Ryanair claims crown for tourism growth
Low cost airline Ryanair is contesting Air Malta's claim to be the biggest contributor to growth in Maltese tourism. Ryanair, which on Thursday published figures of inbound passengers for Malta in the first six months of this year, said it increased its passenger numbers by more than 100 per cent in that period, compared to the corresponding period in 2007.
During 2008, Ryanair increased its first half-year figures of inbound passengers from 47,504 (recorded in the first six months of 2007) to 95,917.
"This growth has meant that Ryanair, and not Air Malta, was the biggest contributor to growth in Maltese tourism during the period," Ryanair said.
Ryanair added that in an earlier press release Air Malta claimed to be the biggest contributor with 57 per cent of the 77,000 additional passengers.
"In reality, in its calculation, Air Malta failed to take into account that a number of airlines were flying fewer passengers than previously.
Consequently, Ryanair's growth of 48,413 passengers, for the first half of 2008 over 2007, meant that it was the number one airline for growth in Malta in the first half of 2008," Ryanair remarked.
Ryanair's deputy chief exe-cutive, Michael Cawley, said Ryanair's inbound traffic growth of in excess of 48,000 passengers in the first half of this year represents a record and puts it at the top of the list for growth in inbound tourism.
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m farrugia
Sep 1st 2008, 18:40
Ryanair persisted in serving Malta, despite opposition from Maltese tour operators, Air Malta and MIA, who still persist in not lowering fees in line with airports of the same size, such as Pisa.
Maltese tour operators and Airmalta expect all Maltese travellers to enjoy travelling with hords of Maltese on chartered flights in the middle of the night.But that's not what independent travellers look for.They look for cheap flights to non frill airports, from where within hours from leaving home,they rent a car and drive around a foreign country.
Low cost airlines have given Maltese families and foreigners wanting to visit our island the chance to do so at incredible prices. Just bought 2 tickets for a weekend break in Valencia for Lm20, carrying one piece of hand luggage, including all charges.
The fact is that a family will not travel with Airmalta for a short break, it's simply not worth it, when other airlines offer such competitive prices.
We need more LCCs from France, Germany,Switzerland, Portugal and the East. Otherwise we'll keep losing out on tourists.Foreigners from these countries will simply choose another destination. Now even Morocco and Turkey are being very well served by LCCs.
Lincon Hawkes
Aug 31st 2008, 00:33
The introduction of RyanAir has been great for Malta, I don't understand why people are so negative and against it, and to touch on an Airlines safety record is an unjustified, scaremongering low blow. And as for caring about a carrier serving Hobz Biz-Zejt, come on now.
The more aircraft that are 'allowed' to fly into Malta, the better. This opens up not just new routes but also new sectors of the market that previously would not have visited Malta.
I agree a positive approach is needed regarding the fare situation, but until Air Malta stops sqabbling and wakes up to the fact that competition is healthy there is nothing to be done.
Bring in more carriers, get the airport upto full capacity and fill the Islands with visitors, no matter how they arrived here.
Sandro Grech
Aug 30th 2008, 20:55
In my opinion everyone should be happy to have a choice of airlines to travel with so why not the goverment open more routes to low cost airlines !!!!!!!!!!!!!! . What is he afraid of !!!!!!!!!!!!!! Staff losing their job what was given to them from their family friend !!!!!! When I used to work in a hotel in Malta and earning Lm 280 Air Malta used to charge me over Lm 230 for a ticket to Vienna . Now that I have choice of low cost airlines there is no way I fly with Air Malta .
Joseph Calleja
Aug 30th 2008, 17:19
So Air Malta and Ryanair are both responsible for bringing in more tourists to Malta. Instead of bragging to us how many passengers you fly to Malta why not use that energy to try and reduce fares and promote Malta as the Vacation Island of the Mediterrenean. Competition is great and healthy for the economy but trying to cut down each other is nothing but damaging. Save your bragging rights for lowest fares, better service, on time performance and of course safety. I fly Air Malta and the only complaint I have is that they don't serve the
HOBS BIZ-ZEJT as they used to when they first started flying.
J Farrugia
Aug 30th 2008, 16:49
Ryanair don't shout out loud. remember your aircraft are subject to what happened last week. So stop flying your colors. Air Malta has been set in 1973 and weren't it not for Air Malta, Malta would have lost and no Ryanier would have been flying into Malta.
a.dalli
Aug 30th 2008, 10:44
We have had enough now. Air malta maintained the industry since its inception that is 1973.
Ryanair has just started to Malta and would not think twice to pull out once traffic to Malta dwindles. Tourism very much like the insurance business cycle follows a three year pattern. Let us all watch and see what happens then.