Air Malta to introduce service fees for non-online bookings

D Farrugia

Sep 7th 2008, 22:46

well... AirMalta needs to do more... you have to remember that AirMalta is losing money.... (it never made a profit for the last 8 years) eventually it will have to be privatised.....looking forward for that cause there is a lot of politics being involved into AirMalta which i cant understand why ?? can anyone state why...

M.Schembri

Sep 7th 2008, 19:22

@Rachel Galea

I will leave it up to people who know me, people I work with whether I have those qualities you mentioned. I can assure you Air Malta would not have been disappointed with me. But thanks for the advice.

m farrugia

Sep 7th 2008, 19:16

@ R Spagol

Chris Said, Tonio Fenech, Joe Cassar, John Dalli , Mario Demarco, in particular have been working relentlessly uring the past months, that Dr Gonzi is sometimes being criticised for failing to appear in public. Why worry and interfere, when he has such capable people. They are showing that PN and Dr Gonzi mean business and will most probabaly all help to secure another PN victory in four years time.
On the other hand, in difficult times for all the world economies, all we heard from JM was that we need to introduce divorce and voting for 16 year olds! Unbelievable!

Rachel Galea

Sep 7th 2008, 18:32

@ Ray Mangion
If they are richer than we think then they can afford to pay the extra fee!!!!

@M. Schembri
Attitude, loyalty and the will to perform is what interviewers look for in an employee. Qualifications are there to restrict the number of applicants and for no other reasons. I have learnt this through personal experience.

M.Schembri

Sep 7th 2008, 14:14

I think that Air Malta should invest more in its human resources. Instead of introducing service fees, I think it should try hard to get competent personnel on board to help it make a strategic plan that will help the company face a very competitive market. I have travelled with the national airline a lot of times. Service given in the majority of cases is very good. I have had a dream in my life to work with the national airline and although I was qualified to do so, I have never been given the chance. You ask for five O levels, I had three times as much; languages I had five; personal qualities with people, I have a degree in social/human sciences; and what's more I have a passion for flying ... but somehow I was never good enough for the company. This is my message - invest more in competent people. Make us Maltese proud of our national airline.

Kenneth Barry

Sep 7th 2008, 09:36

Air Malta is doing exactly the same as other Airlines, in order to survive in this day and age. Changes are necessary to keep afloat. Some are resistant to change. However, a mindset change is necessary to keep up.

C.Briffa

Sep 6th 2008, 23:37

I tend to agree with one of the comments hereunder about discrepancies between online and offline tickets by Air Malta. Before the launch of the new portal, online tickets were much more expensive than when booking offline. With the new portal, this seems to be less of an issue though at some instances it still exists....the website will be showing a price and the call centre offers a different price (at some instances even a higherl).

Re. new charges, there are different marketing incentives one can use to direct more traffic to the website; a charge on call centre boookings and booking office is not the only solution. More aggressive e-marketing from Air Malta's end is necessary. Why should a customer making an enquiry through a call centre not incur a charge whereas a customer who books does? The latter will practically be paying for enquiries by non-purchasers. And what about those who don't have Internet or a debit/credit card?

Michael Plant

Sep 6th 2008, 22:53

Reference to C. R. Taliana . Air Malta is as competitive as any Budget Airline if you plan and book your flights well in advance .My wife and myself are travelling back to Malta on October 2 2008 having booked our flight in March 2008 for £ 6.50 Sterling each way plus taxes , grand total for the two of us return to Birmingham is £160 Sterling .I doubt if I could have booked with Ryanair for that and I would have had a 90 mile ride to Luton instead of a 20 mile to Birmingham

Michael Plant

O longo

Sep 6th 2008, 19:19

And you'd better not make any spelling errors in your booking..... correcting a mistake costs E34. Furthermore.... one cannot book connecting flights on-line.

A discount should have been offered to people who book online... and not an increase in price for those who don't. It's a bit unfair to say the least.... especially for older folk.

Corinne Vella

Sep 6th 2008, 15:42

When was the last time we heard anyone grumble about cut price tickets?

