Ryanair introducing services to Edinburgh, Bristol

Mark Duffy

Jan 16th 2009, 21:49

well done Ryanair, can only be good for Malta and Gozo, they should seriously consider adding Birmingham and Paris Beauvais to their routes, they have bases in both these places and Malta/Gozo has historically been a favorite destination for travellers from the West Midlands, Air Malta have a monopoly on the BHX-MLA route and the prices the charge ,mirror this.

M Grech

Jan 16th 2009, 20:41

@M Busuttil

A sandwich from Ryanair is not a penny more expensive than the ones on sale at MIA.

a micallef

Jan 16th 2009, 20:04

well done ryanair. you definately rock!

as long as you keep coming up with the destinations at affordable prices, you're doing a good job.

m farrugia

Jan 16th 2009, 15:30

Keep on coming Ryanair. You just made travelling so easy and affordable for Maltese families.

What about flights from Germany, Switzerland, Poland, France and other East European countries? Malta is still not served by LCCs from these destinations.

MIA please do not procrastinate any more on lowering your airline fees, this is simply killing the whole tourism industry, including hotels, restaurants, bars, car rental firms and others in Malta to make good for MIA inefficiencies.

D. Azzopardi

Jan 16th 2009, 13:40

Thanks to Ryanair for introducing these new routes, really eager to try the new route to Edinburgh!!! Already travelled to bari nothing to argue about the service, and much cheaper if I had to go to Rome first and then take another one to Bari. Looking forward to see Ryanair introduce (hopefully) the Bergamo and Rome(Ciampino) Routes!!!

M Busuttil

Jan 16th 2009, 12:46

Last year my wife and I, along with our two daughters, visited friends in Gloucester, very close to Bristol. AirMalta wanted Lm200 for each person to fly to Bristol!!! I opted for Ryanair to Luton and drove for about 3 hours; the flight cost us less than a third than what Airmalta quoted.
So what if boarding their planes is like getting on a bus in Valletta? So what if they don't give out meals and charge stupidly high prices for a sandwich, or that they try to sell you scratch and win cards on the flight? As long as I get to my destination I really don't mind.
Keep it up Ryanair! Your service leaves much to be desired in many areas, but well worth the final price for people on a budget like most of us.

A Abela

Jan 16th 2009, 10:57

@ Joanne Dawson.

Our national airline had discontinued the service from Glasgow so you couldn't have travelled that way anymore. Ryanair rocks!!!!!!

Joanne Dawson

Jan 16th 2009, 10:10

THANK GOODNESS!!!! I have been coming to Malta for 30 years however moved to Scotland ten years ago where we had to travel 4 hours to Glasgow airport to get to Malta, then last year they stopped this service and so we had to fly to Luton and then on to Malta taking roughly 19 hours! Thankyou Ryanair we can now finally get to Malta from Edinburgh (only 3 hours drive) but without the hassle of changing airports/flights etc. WELL DONE!

David Camilleri

Jan 15th 2009, 16:54

Ryanair: YOU MADE MY WISH COME TRUE! As Macbeth states "So foul and fair a day I have not seen" foul weather yet a most welcome piece of news!

m farrugia

Jan 15th 2009, 15:35

Airmalta, which boasts of operating non profitable routes to serve the country, did not find any difficulty in stopping flights to Scotland, Spain and Portugal, boasting about code share agreements with other airlines and forcing us to change planes at another airport and travel for at least 6 hours to reach such destinations. And this when it was clear that there was a demand for such destinations, as proven by the interest of LCCs in some of these routes.

It is unbelievable that whilst LCCs see a potential in our country, our national airline, thinks otherwise. And obviously everyone should be in the market to make a profit, if Airmalta is not, the Maltese taxpayer is in deep trouble, another Drydocks in the making perhaps. At least if the taxpayer is subsidising Ryanair, he is offered some very good fares in return, making it possible for Maltese families to travel on short holidays even 3 times a year.
On the contrary, Airmalta seems to offer cheap flights to foreigners and expensive fares to Maltese, Airmalta seems to have become the airlines of Maltese businessmen and travel agents only. It is obvious that Maltese independent travellers and families are flying Ryanair.

