James A. Tyrrell, County Antrim, N. Ireland
What really brings tourists to Gozo
Once again, the supporters of an airstrip on the island of Gozo are screaming at the government to back such a project. People like Rod Abela, secretary of the Aero Club Malta, for example. Once again, according to Mr Abela, the entire future of Gozo lies in the further destruction of land in order to build an airstrip. An airstrip, I remind you, that several international operators have already been consulted on and reached the conclusion that establishing such a link would be financial suicide.
From the point of view of tourism, an airstrip is a non-starter for several reasons.
First of all, such a development would have to be sustainable and studies have already concluded that a fixed wing air link between the two islands would not be financially viable unless tourism levels on Gozo reached impossible levels.
That means that the development of an air link would make a lot of money for certain developers, it would operate on a shoestring, probably being heavily subsidised by the government or, in other words, the Maltese public, and it would then close down due to losing money like water through a sieve.
Other operators would probably try their hand in a similar way to the helicopter link until they too quickly realise that it was a bottomless hole and pull out.
Gozo would then be left with another ugly scar on its already badly scarred land, which, no doubt, Mr Abela and his chums at Aero Club Malta would continue to use as their own private little airport, which, I suspect, is the real reason for their enthusiasm in this project.
More importantly, from the tourism point of view, is the fact that the very tourists in whose name this development is being proposed come to the island of Gozo for the peace and tranquillity it offers.
The same reason many Maltese families come at weekends and holidays. By building an airstrip, the peace and tranquillity would be destroyed and the tourists would dry up, which, again, would have a knock-on effect with regard to the timeframe such a link would operate within before closure.
The government must realise that Gozo attracts tourists because of its unique characteristics. People travel there to soak up its history, its beautiful environment, which is continually under attack from developers and the total peace and quiet it offers.
A fire needs three things in order to burn: it needs fuel, oxygen and heat.
Take away any one of these and the fire will go out. The government must honour its pledge with regard to an eco-Gozo concept and retain the unique balance of characteristics the island offers. If they begin to play the developers' game with regard to an airstrip, they will be tampering with the very ingredients which keep the fire of tourism burning.
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Charles J. Buttigieg
Feb 21st 2010, 09:08
@ Rod Abela. Part Two.
After joining the EU we were precluded from using Eastern Helicopters and had to source for alternatives. Acceptable equipment like the Super Puma and Sikorsky would have multiplied our leasing cost fivefold and the cheapest fixed wing aircraft three fold even though that would have created insurmountable problems not to mention the general restructuring of the heliport and the runway.
Light aircraft are built to cater for domestic travel and do not allow any space for luggage. The genre of the Gozo passengers is international with its attendant problem of carrying at least one piece of luggage each.
Environmental prohibitions apart, the fare to make an operation merely break even would have cost more than the international element of the air fare. Government subsidy would have meant more money dished out for each passenger carried than the return expected on each tourist.
Whether we like it or not, the passenger traffic is too small for an aerial operation.
Charles J. Buttigieg
Feb 21st 2010, 09:07
@ Rod Abela. Part One.
Perhaps against my better judgement.
Prior to 1996 MAC was losing circa LM 200,000 per year using the cheapest helicopters provided by the most advantageous leasing agreement with a Russian Operator. A new management team led by me, reviewed the whole set up, changed the operator and equipment for a heftier lease cost, we introduced the through check in facilities at the heliport, and we increased the advertising budget. While still using Eastern European Equipment, but newer,gave us a saving of 66% on our lease price than opting for Western Equipment. The new appeal gave us the results we hoped for, an increase in passenger traffic and managed a level loss of under LM 100,000 per annum.
James A. Tyrrell
Feb 20th 2010, 23:23
@Rod Abela. Rod you are obviously an expert in your field so perhaps you would be kind enough to explain to the rest of us mere mortals what benefit an airstrip on Gozo would be to the ordinary Gozitan citizen? Don't bother commenting on the tourism sector as I'm more qualified to discuss that, and I wouldn't touch a fixed wing transfer to Gozo if I was paid rather than paying. I don't even use the seaplane, as I don't agree with the noise pollution it creates. I asked the same question of George Cremona but he obviously couldn't answer.