Peter Murray

Sep 6th 2008, 15:41

Yet again big business has proved that profit over people reigns supreme and that the disadvantaged,such as the elderly and computer illiterate, remain marginalised and discriminated against by the imposition of this charge-not to mention the detrimental impact on travel agents.It used to be said Air Malta's flight number prefix of KM actually signified Kingdom of Mintoff,now it could accurately be said that a more sinister definition is applied,i.e. Killing Malta!

Franco Farrugia

Sep 6th 2008, 14:21

@ R Spagnol - I will thank you very much for keeping me out from lists of apologists of this party and that one. I always speak my mind and I will continue to do so, whether you like it or not. I repeat, I am no apologist, and nor do I hide myself under my name's initial in order to state my case, thank you!

C.R. Taliana

Sep 6th 2008, 13:48

If Airmalta was a Low-Cost Airline I would have accepted this fee because that is one of the many ways that these type of airlines make profit. But AirMalta does not charge low prices for the tickets so for me it is unfair!!!

R Spagnol

Sep 6th 2008, 13:26

Privatisation may be a serious way forward for Air Malta. But we have to exclude any suggestions to downsize AirMalta to a low-standard company.

Few months ago, Lufthansa had launched a programme to serve as a guidelines for the company's performance while the oil prices were hiking skywards. It approached its challenges in a holistic way where it involved its worldwide workers to contribute in helping the company. One main decision which was implemented immediately was to lower the personnel's salaries temporarily. The burden brought about was also shared with the customers where they had to pay from €5-€21 extra on various flights.

This was not a prosperity period for Lufthansa. Even though the flights were full, profit was nat guaranteed. But at least the airline managed to go on by minimising losses. That was its only alternative when faced with such problems. Nowadays, Lufthansa is considered as Europe's second largest airline and is also considering the introduction of a low-cost fleet.

Liam Kelly

Sep 6th 2008, 12:41

@ C Cassar

You say that this is normal practice with airlines to charge a service fee...fair enough.

But then you try to justify it by saying its 'an additional overhead'? ridiculous. We are paying for a service which we are already paying for with the ticket...And for you to then go onto criticze Ryanair for doing the same with checked baggage is a bit hypocritical.

THEN you claim that it provides an incentive for booking online? You regard paying how much the ticket actually does cost an incentive as opposed to paying an unjustified extra? erm, no.

AIr Malta has been robbing us blind for far too long. Why did we have to wait for the low cost carriers to come into the market for Air Malta to get its act together and charge fairer prices in the first place? Then when times get tough they put their prices up and go crying to the government.

If i had the choice i would fly another airline....even Ryanair.

D Farrugia

Sep 6th 2008, 11:41

I believe it is in the right direction that Air Malta is moving.. trying to reduce costs. But i would like to inform you that AIRMALTA IS IN THE RED. Yes, Airmalta is and will lose money. For the last 5 years at least Airmalta has never made a profit. What will happen in the future ? will it merge with another big airlines like most airlines are doing in Europe. Look at Brussels Airlines, Iberia, Austrian Airlines, Swiss, Clickair, BMI and soon jet2go.... they had no choice but to merge with another airlines. Oil over $100 per barrel, Airmalta will start to blame fuel costs.... but in reality it has to wake up and realise that the govt. cant subsidise the losing airline.... meaning that the solution is either reducing staff (downsize) and sold to another giant airline in order to survive.
I do believe that Airmalta should become privatised and that the govt. should STOP interrupting in its operations. Dont forget people that majority of airlines in europe are privatised and the govt. rarely influence in its decisioins. Then why Malta is different? ? ?
Any comments ....appreciated

r spagnol

Sep 6th 2008, 10:40

Vassallo and Farrugia, wake up!!!!

Don't you remember the panic arised by certain apologists like you (who were in Opposition in those times), whenever some 50c charge was introduced!!!! It is still echoing in our minds the cry of the "33 taxxa" from those who over two years have collected more than Lm100 000 000 additional revenue.......

"Energy and determination by the new cabinet???"
It sounds obvious from a particular being employed behind a pc to apologise PN.