Wayne Hewitt

Jan 15th 2009, 12:21

Ryanair rocks!

A Abela

Jan 15th 2009, 09:18

Mr Tanti,

I understand your point that on certain routes the Government provided help to Ryanair. But Air Malta could take the subsidies herself had she decided to operate the routes herself as far as I know. It didn't. So bad luck for Air Malta!! Let Ryanair flourish. As long as it gives us a service at a good price, who cares?

Reuben Griscti

Jan 15th 2009, 05:13

This is hilarious!I'm not sure about not being able to fill Mlt-Glasgow flights-whenever I flew the overly-expensive flights from Glasgow-Mlt,most were full,or nearly so!And then AM decided to stop the flight, so all Maltese and Brits north of Manchester would have to drive about 3-4hrs MINIMUM to get to the closest airport with direct flights to Malta!Yeah-RIGHT!Unless you HAVE to come to Malta,as Maltese emigrants do,who in his right mind would bother when they can fly to other places with similiar climate&attractions,for cheaper and without driving!
Good thinking Ryanair! You won't regret this decision!
Airmalta - you've made a silly move,&you'll realise soon enough!Then again,seeing how silly this move was,it might not even dawn on you!It's such a shame that we have to rely on FOREIGN airlines to get us home at reasonable prices!
Another example would be flights to Manchester:trying to buying a flight Mlt-Manch in 5weeks' time could cost 130euros on the monday and 370EUROS five days later!!! 3TIMES AS MUCH! Ridiculous! The national airline is cheating its own nation!!! Guess which airline we WON'T be using to come to Manchester? Airmalta - YOUR LOSS!
By the way,AM - fuel's cheaper! When will your prices decrease as much?

Johnny Tanti

Jan 14th 2009, 22:42

Mr Abela,
the issue is not whether Airmalta is/will offer the same destinations/prices, but whether this is a matter of robbing Peter to pay Paul.
there is no doubting that as Maltese willing to go abroad, the more destinations at low prices, the better for us.
Moreover, the more the better for potential tourists all over Europe who find better connections to our islands.
but the main issue is that these low fares are not as low as we think when one factors in the 'support' being paid by the government/tourism authority for each passenger carried.

Mario Farrugia

Jan 14th 2009, 21:05

@ Johnny Tanti
I agree fully with what you say, after almost forcing Aerlingus out of business by offering cheaper fares, they are trying to buy them over so Ryanair will have a monopoly in Ireland, the EU is stopping this move as it will create a monopoly....Remember that the long-term strategy of such companies is ONLY for more profit.....I am more afraid that the prices will sky-rocket up, like what happened to their Dublin-Malta fares after Airmalta pulled out in March 2007....nowadays at certian times during the year the "low-cost airline" charges fares that are much higher than what Airmalta used to charge!

liam kelly

Jan 14th 2009, 20:41

@ Johnny Tanti;

And its these same airlines which are keeping our tourism industry; along with thousands of jobs; alive.

The Edinburgh route is a master-stroke.

Ian Glazier

Jan 14th 2009, 20:34

Would have much preferred Preswick however beggars cannot be choosers.
Must congratulate Ryanair for their wise decision.
I pleeded with them a few weeks ago through this paper and have now been rewarded.
I am sure that all the Scots who travel to the Island will use this service regularly and encourage others to do so.
Unfortunately my next 3 visits are with AM from Manchester.
However I shall squeeze in a few extra with Ryanair.
I only hope the MTA appreciate what has been done and encourage them in every way to continue this much needed service both for the benefit of the Scots and the Maltese.
Thanks again Ryanair.
To AM "send them home again to think again".

James A. Tyrrell

Jan 14th 2009, 20:15

What about Belfast???

C Vassallo

Jan 14th 2009, 19:57

Airmalta's so called marketing strategists think again. Malta's tourism has just been given a much needed boost. Well done to all those involved.