By the way are you aware that Joseph Muscat PL leader managed to negotiate a promise of funds from the EU to subsidise the helicopter? It's also interesting to not Rod that this sure fire fixed wing air strip idea seems to be losing favour in your mind. You now refer to it as an option, which 'could' be viable, and an investment opportunity that 'should' bring benefits to all stakeholders. I agree it's best to put a bit of distance there in case it comes back to bite you.
Rod Abela
Feb 20th 2010, 20:29
@CharlesJButtigieg
I do not claim to be an expert in aviation matters but I do have some common sense. Charles the fact that the MAC and Helisureste helicopter services collapsed proved only one point - that a Gozo-Malta link using expensive to run helicopters is not viable nothing more. Any one with a pinch of salt in the head could easily anticipate that the Helisureste was doomed to fail in the same way MAC failed. Only the politicians with their heads buried in quick sand believed otherwise! The fact that your MAC and Helisureste failed should not be used an excuse to block other options which could be viable.
This is not a question of 'luck' as you put it but it is an investment opportunity that should bring benefits to all stakeholders. The real reason why foreigners are not interested to invest is, not because they do not believe that they can create and sustain a niche market, but because the excessive red-tape and bureaucracy that stiffle our aviation and transport sectors. They go to invest in places where they get support and encouragement unlike what happens here. Ask the promoters of Efly - they know something about it!
Charles J. Buttigieg
Feb 20th 2010, 19:16
@ Rod Abela
There’s no point arguing the matter with you. With your perceived brain power and expertise you should have no difficulties to influence one operator to ignore previous advice and take yours as sacrosanct. You may get lucky and find other adventurers like ‘Helisureste’,the last operators of the defunct helicopter service. They have fixed wings too.
Rod Abela
Feb 20th 2010, 17:58
...a new fancy name with the same old faces! U ejja give us a fresh start please!
As far Airmalta is concerned, what aviation related credentials do people like Lawrence Zammit and Sonny Portelli have? The fact that they have been successful in other business sectors does not automatically mean that they can be effective Chairpersons of Airmalta - and the results are there for all to see - a veritable mess! And what about the rest of the board? I suspect that they are people appointed there not for their expertise in commercial or civil aviation but probably for other reasons. And this suspicion has been fortified by a former board member who confided that he could never understand what the term 'load factor' stood for and that he could not really spot the difference between a 737 and an A320!
So much so for 'experts' and 'experience'!!
he fact that there were failures in the past should never be used as an excuse to preclude other entrapreneurs with vision and innovation to launch themselves into a fresh approach. So people tried and failed - so they should stay on the fence and let others try again!
Rod Abela
Feb 20th 2010, 17:44
@James Tyrrell
Once you have dragged in the fray, I am pleased to inform you that I sent the editor a reply to your letter where I rebutted your allegations against me and my fellow club members.
@George Cremona
George do not be disheartened by people like James and do not take the suggestion of Charles Buttigieg to ask "Director of Civil Aviation, Transport Ministry, and the Chairman & Directors of Airmalta" - believe me they do not have a clue on what the subject matter is! As for the Department of Civil Aviation, I tell you - do you really believe that a bunch of expired air traffic controllers and weathermen have the necessary experience to decide on the matter? You must be joking! If it were up to them they would be prepared to shut down the airport, ground all aircraft, and close our airspace so that they can sleep soundly all their nights to retirement! For them an airstrip on Gozo is santa maria another added burden of responsibility and beaurocracy! We really had high hopes when the energetic minister Gatt announced the super Transport Authority but it quickly fizzled out and all we got ...
James A. Tyrrell
Feb 20th 2010, 14:09
@George Cremona. I didn't refer anything to Mr. Charles J. Buttigieg. The gentleman in question decided to answer you himself. Given his quite obvious expertise in the field in question I would have to say that I would take his word over yours any day. Tell you what George, why don't you use your 'expertise' to tell us all how an airstrip on Gozo would be a benefit? Oh and don't forget to tell us exactly who would benefit.
Alfred Grech
Feb 20th 2010, 00:45
The way I see is, how many people can a small aircraft carry? 20, 30, 40??? Is that going to help? Perhaps an extra ferry and, as James pointed out below, a better shuttle service between MIA and Cirkewwa would definitely help a lot.
How about a ferry service from other places like Bugibba? That might invite more locals and tourists to visit our beautiful sister island.