Mark Zerafa

Sep 6th 2008, 10:08

On papaer, maybe not a bad idea. However, being a relativly frequest traveller who uses the internet booking engine regularly, and it still has a number of shortcomings:

1. If I had to travel out to Heathrow and then return from another airport, I will have to book two one-way tickets, which are more expensive. That's when I had to use Air Malta's MIA sales office, who do a great job. in giving me a better deal.

2. If I need three seats, and only two are available at a lower price, the booking engine automatically shifts your booking to more expensive seats. Great value for money, I'm sure everyone will agree.

3. What happens if I would like to redeem my KMiles against an air ticket? So, besides paying the fuel surcharge, would I also have to pay Eur 10 to have my "free" ticket?

4. Air Malta's MIA Sales Office does a fantastic job servicing customers who need tickets at the last minute - which are usually the more expensive and profitable for the airline - as well as effecting ticket changes and booking amendments on a 24 hour basis.

Quo vadis KM?

C Cassar

Sep 6th 2008, 02:28

British Airways and Lufthansa charge a fee for bookings over the phone. That is normal since there is an extra overhead of providing a call centre for the service. It's also an incentive to make the booking on-line.

Air Malta has one of the youngest fleets of aircraft in Europe, so please those making unresearched comments refrain from doing so.

Ryan Air have the most indirect charges of any airline. They even charge for each piece of checked in baggage with complex tariffs if yo check them in online etc. The tickets invariabley end up more expensive than national carriers when you take into account that they fly to rural airports and not the centre of major cities. This incurrs more cost for transfer (sometimes up to 100km as in the case of Frankfurt Hahn).

Air Malta is one of the last airlines to introduce a fee for non-internet bookings, so basically you have been taxed by most of the other airlines until now except for Air Malta.

J. Pace

Sep 6th 2008, 02:15

Funny thing is...I am going to London in 2 weeks time. I checked Airmalta online price, it was 330Euro. Checked British Airways was 305Euro. Checked EasyJet was 218Euro. RyanAir too far for me of where I need to go. I was very unwilling to travel EasyJet since the last time I went with it (4 months ago) the plane on take off was full of unusual noises (I am a frequent flyer) - cekcik, storbju, zaqziq. Got afraid to be honest. Won't fly until they change that plane. On a side note, their orange usual planes are worderful since I travelled 3 times with them. But this is white and strange Anyway...back to my story...I stumbled to a friend who works at a local travel agent. I got the AirMalta ticket for 285Euros including his commision. At the same time the price online was still showing 330Euros. So ehe book online since they make more money out of your pocket. After this experience I will always check with my friend, since at the end of the day I have the ticket still without leaving my house - thus same online conveniency.

Franco Farrugia

Sep 6th 2008, 00:20

With reference to J. Callus:

1. I feel much more at ease with middle-aged crew members - they know their job and receive proper training. A far cry from much younger crew.

2. Middle-aged crew members do not necessarily mean less smarter (God, where is logic in this country?) people.

3. The opinion regarding middle-age crew members smacks of age discrimination - I don't think that the EU or any other proper entity or union would be very amused.

s farrugia

Sep 5th 2008, 23:39

Oh my all this fuss for less than lm 5........noone is making you fly Airmalta there are loads of other airlines to choose from..everyone one of them adds what they please and no one comments...but Airmalta...and for the people who don`t like middleaged cabincrew..fly ryanair..their´s are younger and some even posed for a sexy calender....if you´re lucky they might even understand a word or two of english..or realise like they did with us after boarding a flight in Pisa that we should be going to Malta not Germany.....

A.Borg

Sep 5th 2008, 23:17

Air Malta should introduce a Multi-Segment option for online bookings, such that it would be possible to travel Malta-CityA: CityB-Malta. All major European airlines have this option and it is quite useful for those who have to catch alternative flights from alternative cities in destinations which are not served on a daily basis by KM.

Roger Cauchi Inglott

Sep 5th 2008, 23:11

What a wrong move, hammering yet another nail into one's own coffin. Tour operators do a very good job in booking flight tickets for a small commission and you leave their office with peace of mind. You also get good advice and reassurance and time to discuss your holiday.

