Ryanair hits back at Air Malta
Ryanair yesterday rejected Air Malta's "attempts to justify its outrageous fuel surcharge", saying the price of fuel has similarly increased for Ryanair "who have not and never will impose a fuel surcharge".
It was replying to a statement issued last week by Air Malta which rebutted Ryanair's criticism of the national airline's fuel surcharge policy.
Ryanair said it makes no excuse for making every effort to reduce the cost of flying for its customers, including seeking cost reductions from all its partners, including airports, many of which, like Malta International, "enjoy a monopoly status in the regions they serve".
These airports, Ryanair said, have made massive profits at the expense of passengers in the past but Ryanair "will continue to champion the consumers' interest even if Air Malta would rather slap on excessive, outrageous and unjustified fuel surcharges".
Commenting on Air Malta's statement last week, Ryanair's deputy chief executive officer Michael Cawley, said yesterday in Dublin: "Lawrence Zammit (Air Malta chairman) has said that we've quoted the incorrect average flight price for Air Malta. I now challenge him to publish their average fare and let's find out if it's really only 150 per cent more expensive than Ryanair rather than the 227 per cent which we had published.
"Either way, Air Malta has been ripping off consumers for years and continues to do so with the imposition of these outrageous and unjustified fuel surcharges. In common with all airlines, Ryanair has to cope with increased fuel prices but we will never, ever, introduce a fuel surcharge".
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Ewout Wierda
Jul 14th 2008, 10:24
No point in taking sides: there is space for both airlines serving different market segments. Malta needs Air Malta, Ryanair and many others to compete and offer a variety of routes and price/service levels.
No matter the extra charges, Ryanair is simply the cheapest in base ticket prices (with an average of about €40 I think) and is among the cheapest airlines in Europe. Some charges, such as the €15 for taking luggage, are related to what market segment Ryanair targets. Many if not most Ryanair passengers fly short trops (weekends of mid-weeks) and are supposed to take hand luggage only. Taking more means handling and fuel costs, which is a frill for which passengers pay. Ryanair's drive for efficiency results in for example far less bags lost than Air Malta, even though Air Malta does quite well to that end compared with other legacy airlines.
Air Malta cannot beat Ryanair at the latter's strong points, but is perceived to provide a more pleasant service and remains a strategically important asset for the country.
What all airlines need is for MIA to become much cheaper instead of throttling the Maltese tourism industry by carrying excessive profits off to Vienna.
Liam Kelly
Jul 13th 2008, 19:23
Look, theres no point in taking sides here, the truth is that both airlines have been shafting their passangers for way too long now.
Air Malta: just what where they doing for the past 30 years before Ryanair woke them up?
Ryanair: Disceetful, devious and fundamentally wrong to advertise a fair which doesnt exist, and what kind of idiots do you think passengers are when you introduced your 'baggage' fee? Everyone knows that a luggage in the hold should be a given when purchasing their ticket. They have augmented the price and taken the pleasure out of flying in general and replaced it with sheer worry over where they will find a way to slap on an extra cost to your ticket.
Two dreadful companies who are equally as bad as each other. All we ask for is a affordable, decent service, but neither of you can provide it can you?
Claris Galea
Jul 12th 2008, 14:06
@Mario Cachia
I have just checked on www.airmalta.com and a round trip fare to Milan , about 2500 KM , in the first week of August costs about Euro 330 , less Euro 30 in taxes/airport charges.
According to my calculations , that is about Euro 1 for every 8 Kilometres for Airmalta .
Your Euro 500 is a bit exagerated , but still Euro 1 for a 5 Kilometre trip :-)
Fair comment but maybe not totally correct .......yours ???
@ Robert Agius
When I was younger and single , I have very pleasnt memories of Moscow .
My advice , usually ladies-of-the-night have a strong pimp in attendance , and carry a lot of germs.Hold on to your money and watch your back , when dealing in the middle of the night, in a dark room . Careful you do not get ripped off , but do enjoy yourself .
