing has to be effected by October 16. Certain conditions and travel restrictions may apply.

Air Malta's latest offer confirms the airline's willingness to offer full service treatment at low-cost prices, challenge the stereotypical idea that Air Malta flight prices are expensive. More information on this offer is available at www.airmalta.com.