Now you'll have to waste much more time browsing the net for hotels, reviews and so on and hope and pray that you don't end up in some dump and if you do how persuaded would you be to travel again unless to a destination already know?

This is not the gratitude you would expect from a national airline that has been well served by tour operators all these years. If costs are rising and you need to increase the fares then do so globally and fairly. People are not all stupid, and would be willing to pay a little bit extra to know that they are travelling safely, with good service and professional staff who would know what to do in case of an emergency and not be the first to panic. Low-cost airline pilots are overworked and it's just a matter of time. Airmalta should not follow their example.

E.Cordina

Sep 5th 2008, 22:46

As usual when it is Air Malta we get an outcry, when it is other airles we do not. It is easy for people to have a pop at KM for introducing this charge and for "runnintg away from competition". SOme would be glad to hear that many LCCs charge you for check-in, use of credit card, priority boarding,catering etc. Also the low prices on certain routes owe a lot to the government subsidies offered. KM operated certain routes AT A LOSS and with no subsidies for 30yrs. All in the national interest only for these routes to now be subsidised once competition entered the fray. KM rightly pulled out of these routes as there was no way they could make money. Subsidies are of course forked out of taxpayers' money but let us have a go at KM but not those using subsidies and who still impose charges.

I still however think KM went about it the wrong way. It would have been better to offer a 10 euro discount to those booking online and a 5 euro discount to those using the call centre. It is all in the detail and the word savings sounds better than charges!

J. Callus

Sep 5th 2008, 22:15

I have always been proud to have such a good service from our national airline. Considering that Malta is tiny, we still have an airline which is better than that of more developed countries such as Italy. The only detail that I don't like is having middle-aged cabin crew. Airmalta should give these crew a sum of money and replace them by younger smarter new ones. Otherwise all seemed well til recently when the 1st step was to cut off the light snack it used to serve... and now this service charge?? What's next? Having to pay extra for luggage? It seems like all this would encourage people to fly low-cost. I am very disappointed indeed! How about people who do not like to give personal details and credit card numbers online? This is really unfair!

T MIFSUD

Sep 5th 2008, 20:37

@Philip Paris. can you explain what you mean by modernising the fleet? Air Malta's fleet is one of the youngest in Europe with new Airbus 319 and 320s. Guess you're not well informed.

They rather should pay attention to those hot oven coaches that in the middle of summer their aircondition is switched off or broken. Still Air Malta finds it ok to use them and pack passengers like sardines in temperatures well above than 40 degrees inside.

Franco Farrugia

Sep 5th 2008, 20:36

I use Air Malta because I cannot do otherwise - no other carrier from Malta to my usual destination. Otherwise, I would drop it immediately, national carrier or not - after all, does it care for it's 'nationals'.?

One of the greatest complaints I have is leg-space on their planes. You can almost eat the back of the seat in front of you! Very claustrophobic.

And many of the staff they have, are not up to scratch! Especially in summer.

albert leone ganado

Sep 5th 2008, 20:07

I still think think that AirMalta have made a bad business decision.

Air Malta are still getting substantial business from people who are afraid or not able to use the Internet or want a personal face to face service. Successful companies abroad are hybrid companies not purely virtual ones.

The Internet is different from a bank charge in that your competitors are only aclick away.


Once you become confident in using the Internet you become price savvy and conscious and whilst I still prefer to travel Air Malta when the price is right , in situations where it suits me I use the other airlines because before making a booking I now check every single carrier.

Next week I will be flying to London using RyanAir because the price quoted for two tickets was over 300 euros cheaper than AirMalta. In the Xmas period I will be flying Air Malta to London because the price they quoted was only 50 euros per ticket more which is the maximum premium I am willing to give them for the extra bit of service and convenience which they deliver.

Brian Bartolo

Sep 5th 2008, 20:00

We thank Mr. Montebello for the feedback regarding the Tripoli flights. The matter is being investigated by our E-Business team together with our system providers so as to restore the online booking facility on this route. We apologise for this inconvenience.