George Cremona
Feb 19th 2010, 21:52
It seems that Mr. Tyrell was unable to shoulder the task I had given him. So he referred it to Mr. Charles J. Buttigieg who, like Mr. Tyrell, sought to avoid the hassle and shot the ball into the courts of "the Gozo Ministry, the Ministry of Transport, The Director Genral of Civil Aviation, the ex Chairman of Malta Air Charter and the Chairman and Directors of Air Malta PLC."
It is evident that both of them cannot prove convincingly what they had written. Both have failed to make me wiser on the matter.
I keep on waiting until someone is more convincing than both of them.
Charles J. Buttigieg
Feb 19th 2010, 18:12
@ George Cremona Since you don’t seem to take my word for it I suggest you ask the Gozo Ministry, the Ministry of Transport, The Director Genral of Civil Aviation, the ex Chairman of Malta Air Charter and the Chairman and Directors of Air Malta PLC.
carmen
Feb 19th 2010, 17:48
@ George Cremona I think that Mr Tyrrell is on the right track .I am waiting for your answer to see who is wright so I can have both opinions
James A. Tyrrell
Feb 19th 2010, 15:27
Part 2
These words George are from someone with 40 years experience in Aviation, Marketing, Tourism and the Airline Business as a whole and he concludes by stating that a Gozo airstrip is a silly notion and that we should concentrate on a good shuttle service between MIA and Cirkewwa. George I love the island of Gozo a lot and if I thought for one minute that an airstrip would benefit the island or the Gozitan people I would back it 100%. However I don’t feel that is the case.
The proposals being put forward George to build an airstrip on Gozo are not being suggested with the best interests of the Gozitan people in mind. The very peace and tranquillity, which the island presently enjoys and which makes it such a haven for tourists, would be destroyed. Remember we are not talking about one airstrip here but at least two, as wind directions tend to change. Also we are not talking about a few daily transfer flights from Malta airport, but about countless private aircraft also taking off and landing all day and possibly night as well. There is no such thing as an Eco-Gozo airstrip!
James A. Tyrrell
Feb 19th 2010, 15:27
Part 1
@George Cremona. Hi George. When I made reference to the fact that several international operators having been consulted on the viability of an airstrip on Gozo and stating that it would be financial suicide I was quoting from a comment by someone else. The person who made the statement was Charles J. Buttigieg who in case you don’t know was Manager Special Projects at Air Malta and also spent time as General Manager Malta Air Charter. I would therefore assume that the gentleman knows what he is talking about.
I’m sure Mr. Buttigieg will not mind me quoting precisely what he said; “we made more than one survey and feasibility study and they always showed clearly that an aerial operation to Gozo can’t be financially viable unless the number of tourists to Gozo multiply to such a phenomenal number which could not be seen possible. This applies to a helicopter operation as well as to fixed wings. I was also consulted by a number of international operators that had shown an interest in the service and they all concluded that an air-link between the two islands would be a financial suicide.”
John Azzopardi
Feb 19th 2010, 11:56
Katherine cook, you hit it on the nail. There is a big need for proper transport from the airport to the Gozo ferry and then some. I am young and it's a big hassle for me to travel to Gozo from the airport. I can imagine if older people had to make the trip. Although there is a bus service (not even sure where it is becuase there are no signs at all and there is no one to ask) travels to gozo from the airport are doomed. Once you reach Gozo, there are times when no taxis are available.
George Cremona
Feb 19th 2010, 11:20
I wish to point out that I am neither in favour nor against the airstrip. I am a Gozitan who wishes the best for his native land and its citezens first and foremost. I mean the 'real' best which I am still searching for in this case. So permit me to ask Mr. James A. Tyrell:
Who are the "several international operators" that "have already been consulted on"? By whom they had been consulted? Could Mr. Tyrell enlighten us about their (sevral international operators) "conclusion" which had established that "such a link would be financial suicide."?
I would very much appreciate if Mr. Tyrell could also give us an account of the "studies" which according to him "have already concluded that a fixed wing air link between the two islands would not be financially viable unless tourism levels on Gozo reached impossible levels."
Katherine Cooke
Feb 19th 2010, 10:31
In my opinion I think Gozo needs a more frequent running bus service.