Fiona Galea Debono
Efforts to attract airlines for new low-cost routes
Attracting airlines to service the low-cost routes on offer has proven to be an uphill struggle given the prevailing scenario, Malta Tourism Authority chairman Sam Mifsud said.
"Nobody is opening new routes", Mr Mifsud said, quoting as example EasyJet's plan to only consolidate existing ones and, maybe, even close some.
Today the government will find out how successful it was in its talks with "every single airline in Europe" as the deadline for bids to operate such routes expires..
The deadline was extended by two weeks in order to continue negotiations with various airlines, Mr Mifsud said. He was unwilling to take it for granted that they have actually placed their bids in the box.
"Today they say yes and tomorrow, they say no," he remarked.
He would only say that airlines did show "some sort of interest" to operate to Malta, expressing the hope that most of the three routes - Newcastle, Bristol and Leeds Bradford - would be taken up.
"The closing of the call for bids would not have been extended by two weeks if we were not optimistic," he said.
The falling price of fuel is a plus but the value of the sterling is turning into a major headache and airlines need to assess the demand for travel.
Mr Mifsud said he is determined to keep on "knocking on doors" if today's deadline does not yield the desired results and despite the fact that "there is not one single European airline the government has not spoken to".
The government offered the three UK routes at the end of October to make up for the drop in capacity from the UK. If they are taken up, the airlines would start operating in summer.
In view of bleak future prospects, the president of the Malta Hotels and Restaurants Association, Kevin De Cesare had urgently called on the government to invest in opening more routes and increasing flight capacity, particularly in the light of an estimated 3.5 per cent drop in the number of available seats for winter.
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lgalea
Dec 20th 2008, 08:57
"Surely tourists buying half a loaf are better than no tourists at all!!"
No they aren't.
They are more burden on the general infrastructure that the half a loaf.
We want quality not quantity
steve baker
Dec 19th 2008, 21:26
When Ryanair wanted to make Malta its Base in the Meda couple of years ago, this was refused by your Government Officials. You should have welcomed it with open arms as they might close a route but not even Ryanair will close a 'hub'. Reduce the exhorbitant landing fees and do all you can to attract additional routes/airlines. Surely tourists buying half a loaf are better than no tourists at all!!
When Malta is 'finished being built' and is tidied up it will become an attractive holiday destination for european tourists. I know what I am talking about as for 40 years I have been defending your Island from those who criticise it. The Maltese are lovely people, and I have many friends on the sland - you just have to make it attractive for tourists to want to come - and this includes new routes for the low cost Airlines. You have the power to make this happen, so put some pressure on the officials.
lgalea
Dec 19th 2008, 18:35
Cheap airlines only increase the number of cheap tourists.
It should be quality not numbers.
Simply increasing the numbers of cheap tourists will only increase the burden on the general infrastructure such as water, electricity, transport, waste, transport etc.
But to have quality not numbers we MUST give back QUALITY and have our country in a first class state not like a third world country with roads suitable for a safari with offroaders.
C J Zammit
Dec 19th 2008, 16:40
@ IJ-C
How right you are.
All in Malta must realise that they are responsible for our main income Tourism .We must make people feel welcome .Give a good service and no fleecing .It is imperative that we all strive to keep Malta clean and keep our litter from our roads . Stop fly tipping in our of what is left of our country lanes .
It must be realised by all that no authority whichever or whoever it is will accomplish by money alone what can be accomplished by being respectful to ones birth place . ALL must do the utmost not to kill the goose that lays the golden egg . We must compete with other beautiful places in Europe and more so at this time of economic turmoil .If we fail in this all the Maltese people will suffer .
Ingrid Jones-cameron
Dec 19th 2008, 15:37
Let's not beat around the bush. No1 problem, Mlata has one of the highest handling fes in europe.
Problem No2. The maltese businessman is greedy and is driving the industry down the drain. The exorbant prices in restaurants is too much for any tourist. The notion that tourists come to malta because they LOVE us is a myth. They choose the cheapest country they can find. How come a pizza in Malta is as expensive or more expensive than most european capitals??? Considering we have the lowest wages in europe , lowest rents etc. A dishwasher in malta costs the employer just under 2 euros an hour. A waiter costs less than 3 euros. No social benefits and no added costs!. I was on holiday in a scandinavian country and a family pizza form 4(!!!!) cost us 4.5 euros. I gi to sliema and I get a bad excuse for a pizza for 6 euros. Just imagine the tourists' reaction when they leave. Never again they say and I understand them.
John Mizzi
Dec 19th 2008, 13:23
It saddens me to see MTA behaving in 1980s thinking. Tourists nowadys do not only want a cheap holiday but they want a unique holiday experience. Tourists nowadays use the internet to find such unique experiences.
What is MTA doing to help small businesses and individuals in trying to create unique tourism service? Why is our archaic tourism law not being reformed? Why such small businesses trying to offer unique tourist ideas drowned in red tape? A lot of these small businesses are doing excellent work in promoting Malta and their unique services on the internet. Is MTA helping them financially or throwing our money away in irrelevant marketing overseas with companies that have no idea?
MTA, please wake up and smell the coffee!!!
D.Farrugia
Dec 19th 2008, 12:15
it seems like that the best solution is to make a BASE.
A low cost airline wants to make a BASE. The only obstacle is the landing fees. They are too expensive....
CAN WE SUPPORT IT TO MAKE BASE FOR A LOW COST AIRLINE ?
Ray Arpa
Dec 19th 2008, 09:47
As the saying goes, " When the going gets tough the tough gets going". I'm sure that both MTA & MHRA know that many of the low cost airlines operating to Malta either reduced their flights or stopped their operation. What I would like to know is how much in EUROS did Malta invest in these Malta Tourism Industry Saviours?
I hope now we all learned the lesson. Any investment by the government/ MTA/ MHRA should be directed to airlines with long track record of commitent to Malta. But no free rides please as these airlines need to protect their investment and employees as well. Around a table we must find a win win long term solution.