Two airlines' lack of transparency (1)

I wish to inform and warn readers of the service that they can expect to receive from Air Malta's service to and from Manchester. I have tried to find a contact e-mail address on Air Malta's web site for complaints but was unable to find one.

My complaint concerns the regular delays on flights to and from Manchester. I have experienced delays for two weeks running. The flight departing Luqa to Manchester on Thursday at 9.55 p.m. appears to always be delayed. Initially, the delay is two and a half hours and then it turns out to be three to four and a half hours. Various excuses are given to passengers.

Passengers are surprised to learn that they will be flying on Lat Charter airlines rather than an Air Malta aircraft. This of course means that passengers suffer from less leg room than Air Malta provide with no in-flight entertainment.

It is my opinion that this charter airline is now the regular airline flying to and from Manchester on the Thursday departure time of 9.55 p.m., and not Air Malta, so readers beware!

After landing at Manchester airport at the new landing time of 4.30 a.m. instead of 12.15 a.m. passengers then had to wait for over an hour for their baggage to appear. This, readers may think, is not the fault of Air Malta, however!

I have been informed by Manchester airport that each airline is responsible for the contracting of baggage handling. Air Malta use the services of Swissport which, it has become quite apparent, are providing a sub standard service.

I left the airport at 5.30 a.m. with my baggage and this meant that I had in fact suffered a delay of five hours. I had to be in a meeting at 9.30 a.m.

I would like know if any other readers suffer the same service with these flights.

The alternative is to book with Easyjet and it must be said that they provide a better service with regard to punctuality and reliability.

Any comments from Air Malta concerning this service would be appreciated.