Tonio Montebello

Sep 5th 2008, 19:23

That's fine, but at the moment if you try and use the online system to book flights for Tripoli, Libya, the system gives "No flights available" when in reality, there are flights available. This situation has been so for at least 4 days. Can Airmalta please advise?

Herbert Psaila

Sep 5th 2008, 19:00

I am a retired Bank employee. When the Bank I worked for introduced ATMs on the island we worked hard to promote their use with the Bank offering incentives to encourage customers to stop calling at the Bank to encash their wages/pensions cheques but to no avail. In come HSBC, cash points were reduced and Lm2 charge for encashment of cheques was levied. It worked. Today the vast majority of Bank customers make use of ATMs rather than having to spend hours waiting in long queues at the Bank. The Lm2 charge has since been waived to Bank account holders but by now customers are accustomed with ATMs and most of them make use of these facilities. Grow up Malta all this moaning and groaning.
Airmalta is keeping pace with the modern world, it is in business and like any other business enterprise it is there to make a profit. It could have easily closed down all its sales offices and do away with the costs of running them. The service is still being provided and it makes a lot of business sense to levy the charge once these offices are being kept open. Prosit AirMalta.

A Garbett

Sep 5th 2008, 18:33

Try Malta bargains they are very good and they get there ticket from Air Malta they buy seats aon there planes.

Philip Paris

Sep 5th 2008, 18:12

@Matthew Azzopardi

By modernizing there fleet, I don't mean buy new planes.
Update the interior and put in new seats.

ivan delia

Sep 5th 2008, 18:05

ohh very clever from air malta well done !!!!
well there are many fish in the sea !!!

Joe Tabone-Adami

Sep 5th 2008, 17:48

Wow! What an intelligent way to promote Information Communications & Technology! Prosit!!

Mark Piscopo

Sep 5th 2008, 17:43

To: Amy micallef

Air Malta is one of the safest airlines in Europe and have good customer care and the workers give a good service to all their that is why people choose Air Malta. I dont know why all these disgusting comments about our national Airline. What is your comparison about with Ganni ta Xarabank. This is nonsense.
I travelled with Air Malta and will continue to travel with our National Airline and thanks all the workers for the professional service they give to all the passengers.

m farrugia

Sep 5th 2008, 17:17

@ R Spagnol

What on earth does Dr Sant have to do with this issue? The only link that Dr Sant may have with this issue, is that had it been for Dr Sant, who opposesd every change on earth, Malta is still not served by low cost airlines. The result would have been that the no. of tourists would have continued to decline, Airmalta would have continued to fly empty planes and we customers would have no other choice but to fly Airmalta. At least now we have a choice. Just checked a return flight with Ryanair in October for about Euro 30 return including all charges, only carrying a handluggage.

It's amazing how people such as you cannot stand the fact that Labour remains in opposition and the PN is still in government, and will probably remain for some time judging by the new cabinet's energy and determination to tackle change instead of preferring the status quo.

Janice Cassar

Sep 5th 2008, 17:10

Slowly, but surely, Air Malta is introducing all the catches that customers have come to expect from low-cost carriers.

Eventually the only difference that will remain between Air Malta and the rest of the low-cost airlines will be that of getting a low-cost shoddy service at double the price of a low-cost ticket.

And you can bet your left foot that it will still be making losses!

m farrugia

Sep 5th 2008, 17:02

It's not the opportunate moment to introduce these fees when Ryanair is offering return fares of 10 euros plus a minimal card fee for travel in October and November to Bari, Valencia and Pisa, travelling with hand luggage.

Although it is a known fact that Airmalta Head office is more than overstaffed and Airmalta customers are making good for these inefficiencies by paying higher fares,Airmalta decided to outsource its call centre operations, obviously at an extra cost. The opening of a call centre was given much prominence by Airmalta about a year ago. Now after only a year, Airmalta's management is panicking about the costs.

What's that for good planning and foresight? Some things never change. Some years back before Malta joined the EU, Louis Grech, ex Airmalta chairman and now MEP, was saying that Airmalta was more than ready for competition from other airlines. And as soon as low cost airlines arrived, after years of overcharging and flying empty planes, the management at Airmalta started panicking and Austin Gatt tried to defend them at the Amitex Fair by criticising Ryanair. Little did they know that competition will prove to be healthy, as Airmalta passenger figures are showing.

