Fewer Maltese went abroad in June

C Chircop

Aug 11th 2008, 21:56

To start with, the airline has never been subsidised from the government taxes, as had been other parastatal companies. Apart from the 30 million cash injection in 2003 in the form of asset transfer and the cash injection to kick-start the airline in the early 70s, the Maltese government never funded the airline.

What people fail to see is the fact that the airline has been constrained to cover social obligations by successive governments in the past, in opening unprofitable routes for the sake of Maltese tourism and other matters.

If anybody thinks otherwise (re the funding), then he/she has to come up with concrete facts (we have them for the Dockyards for example) and figures.

The airline industry is a complex industry which has been going through turmoil since the start of this century. People who have never worked in this industry should check their facts first before coming to conclusions.

MATHIAS BARTOLO

Aug 11th 2008, 20:40

refering to Stephen Brincat's comment - i have checked the dates mentioned by him and Malta to Frankfurt return costs EUR214 inclusive of taxes and for someone travelling from Frankfurt to Malta its EUR224 inclusive of taxes.

Therefore there is no price difference as he is stating

Leonard Bonello

Aug 11th 2008, 18:21

I have spent the past year living in London. I have travelled to Malta 4 times and on all 4 occassions Airmalta was the cheapest and best option. Far better than Ryanair and Easyjet. For some people, that's not good enough yet.

Denis Catania

Aug 11th 2008, 16:15

@Stephen Brincat; Maybe you should have your friend come to Malta. plenty of villages in Malta you can visit. Ever think about Gozo or Comino. In the US they are doing a lot of domestic travel. Maybe you can do the same, travel domesticly.

John Demajo

Aug 11th 2008, 15:07

So what is Air Malta waiting for? The solution is easy! It should reach an agreement with the Vatican PLC for the canonisation of a Maltese saint to become an ANNUAL EVENT! Amen.

Steve Said

Aug 11th 2008, 14:31

Cannot agree more. We locals have always been subsidising AM and still are. Pity Ryanair fly to only a handful of destinations. I now get the funny feeling we'll start subsidising MIA as of the 65 euros mentioned by Stephen Brincat only 23.30 euros are taxes, they rest being Airport fees.

By the way, why should airlines, catamarans etc charge a Fuel surcharge. Isn't fuel part of the cost and should be included in the ticket price like all other overheads, especially as high oil prices are here to stay. Guess what, when redeeming Flypass miles the Fuel surcharge is not included.

Stephen Brincat

Aug 11th 2008, 13:42

Our airline is not treating as it should, after all it’s us Maltese paying all those millions to have and keep our own airline, and this is just one example:

I was planning a trip to Frankfurt departing Malta on the 30/03- 03/04 after checking with Airmalta on there website the total price was € 279.00 (€ 174 fight+ € 65 tax + € 40 fuel surcharge), and my German friend checked the other way round, with the same airline, same dates, but the price is nearly 3 times cheaper, yes 3 times, as it was € 98.71 (€ 17 flight + € 41.71 taxes + € 40 fuel surcharge).

The above example speaks on its own, how can us Maltese afford these kind of prices, we are just subsidising our airline and the tourists are enjoying the rest, the taxes are just a fraction but when comparing the flight. Wow a family of 4 would spend 837€ just for the flights, is that nice?

John Debattista

Aug 11th 2008, 12:59

Well said Mr Camilleri Yes Taxes are to High ........................

n camilleri

Aug 11th 2008, 12:48

or maybe because air fares and taxes are still a long way from satisfaction and alot do not want to pay a tax which should not be there!!