How I wish , I was 20 and walking across the Red Square on a sunny morning after a night of snow . Thanks for the memory :-) :P
M. Debono
Jul 12th 2008, 01:20
@ Mr. Cachia
The fare you are paying is reasonable when linked with the season you are travelling in, i.e. high season. Also, did you try VolareWeb.com? It is a new LCC with several offers to/from MLA.
Robert Agius
Jul 12th 2008, 01:17
@Charlie Galea
Well, I'm in Moscow at the moment and had to book my flight back to Malta for for next week over a month ago since some prices were for over 400Euro (one way). Erm....no choice but Air Malta really since Ryanair doesn't fly here. I got mine for 218Euro...at least that price was reasonable.
I don't have a wife so i'll stick to the lady of the night :P Seems like a good idea to opt for a lady of the night if one's wife is a bloodsucker though!
Re other charges, those are not my concern. I just want a ticket to get me from place to place at a price i'm not being ripped off at.
Maltese worker, Irish worker....i don't care as long a I get a decent price. Sorry but I'll just stick to finding the cheapest option for me. My profit and losses are as valid as both Air Malta's and Ryanair's. I never needed a refund from either luckily enough.
Frank Mulholland
Jul 11th 2008, 22:00
After reading all the 'Bruhaa' regarding this article, I can only state that I am completely satisfied with Ryanair services. I have never been delayed, Luton is a great airport,it avoids the hassle of getting through London and the boarding and aircraft staff have always been pleasant and helpful. I shall be travelling again with them in August at more than half the price of Air Malta. So I don't get and onboard cardboard meal. Big deal!! for a three hour flight I,m sure I'll survive!!
Last time I flew Air Malta I had a 4&1/4 hour delay in Birmingham airport with little explaination except, 'we have technical problems' seems they had to send to London for a spare part!! We got a £5 voucher for a dry sandwich!! thanks but no thanks.
Mario cachia
Jul 11th 2008, 20:09
This week I purchased a ticket to MILANO Malpensa .. direct flight on
airmalta. Do you know the cost????? 500Eurso in economy class.
Yes that's it FIVE HUNDRED EUROS!!! and you say that this is not a
rip off? Of course Mr Zammit's fares are probably paid for him aren't
theY??
Claris Galea
Jul 11th 2008, 18:41
@Robert Agius
Why don't you compare a flight to Brussels or Rome or Tripoli or Moscow? Ryanair serves only itself for profit , rightly so as a business entity.
Can you compare the carriage of a sick child to a London Hospital ? Can you compare rates for Cargo carriage or compare the rates for the daily airmail ?
You are comparing your wife to a lady of the night !!!
Where is the airport tax you pay ending up ? Is it sponsoring a get-rich quick lady-of-the -night ?
Competition is Fair when the playing field is level .
Try to book a wheelchair or get a refund for any complaint , you will definately FLY AIRMALTA next time .
Invest in Brand Malta and forget about Brand Ireland , assist your fellow Maltese worker , who spends his money again in Malta and pays Maltese taxes.
Robert Agius
Jul 11th 2008, 15:27
@ Christian Abdilla an James Sansom.
Can you give me the rates for a flight to Heathrow using Air Malta BEFORE Ryainair existed (please note - also before the increase in the price of oil)? Indeed they do include many fees with Ryainair but I don't think we have any reason to complain now do we!! In the meantime, just let the kids play....
sandro grech
Jul 11th 2008, 14:42
Der Mr M. Cawley your airline is doing a great job lets hope the maltese goverment will open more routes for you and for us the maltese people to discover for next to nothing .
victor borg
Jul 11th 2008, 14:11
I have flown with Ryanair and did enjoy some bargains in the past. However, I do not use them anymore. On the Malta route from Heathrow, Air Malta beats them hands down with regards to central location, check in by Alitalia staff who are a credit to Air Malta, the Air Malta cabin crew and their courtesy to the passengers. My family and myself are flying with Air Malta from Heathrow to Malta later on this month and as many times before, I am sure that we will have a safe and pleasant flight. The price that we paid for the flights are a bargain. It is a relief to know that we will not have to put up with the hussle that we were put through by the Ryanair check in staff, the last time that we flew with them. Thank you Air Malta.
