BA decision confirms need for government to back Air Malta - PL

fredmallia

Jun 24th 2009, 20:59

another blow for our Tourism industry. within a few months the ba will stop coming to malta.... nigu ottu.....aktar milli qeghdin...

Mark Cotter

Jun 24th 2009, 20:45

As a regular visitor to Malta from the UK, I have only ever flown with British Airways on one occasion and that was at inflated prices. I have always found Air Malta cheaper, friendlier and much more pleasant. The fact that Air Malta has taken over the Gatwick-Malta service is to be applauded (I now don't have to use Heathrow) and the Maltese Government should ensure that Air Malta continues to receive any help necessary to ensure that the airline continues to serve the nation.

carmel zammit

Jun 24th 2009, 18:32

hamsa u tlettin sena u L GHASAFAR TAC COMB GHADHOM ITTIRU.ir revenue u l jobs li l air malta gabbet ma semmuhomx.ghax dik sarret fi zmien il labour which proved you wrong(like other things).u it turisti mhux gejjin imhabba l air malta?duru dawra mal gzejjer u tiehdu risposta.vera patrijotti intom kull ma hu barrani kollu tajjeb.

Galea. L

Jun 24th 2009, 18:28

Nigel Lawrence
Isn't it also illegal to subsidize private companies?

Gianninu Saliba
Progressive does not mean privatization. Many times privatization meant increased prices and profits for the private shareholders and when they are in trouble they ask the Government (read THE PUBLIC) to help them out.

Kieron O'connor
If you don't want to fly Air Malta then you are free to choose the cheap airlines, but then you will have to pay for a lot of things apart from more security. Can you really feel safe with cheapos when everyone knows how they milk their aircraft and crews to the last drop? Do they service their aircraft regularly as others such as Air Malta do?

M.Farrugia
If we can subsidize air companies we should subsidize our national airline and not cheap foreign airlines.

M.Farrugia

Jun 24th 2009, 16:04

At a time when tourism industry players are angry at Airmalta for its exorbitant prices for independent travellers, which are keeping away tourists from our islands, at a time when price competitiveness is more important - we have Ms Coleiro Preca trying to look good with Airmalta workers.

What is Ms Coleiro Preca trying to say here? Is she against the govt encouraging low cost carriers to operate to Malta at a time when Ryanair is negotiating a base with the govt and in favour of our taxes making good for the high prices charged by Airmalta which practically keep both foreigners and Maltese away from airmalta and our islands?

At least with Ryanair we subsidise from our taxes and get a good return in the form of dirty cheap prices and tourists visiting our island. With Airmalta all we get are charters for hords of Maltese to Lourdes and no tourists.

Is this the new fresh ideas coming out of the 'koallizzjoni gdida progressiva' or is the PL still burdened with outdated policies and people, such as Ms Preca, the main reason why it fails to be elected at every general election.

r micallef

Jun 24th 2009, 15:39

Air Malta 35 years and counting, no other airline is more commited to maltese people at home and abroad and if anything its the maltese people that hamper Air Malta profits by consistantly bad mouthing it and sucking up its assests to suit their own gains. LONG LIVE AIR MALTA, mintoff should be so proud

Kieron O'connor

Jun 24th 2009, 15:06

Perhaps Air (ripoff) Malta now so concerned for tourism in Malta, will drop there prices from the ridiculous highs to encourage more tourists to come to Malta in this recession.
Hotels and restaurants will continue to close down, and Maltese citizens will continue to lose jobs while the tourists are being kept away by greedily high flight costs.

Gianninu Saliba

Jun 24th 2009, 14:51

So Ms Coleiro Preca does not believe that that private enterprise can do a better job than a state owned company. Am I to understand that now that Labour has become progrssive party, for the first time ever they became anti privatization? Surely this progessive party does not have socialist trails in its ideology, identical to Mintoff's and KMP's Malta Labour Party. But then, I must be mistaken, this is a progressive party and only wants to look forward (its past scares it).
By the way, wasn't Labour supposed to compliment the Government whenever the right decision is taken? So what is your problem Ms Coleiro Preca?

g. scerri

Jun 24th 2009, 14:42

Hear! Hear! Privatisation in this country means that the profits are the owners, but the risks are the public's. How can anybody think of further privatisation when it is us who are keeping the major hotels and a good ratio of our industry going? Whoever boasts that private is better than government is simply implying that ministers are not capable enough to ensure results.

Nigel Lawrence

Jun 24th 2009, 14:25

BA decision confirms need for government to back Air Malta - PL---

In what way, may I ask?

If PL means financially, that could be tricky as it is illegal (EU regulations) for the government to pump money into AirMalta.

R Sammut

Jun 24th 2009, 14:23

The government should also listen to what Ryanair is asking - a base in Malta!!

This will increase the seat capacity to Malta, whilst also providing more destinations at competitive prices for the Maltese traveller.