Interest from airlines in route offers

At least one airline each from Spain, Sweden, Norway and Poland have indicated an interest in a government and Malta International Airport fiscal incentive to start operating to Malta.

Tourism Minister Francis Zammit Dimech said he was optimistic that low-cost operations to some of the four new routes would start by April 2007.

MIA has offered to give up to 50 per cent discount on its passenger service fees and landing charges on flights from airports in the four countries. The government will also provide market support.

Dr Zammit Dimech clarified that low-cost carriers will fly 230,000 passengers to and from Malta next year, and not 230,000 (incoming) tourists, saying this was nevertheless a conservative estimate.

Though the take-up of low-cost flights so far is very encouraging the tourism authorities have to remain cautious, the minister added.

MIA envisages that Centralwings and Meridiana will be carrying 19,000 passengers this year. A further 183,000 passengers are envisaged to be travelling to and from Malta with Ryanair. Low-cost airline Germanwings will be introducing flights from Cologne and Stuttgart.

There has certainly been a surge in bookings over the last few weeks. Ryanair's new service from Luton, Pisa and Dublin has proved to be as popular as was Air Malta's winter low-fare offer.