Christian Abdilla
Jul 11th 2008, 12:57
@ James Sansom
Well done for factoring in your calculations ALL the charges a passenger will incur. Free market at work...the comparison is there for all to see...and seriously, how many more 'fees' can be dreamt up ? Check-in fee ?? Why would someone buy an airline ticket if not to 'check-in' ?
M. Debono
Jul 11th 2008, 12:50
Good luck and be mature in your statements. Consumers are not stupid and this bickering will not help to get new customers onboard. Working in silent is already a clear message to your competitor.
M. Debono
Jul 11th 2008, 12:49
In the meantime, we as consumers, are not to be taken for a ride, and obviously enough, whilst the introduction of LCC on the Maltese market ripped off the KM dominance on the market, one still needs to shop around and obtain all the details before choosing your next destination. Ryanair does not fly to Barcelona but to Girona, whereas Clickair does. KM takes you to Heathrow, whereas Ryanair stops at Luton. Ryanair takes to Dublin, but KM dropped out and will do so with Glasgow route in winter. Both have their "commercial issues" .... so this story will never have a happy ending between these 2 airlines. It is a fact that KM had to re-create itself after finding itself fighting with fierce competition. Still believe that KM is doing a fantastic job and should explore more alliances, including Star Alliance agreement with fantastic combinations across the globe. Non-profitable routes should be dropped out in the first place and offered connections thru Star Alliance airlines. Connection via FRA/MUC is really easy and hassle free. Also, via VIE.
M. Debono
Jul 11th 2008, 12:39
Can someone stop this childish bickering between these airlines!?!? Keep focusing on how to attract more customers by offering quality service and good fares ... not gimmick fares, e.g. book now and travel in autumn!? or .... starting from €0 and you end up paying €300 at the end, with all the extra charges!!
Having worked previously in the travel trade, online systems are only good for point-to-point fares. Should one go on complicated routes, you still need a travel agent to figure out the complexities and online chaos of fare pricing, etc. I suggest that the Consumer Department issues a statement about the true "hidden charges" like they did MFSA when they tackled the bank charges comparison. Then, only then, these airlines will stop pointing fingers at each other, like kids.
Scerri S.
Jul 11th 2008, 11:28
So Ryanair criticizes Air Malta for raising the surcharge? They have not and never will impose a fuel surcharge? Of course why should they? Increasing the excess baggage charge to a ridicolous 15euro per kilo was enough!!! And now they're so strict that you cannot be more than 0.5 kg overweight (if you're lucky and the attendant has had a good day). But apparently that is not considered 'excessive, outrageous and unjustified'. I've critised Air Malta before but this time around I stand by them. Regarding 'monopolies' - the Dublin-Malta flight has become Ryanair's monopoly, as reflected by the high fares, which equal in many periods the old fares imposed by the dropped AirMalta route (which had 5kg more baggage allowance, better services, reclining seats and some food). So Ryanair should not throw stones...
James Sansom
Jul 11th 2008, 10:44
Hmmm?
Lets see a flight for a week in January 16th - 23rd costs...
with Air Malta from Heathrow
Fare: £12.00
Taxes: £44.40
Fuel Surchage: £39.80
Checkin fee: £0
Luggage fee £0
Credit Card Fee: £0
TOTAL: £96.20
plus train in to central London: £8 (Tube). Total of £104
With Ryanair (inc luggage and check in) its...
Fare: £0.00
Taxes: £43.63
Fuel surchage: £0
Checkin fee: £8
Luggage fee £16
Credit Card Fee: £8
TOTAL: £75.63
Return Train to central London £25.70
TOTAL: £101.33
Thats right, for £3 more you can land in a more central location!