A Abela

Jan 14th 2009, 19:57

Mr Tanti - when Air Malta starts offering Ryanair's prices, and flights to Edinburgh, we will use Air Malta!

Johnny Tanti

Jan 14th 2009, 19:13

maybe all people commenting here should understand that Ryanair and other airlines like them are not doing us Maltese any favours! they are coming here because taxpayers' money is being used to 'support' them.
the more we rely on ruthless people like Ryanair to increase our tourist numbers, the worse it is! should anything happen... they will not find it difficult to pull the plug and leave us hanging in mid-air...

m farrugia

Jan 14th 2009, 18:36

What a sigh of relief. At last there is an airline which believes in Malta's strong tourism potential, not like Airmalta, which still persists in not serving countries such as Spain, Portugal and Scotland, even before the introduction of LCC routes. At last Maltese families have a great choice, not having to join tours organised by travel agents to get a good deal on a holiday.

Come on MIA, lower your fees in line with airports of the same size. How can one compare MIA's fees to Heathrow's!!
MIA's fees are keeping back LCCs from opening more routes, since government subsidies are not infinite.

Mike O'Hara

Jan 14th 2009, 18:14

S Grech

When you say prison island, are you referring to Malta or UK? I know where I'd rather be incarcerated :-)

M Vassallo

Jan 14th 2009, 17:51

And now, Ryanair, please open the Malta Brussels route. Air Malta is biting us very hard indeed!

Sam Ramage

Jan 14th 2009, 17:22

@ s galea
No ryanair to Newcastle but easyjet does Newcastle twice a week.

Ivan Galea

Jan 14th 2009, 16:40

Please Ryanair open the Milano-Bergamo route....Air Malta at the moment has the monopoly on that route being the only airline flying direct to this city.....a ticket in Easter with Airmalta will be setting me back by more than EUR400!!!!! RYANAIR save us and take us to Milan at a cheaper rate!!

Anne Cassar

Jan 14th 2009, 14:28

Thanks to Ryan Air I can now visit my son who is studying in Edinburgh more often and with less hassels.

s.grech

Jan 14th 2009, 14:26

Just go straight to the point and open as many routes as possible to this open prison island

S Galea

Jan 14th 2009, 14:03

Are Ryanair still going to offer flights from Newcastle and Leeds?

Fabien Sant Fournier

Jan 14th 2009, 13:51

Grerat news about the new routes!

but the article states: 'One way flights will cost €25, including taxes.'

checked a few dates, all of which are €24.99 not including taxes. Rate including taxes is closer to €50!

M. Zarb

Jan 14th 2009, 13:47

THANK YOU RYANAIR. Flights already booked from Edinburgh and back for just £80!! Amazing!!!!

Liam Kelly

Jan 14th 2009, 13:40

What a fantastic move by Ryanair; Identified a gap in the market and went for it; as opposed to Air Malta; identifying where it can cut back all the time.

Air Malta will ultimately suffer for this; Edinburgh has a catchment area in the central belt of well over 2 million and therefore less and less will accept being held to ransom by Air Malta and forced to travel to london to get to Malta.

The reason that Air Malta's route to Glasgow was never full was because of the ridiculous prices they tried to charge; How can it cost well over 200 pounds per passanger to fly a plane to Glasgow, yet only cost 50 to London?

Let Ryanair teach you a lesson in marketing...again.

Renzo Cordina

Jan 14th 2009, 13:20

What about Glasgow!!

Paul Borg

Jan 14th 2009, 13:08

Ms Macken ob.o. Ryanair
What about Paris, Salzburg, Basel Karlsruhe-Baden, Milan, Linz and Ciampino??

Michael Mangion

Jan 14th 2009, 12:34

Well that definitely makes it easier to get back to Malta - what a relief it will be not having to transit through Frankfurt or Heathrow!

While I can understand the operational decisions that may have led Airmalta to close the Glasgow route (which was always full when I travelled on it), I can only applaud Ryanair for filling an obvious need!

Steve Evans

Jan 14th 2009, 12:13

See what your missing out on Air Malta? a popular route both ways.