Matthew Azzopardi

Sep 5th 2008, 16:55

@ Philip Cilia......

modernise there fleet? are you for real or what? do you the average age of the Air Malta's fleet?

Francesca Abela

Sep 5th 2008, 16:55

If Air Malta wish to further economise may I suggest that instead of introducing more fees, they do away with the meals/drinks on board. One could pay for these as they do on low (?) cost airlines

Joe Anthony Borg

Sep 5th 2008, 16:51

say no more....another tax my friends and That what they call profit at the end of year!!! CapitalisticBusiness the trend of the 21st century.
Despite the compettion, fuel surcharge etc..The most important is that big heads of corporation keep all their privilages ...company executive cars, free bills, free travelling, free lunches, and god knows what a salary !!! for doing nothing!!
And than when they bankrupt the corporation , they resign and take off their responsabilities.

JOSEPH FALZON

Sep 5th 2008, 16:51

It is good to note that commission levels to travel agents overseas has been reduced to 1% a number of years ago. Today all airlines including carriers like BA charge service fees for services at sales offices or call centre. They also charge credit card fees when booking online. Air Malta does not charge any and booking online on the airline website airmalta.com is definitely more convenient and cheapest way to book

A.Vassallo

Sep 5th 2008, 16:50

@ AIR MALTA – Our national carrier

Instead of adding this “tax”, how about giving a discount of €10 to €15 for people booking online. This could be a good incentive for more people to book their airline tickets online.

Air Malta is working backwards. The way forward is to give incentives rather than penalize people. It is absolutely the wrong way to do things.

J.M Arraq

Sep 5th 2008, 16:48

It was really a very bright idea for me to get rid of all my credit cards.
I managed to save €23 in tax and fees.
But then I realised it was gonna be costlier for me since I now have to pay €10 extra for each ticket I buy in CASH.

A. Bartolo

Sep 5th 2008, 16:34

There were many times when I tried to book through a travelling agency and was told that Air Malta flight was fully booked and when checking with Air Malta Sales Office I found out that seats are still available. Why back stabbing our Naional Airline.

Amy Micallef

Sep 5th 2008, 16:28

AIr Malta is a shame! Since I live abroad, I always avoid travelling by Air Malta even if it takes me longer , travelling through another airport with another airline. And if it is expensive, I don`t even go to Malta at all. I wonder why tourists are choosing other destinations and airlines!!!!!!

AIr Malta should reduce its costs rather than increasing fees! Or are we scared to wake up `Ganni tax-Xarabank` from his deep sleep when Airmalta lands in Gudja despite that the whole runway is free!!!!!!!

Phil Press

Sep 5th 2008, 16:24

@ Raymon. So you are saying, that if everyone books on line, to save money, there will be no need for sales office ? does that mean close them and the staff who work there, become unemployed ?.

ray Mangion

Sep 5th 2008, 16:23

@ S Mangion

Rubbish Ms Mangion. Some people have the right mind not to get connected to internet and be dragged into a technological world. How can you speak for other people without one, and label them as "poor" people. Believe me, some of these people without internet connection are much richer than you think!

Jean-Pierre Tabone Adami

Sep 5th 2008, 16:23

Albert Leone Ganado,

you make a point valid for most businesses, but probably not to AirMalta.

For starters Air Malta avoid competition. By and large, except for the London Gatwick, Manchester, Rome and Milan routes, they don't. They either code-share (which basically means they team up and divide the profits) or else they run (Barcelona, Madrid, Venice, all Irish and Scandinavian routes) leaving the field to low cost services.

On the few routes they do compete, except for Rome where the competition is the bankrupt Alitalia, they compete with low-cost carriers (LCCs) who only sell tickets through the internet anyway. So any leakage from KM cannot occur in this way.

