Gozo question

The subject of linking Malta and Gozo by air is mired in sterile controversy. It should be clear by now that an air link is not economically feasible. The conclusion should raise a belated basic question: Does the island of Gozo need to be linked with Malta? The answer is yes as regards health cases that cannot be handled at the hospital in Gozo. Such emergencies are rare.

Substantial financial and human resources have been allocated to the hospital. If more are required, suitable arrangements should be made. To the extent that there will still be cases that need to be urgently treated on the main island, the armed forces can be used for emergency transport.

Emergency health needs aside, the call for an air link are based on economic factors. There are Gozitan and Maltese individuals with high-cost working and leisure time. There may be foreign business visitors who need to make a day trip to Gozo.

Their combined number cannot run in hundreds, or thousands. Televised conference calls help. If a businessman wishes to visit Gozo to see it up close, probably with property development in mind, a crossing by sea might even boost one's interest. If 30-odd minutes are of crucial consequence, a speed boat can be used, weather permitting.

That leaves the demand for transport from tourists. Some, like busy Gozitan and Maltese individuals, would prefer to fly to Gozo. The records tell that there are not enough of them who would be prepared to back their preference with a readiness to pay the economic cost of an air ticket.

That experience actually derived from circumstances where no break even price was ever demanded. Air Malta will testify to that. The airline was effectively made by the government to provide a helicopter service.

It did so by utilising old helicopters with low or nil depreciation cost, accompanied by high risk, which, mercifully, did not produce bad accidents. Nevertheless, Air Malta made persistent losses on the helicopter route. Demand was low, although passengers, contrary to popular opinion, did not pay an economic cost for the service.

Air Malta finally terminated the service. The foreign company that boldly stepped in to substitute it, was also driven out by the loss built up through the financial price factor. Old proposals are soon recycled. What about using sea planes? Why not extend the Xewkija facilities to accommodate fixed-wing planes?

The proposals fly about amid grumbling by hoteliers, and also in the thick of the usual political stand-off on the issue. Taxpayer cost considerations are cavalierly ignored. The fact is that, whatever type of air link is used, it will never make financial sense. The only chance is if the Malta-Gozo air link is part of a much wider service, possibly flying passengers between Malta and Sicily and offering tours to other nearby Mediterranean islands.

Assuming such a project raised enough demand to make it financially feasible, it would still not be economically feasible from Gozo's standpoint. Flight frequency between the two islands would probably be quite below the level urged by hoteliers. Time to tackle the basic question I started off with: Does the island of Gozo need to be linked by air to Malta? In economic terms, I think not.

There are other islands without a regular air link to the mainland, yet do well as tourist and business centres. Why not Gozo too?

Tourists who want to get there when they arrive at Luqa airport can be comfortably transferred to Cirkewwa, in about an hour. The ferry schedule can be aligned with Malta International Airport arrivals and departures. If there is a large enough group, hoteliers can organise a yacht for them.

The debate should be about feasible solutions, in a context of safeguarding and maximising the beauty that is Gozo.