Service fee set to boost Air Malta's online booking
In an evident move to boost online bookings, Air Malta will, as from October 1, introduce a service fee of €10 on each ticket issued to customers through its sales offices, and each ticket issued from its call centre will be subject to a €5 service fee and a telephone charge per call that will be introduced in the coming weeks.
The airline will also be reducing the commission paid to travel agents from four to one per cent.
The airline said it has taken a conscious decision not to add any service fees when bookings are made through its internet booking engine on www.airmalta.com.
Over the past year, since the launch of the revamped Air Malta portal, 60,000 flight sectors were booked by Maltese customers through www.airmalta.com. The portal, launched in June last year, has been steadily increasing in popularity, with 22 per cent of the airline's sales now being done through this channel, the company said.
Air Malta said the recently-introduced web check-in, whereby customers can choose their seats from the comfort of their home, was enthusiastically received by customers. Last August, 2,400 passengers utilised the service, an increase of 77 per cent over the previous month.
Other recently-introduced online services, such as the booking of hotel accommodation in Malta and abroad, the purchase of travel insurance cover and the 50 per cent free excess luggage when purchased online, have continued to add value to the airline's online channel, Air Malta said.
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Charles Bianco
Sep 7th 2008, 08:57
AH! well, There goes my sneaky way of dodging the queues at the airport!!
This is a positive step forward, for an airline which gives good service.
Eric Frendo
Sep 6th 2008, 21:11
To Mr D Farrugia: For your kind information, Mr Farrugia, Air Malta NEVER got a cent from the government as a subsidy. Please check your info before posting some words on the net.
Maria Ferstl
Sep 6th 2008, 17:45
@apgrech
You can book Icelandair in Icelandic
http://www.icelandair.is
but despite their (unwilling) promises (to include Maltese in the next dozen or so of languages) you still cannot book Airmalta in Maltese! (They gave priority not only to English, but even to 3 more foreign languages!) This is a national carrier, isn't it? But those citizens who are not able to navigate in one of those foreign languages will be paying sort of a fine soon...
Raphael Dangli
Feb 19th 2011, 00:35
Maria, The internet is primarily in English. So how many Maltese users exist who are unable to navigate in English and need Maltese to do so. My guess would be less than zero. Hallina!! Have it there for national pride purposes yes - but wake up to yourself. - Once it is launched it would interesting to seek Air Malta's statistics on how many Maltese actually use the Maltese portal. And this figure ( my guess is that it would be less than 20 per cent) would not prove that they cannot navigate in English - it would only prove a preference to Maltese.
apgrech
Sep 6th 2008, 16:51
Maria, I just checked and you can book online with Air Malta.
Franco Farrugia
Sep 6th 2008, 16:49
@ Charles Camilleri - Full points, this time round! That is what Air Malta should be doing.
However, and I say it with emphasis as I digit, the main reason why Air Malta is doing this is to further enhance its profits. I think it is pretty obvious to all!
The next thing will be to 'boost' the web check-in in the same way.... people will be made to pay for the ordinary check-in.
I use both services so I am not speaking for myself. But it is not right on certain people - the aged, the infirm, those who don't have a computer at home, those who ARE AFRAID OR SOMEHOW DO NOT TRUST MAKING TRANSACTIONS SUCH AS THESE, OVER THE NET. And what about those who do not have credit cards ....... has Air Malta, in its wisdom - they're experts - given a thought to these people?
With what right do we expect people to have a certain kind of lifestyle and generalise? Are we sure that the computer has reached all homes? Are we sure that everyone is so computer-literate? Are we so sure that everyone has a credit-card? I doubt it!
R. Cassar
Sep 6th 2008, 16:25
@Charles Camilleri
Sadly I think that's exactly what Air Malta wants to do.
Maria Ferstl
Sep 6th 2008, 15:20
Can we thus assume that by October 1st the Maltese website version (promised more than a year ago, and it was supposed to be ready early this year) will be finally launched?
Otherwise... the company has no right to oblige the Maltese public to use a website which doesn't even exist!
Charles Camilleri
Sep 6th 2008, 14:53
Why not putting it the other way round? Why not give a discount to those who book through the internet? The way it is looks to me that Air Malta has just increased its the cost of its tickets. Many elderly people and others who have no knowledge of the internet will be hit by this measure.
D. Farrugia
Sep 6th 2008, 12:01
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