Obviously KM abhor competition because they can't. With over 100 employees per aircraft that's out of the question. Their business model needs more than fine tuning and the introduction of fees for non-online booking, though that's a small step in the right direction. The significant reduction of employee costs and reduction of the network away from low-yielding routes marginal routes are possible major strides forward.

Besides the opening of these routes to LCCs will have positive impacts for tourism (see Spain, Ireland, Scandinavia)

Franco Farrugia

Sep 5th 2008, 16:06

@ S Mangion - Sorry, I don't agree with your logic. Who told you that those who can afford to fly, also have Internet?

And then again, even if you have internet, there are many who simply do not know where to go, and how to book a ticket. It is not that straight-forward for all of us!

And there are those who simply do NOT trust the internet for such transactions. These people, too, have a right to be protected, and not coerced into taking what they would call RISKS.

If they really wanted to improve online sales, they should have done it the other way: by offering incentives to online users rather than service fees for non-online bookings.

We are taking leave of our senses. There is no more care for the individual - we are losing our conscience as a nation, and we only use this term wherever it suits us politically.

I repeat: this does not concern me cos I always use online - but hey .... there are others to think of.

Joe Vassallo

Sep 5th 2008, 16:01

R SPAGNOL....It is Dr Joseph Muscat's fault, as he will not be flying as frequently to Brussels !!!!
Will definitely be effecting Air Malta profits!!!!

albert leone ganado

Sep 5th 2008, 16:01

I trust that air malta have carefully assessed their new e-commerce business model and that they have got it right.

E-commerce research has shown that On line sales channels cannibilise traditional bricks and mortar outlets but what is often commercially more worrying is that if you discriminate against the traditional outlets you may have substantial leakage of sales to competitors .

The suggestion by one blogger that Air Malta should at least maintain the MIA outlet at no ticket surcharge to clients makes I think a lot of business sense.

S. Mangion

Sep 5th 2008, 15:42

As all the other airlines are offering cheap tariffs, Airmalta is doing its best to compete in such a competitive environment where the price of oil is very volatile. The internet is a vital tool through which a company like Airmalta should invest. It is true that some Maltese customer will be disadvantaged by incurring such fees, but in the long run Airmalta will surely benefit.

People who normally do not have access to internet normally can not afford to travel and incur such expenses. In my opinion this move will help a lot the airline to develop and in the medium to the long run, we as consumers will also gain in cheaper tariffs.

C.camenzuli

Sep 5th 2008, 15:40

Don't worry......there are other airlines and by far cheaper.......even through agencies both here and abroad.

M.Galea

Sep 5th 2008, 15:37

Most of all, I feel sorry for the travel agents, since this directly effects their livlihood. In fact, I doubt it will be worthwhile for them to sell flights at all. With all the responsibility they take on when selling flights, it's extremely unfair towards them. They have to check out for visa requirements, make sure the booking is confirmed, issue the tickets, check out for any time changes till the time of departure, etc : all for a pitiful 1% on flight tickets that most often cost less than Eur.150 (Taxes are not commissionable). I'm sure everyone agrees this is unfair towards them. This will be a pity. From my experience, travel agents are important especially when their experience can guide you to the perfect holiday. Shame if we'll have to do without them.....

Ramon Casha

Sep 5th 2008, 15:35

Those who can't afford internet can pop over to their local council or library, free. At the moment most airlines are barely able to stay afloat, and every cent counts. If the sales offices are costing more than they bring in, it's understandable that they will either simply close them all, or expect customers to pay for using these services.

Mike Corcoran

Sep 5th 2008, 15:28

Another reason not to book Airmalta, yet another travel 'tax' for air travel.

I.Scicluna

Sep 5th 2008, 15:20

Up till a year or so ago airlines like BA, Lufthansa, Alitalia etc were charging passengers who issued a paper ticket instead of an e-Ticket (electronic) to curb their costs. Did we see any comments against this? No we did not. Local Travel Agents introduced a Service Charge months ago...if not longer. Did we see any comments against this? No we did not; again. So why is it that when Air Malta takes a similar initiative all hell breaks loose? By the way, I'm still not sure whether it would have been legal for Air Malta NOT to introduce a Service Charge thus offering a cheaper Fare than the Maltese Travel Trade for an identical route/class of service/airline. The Competition Act is a wierd animal! I envy the Americans with their, "My Country, right or wrong"! Over here it is precisely the opposite. If it's foreign, laud it but if it's Maltese, BASH it! Be greatful that we have a National Airline to be proud of and who has supported the local Tourism Industry throughout and not only where it is commercially viable like so many others whodrop Malta from their Schedule at the slightest sign of "stormy weather".

