MIA is a private monopolist company, Ryanair claims
Ryanair yesterday accused Malta International Airport of holding the country's tourism industry to ransom, being only interested in lining the pockets of its shareholders by imposing high charges.
The low-cost airline said the airport was misleading the public by claiming its airport charges were within the EU's average. It said MIA's cost per passenger was more than three times its average.
An airline spokesman said that if MIA, which he called a private monopolist company, was genuinely interested in the economy it would cut airport charges by offering a discount scheme to all airlines. This would stimulate passenger traffic, which would directly impact the tourism and leisure industries while also improving the business prospects for the country.
MIA was asked for a reaction on Ryanair's comments but no response was forthcoming by the time of writing.
The comments come as Malta, like other tourist destinations, is struggling with the effects the global financial crisis is having on tourism.
In fact, figures released by the National Statistics Office show that tourist arrivals dropped by a further three per cent in April compared to the same period last year. Almost 101,600 tourists arrived in April, three per cent fewer than in 2008 but the same as in April 2007.
Spending declined in the period under review by 10.7 per cent to €187.7 million when compared to 2008.
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lgalea
May 30th 2009, 09:31
Louis Gatt
That's what happens all the time with privatization.
Prices go up, service comes down, profits go to private pockets instead of public coffer and more taxes to be paid by the people to make up for the loss of the previous revenue.
Mario Bonnici
May 30th 2009, 09:06
As if we need more tourists! We're ok like this. All hotels are full....if you go to St. Julians or Bugibba in the evening all restaurants are full as well. We don’t need Ryanair on this island. And we all know that tourism isn't the islands main income.
Louis Gatt
May 30th 2009, 07:33
No matter how many arguments MIA supporters may bring about, the fact is that MIA charges are very high resulting in higher charges to th passengers. Passengers expect a clean and efficient which serves as an interface between home and boarding a plane. The quicker, safer and cheaper the better. No one or let's say very few people go to the airport just for the sake of going there! The focus should be about efficiency not panache and other unnecessary expenses. Yes once again, we are paying through the nose for a basic service. Like missing the trees for the forest. I think Ryanair is right in saying MIA charges are too high and the Management and Directors should really think about it. The cost effectiveness should be focused towards the traveler and not to other insignificant 'embellishments'.
Gerry Cowie
May 29th 2009, 20:28
I take it that Ryanair are completely without fault on the issue of imposing charges etc?
DVella
May 29th 2009, 14:23
Ryanair haven't the faintest idea of what they are talking about ! ! ! Any shareholder will confirm that MIA are doing anything BUT lining shareholders' pockets with the poor share prices and the persistently disappointing dividends ! ! !
S Briffa
May 29th 2009, 13:54
Ryanair reminds me so much of some politicians: adept at getting free publicity and master of doublespeak.
"Malta International Airport...only interested in lining the pockets of its shareholders by imposing high charges." Presumably this is not Ryanair's only interest then?
"...the airport was misleading the public by claiming its airport charges were within the EU's average. ...MIA's cost per passenger was more than three times its average." So Ryanair is comparing the average of main airports (as is MIA) with "its average". Problem is that most of the airports making up Ryaniar's average are nowhere near either being main or central. Like with like comparison anyone?
"Malta International Airport ... holding the country's tourism industry to ransom". How is this different from Ryanair's abrupt decision to pull the plug on its Valencia base because it didn't get what it wanted from the local government?
You have to admire Ryaniar for running a ruthlessly profitable business, but perhaps they could give us consumers a little less 'I so love you consumers' bull in the process. For the record, I have no interest, whether financial or otherwise, in MIA.
Joseph V. Grech
May 29th 2009, 13:32
Surely this article merits a reply from the government. May I suggest that the Parliamentary Secretary for Tourism - or somebody directly involved in the operation of MIA do something. If what RyanAir claims is true the situation is not that conducive to a recovery in Tourism.
r ferriggi
May 29th 2009, 11:31
we always knew this fact Mr Ryanair.
we have always paid a fortune to leave this island anyway....
Roger Doyle
May 29th 2009, 10:50
Here we go again. Ryanair wants to portray itself as the saviour of all our economic problems. In reality, what Ryanair wants is more freebies. They claim high charges by airports are prohibitive. So they introduce web check in to eliminate handling charges. That's good if the saving is passed on to the passengers. But everybody knows that Ryanair is now charging for web check in. So in reality what they are doing is making more money for themselves. It will be suicidal for our economy if MIA or the government is to give in for Ryanair's demands. Let us not sell our soul to this cheap and ruthless airline.