Philip Paris

Sep 5th 2008, 15:20

If Air Malta would revamp there image, modernize there fleet, and serve better food, then I do not mind paying a little extra.
Until then I will countinue to use another carrier when flying in and out of Malta.

Anthony A.Mifsud

Sep 5th 2008, 15:13

Air Malta.... That is why I call our national carrier. Taxi Malta.

Day light rip off, mux hekk sur kappilan.

Toni

M. Brincat

Sep 5th 2008, 15:09

It would have made more sense to keep tariffs the same for tickets purchased through AM's sales offices and through the call centre, while attracting people to book through the Internet by giving a small reduction in the ticket price.

However, common sense seems to be quite a rare view these days.

Paul Gauci

Sep 5th 2008, 15:07

This is not an incentive. A real incentive would have been a reduction in the price of online tickets.

ray Mangion

Sep 5th 2008, 15:05

I have always supported AirMalta and have been very loyal to the Airlines, but I am disgusted that it keeps abusing the pockets of its own Maltese customers. The rules and regulations of the EU forced them to cut Airport taxes, now this; is it legal may I ask? Do you realise that you are punishing the less educated people who do not know how to use online and your portal? Do you realise that not everyone has a computer in their home? What is this island coming to "Upstairs, Downstairs, comes to mind. Dear Air Malta, don`t ruin your good reputation by being greedy. Your customers have been punished enough by the fuel crisis.

Franco Farrugia

Sep 5th 2008, 15:03

I happen to be a frequent flyer, and I always book online.
But this is disgusting! It is unfair. Another tax! Nothing less.

Absolutely disgusting!

j.camenzuli

Sep 5th 2008, 14:54

Its OK for those who can afford to have internet but what about people who can't and who still feel uneasy giving their visa particulars on the internet. What about people who don't know how to use a computer or who cannot afford one (and there are a high number of them on this island). They are the once who will suffer as they have to fork out more. Discrimination!!!
With regards to commission reduction to travel agent...is it applicable to Malta base travel agents only or are overseas travel agents also included? Are travel agents going to increase their charges to the customer to make up for the loss in revenue?

C. Scerri

Sep 5th 2008, 14:49

I do not think that this charge is levied through the travel agents so people can still use this facility.

On another point, I could book a ticket from Malta to Genoa through AirOne website (Airmalta to Rome and then Airone to Genoa) but could not do the same through the Airmalta webiste. Can some from Airmalta state why?

M. Debono

Sep 5th 2008, 14:48

What is the use of a call centre, if you are charged for phoning? I sense some panic from KM heads of departments to control "costs".

Might as well, whilst at it, close down your sales office in Valletta and concentrate on one location, i.e. M.I.A.

Already, small travel agents have closed down. Others have emerged. This is the final blow from the national airline, following similar trends from other IATA airlines on the local market. Will I.T.S. continue to cater with courses for Travel Agents? I guess, there is no need anymore.

R Spagnol

Sep 5th 2008, 14:44

Pity Sant is out of the show. He would have been blamed for this one too!!!

Charles Camilleri

Sep 5th 2008, 14:43

So elderlies who have no computer or was too late for them to learn how to manage one are being penallised. Wonderful.

Kevin Barun

Sep 5th 2008, 14:42

So it looks that bit by bit Airmalta is copying the low cost airlines... It would not be a surprise that food will not be supplied as well!

Poor employees at the sales office!! I guess they will start searching for a new job.

phil press

Sep 5th 2008, 14:40

Some incentive, to travel Air Malta. What a sales drive ??.

P.cutajar

Sep 5th 2008, 14:31

MY GOD!!!!!!