GBC again makes case for airstrip in Gozo

lesley kreupl

Feb 19th 2010, 19:26

@Jesmond Micallef It is a spectacular island for walking – I have only just started to appreciate how great, especially from November onwards when the island is green and full of flowers already. For example, the narcissus have been flowering somewhere on the island since early November, and there are still some late bloomers. Gozo might not have mountains, but the view from the top of most of the hills is superb and I know most Continental Europeans would love to come walking here, in particular to get away from the winter grey in their own countries. Maybe the tourist and GBC guys toether with the ministry staff should get off their butts and see what this island really has to offer before they try to ruin it further! I would be glad to organize a tour for them!

Peadar Farrell

Feb 19th 2010, 19:21

I spend many weeks each year on Gozo. I bring large groups of divers with me from time to time. Why: Its quiet and peaceful, its warm and the waters are clean and well stocked. I also visit the Aran Island (Ireland) and places like El Hierro in the Canaries, also quiet lovely places but they all do have an Airport for smaller light planes. Even a medium sized airport must have a Terminal, re fuelling, Radar, Some Maintaince, Baggage handling, storage, customs, plane parking, fire services and most of all lots of car parking plus a big security fence. Please God we never get all these things on Gozo, a small strip for light planes but nothing more is practical. Gozo is on the flight path into and out from Luqa so I am pretty sure people there would not be happy with planes taking off from Gozo.

Joe Azzopardi

Feb 19th 2010, 19:13

An airstrip in Gozo would contribute to the growth of tourism and economic prosperity, the Gozo Business Chamber said in a statement. Right about the most stupid statment to date this year. Any further destraction of the Gozo countryside will only ruin the Island. Gozo Channel manages to give us a very good service most days.

Jesmond Micallef

Feb 19th 2010, 18:59

lesley kreupl, Bulls Eye !! Well said. Many German people go to the Austrian Tirol region, for example. They visit places of natural interest, Alm cheese cottages for example. They simply enjoy the environment but also the local produce !!. Clean fresh air, spetacular views of hillsides and mountains. On Gozo there are no mountains or hillsides of this sort, but certainly there is the Mediterrean biosphere, archeology, geology, endemic flora and fauna, folklore and tradition, quaint villages and towns, local produce and dishes, fresh fish and history dating back to much before the Egytian Pyramids. !!! And the GBC wants to spoil all this with an airstrip for these noisy machines. !!! There is no place for an airstrip on Gozo. I would also take it further and limit vehicular traffic there too.

Michael Spiteri

Feb 19th 2010, 18:58

And who will benefit most from an airstrip in Gozo? Surely not the common Gozitan or the ever diminishing countryside but a couple of tycoons from another part of this planet.

Charles J. Buttigieg

Feb 19th 2010, 18:51

@ Salvu Felice Pace Guernsey is a self governing British Colony and can’t survive without an international airport. 33% of its income comes from financial services and although its population is only 66,000 it sees more incoming traffic than Malta and Gozo together. The bulk of Guernsey’s visitors come direct from Britain or through Britain. A boat journey from Dover to the Island takes much longer than Cirkewwa ta Mgarr, the fare is expensive and the sea is rough. All that justifies an air service and a profitable one at that. Gozo’s situation is entirely different. No comparison at all.

lesley kreupl

Feb 19th 2010, 17:29

If the GBC, tourist association and the Ministry for Gozo are serious about improving Gozo, then the last thing that the island needs are small aircraft buzzing around. One might notice the large airliners that fly over Gozo from time to time as a low noise, however, the small aircraft which buzz around in circles are very irritating indeed. The seaplane swooping and snooping around several times a day is enough to drive one crazy! The only way to get more tourists to come to Gozo is to focus on its natural resources. Has the Minister for Gozo or any members of the tourist association ever walked around the island? Have they ever explored any of the archaeological sites, especially those which have not been commercialized? Obviously not! Are they aware that there are thousands and thousands of people living in the EU who just love to go walking, and pay of lot of money to do so? A combined walking and archaeological tour could put this island on the map. Good marketing and well organized and maintained routes are all that is necessary not billion dollar bridges or tunnels or an airstrip which would probably scare most people away!

Charles J. Buttigieg

Feb 19th 2010, 14:34

Gozo is one niche in a destination and its strength is in being a small island; when we make plans to change the Island’s DNA to attract numbers the whole concept becomes an unsustainable hybrid. The Japanese and the American tourists do not cross the world to visit the Vatican, very few do, but they desire Italy because of the added value which is included by the Vatican City. Likewise is the appeal which offers Gozo. You can’t have one without the other.
Air Malta made more than one survey and feasibility studies and they always clearly revealed that an aerial operation to Gozo can’t be financially viable unless the number of tourists to Gozo multiply to a phenomenal figure, and that was not seen possible. This applies to a helicopter operation as well as to fixed wings.

A number of international operators had shown an interest in the service but in the end they all concluded that an air-link between the two islands would be a financial disaster.

Joseph V. Grech

Feb 19th 2010, 14:32

It cannot be left up to the Gozitans (let alone the Gozo Business Chameber) to decide if a fixed wing airstrip in Gozo is required - the administration should be careful not to construct an unsustainable white elephant.
'That the G.B.C. should advocate such an air link is to be expected. But what do they exactly mean by “This will translate Gozo’s dream of being sold as a distinct destination into a reality”? Do they want tourists to land in Gozo for a holiday? Rather far fetched!
If an air service between Malta and Gozo is implemented the members of the G.B.C. will probably be entiltled to use it for free or at a reduced rate as presumably happens today with the sea link. This may partly explain their enthusiasm.
Their declaring that ''Gozo, much more than Malta, suffers from erratic cycles of high traffic between the islands in the summer months and long weekends and very low traffic in the shoulder and lean months which create an economic vacuum in between.'' is highly disputable.
The GBC should work to address these problems and not simply put the blame for their economic troubles on the lack of an air link.

Salvu Felice Pace

Feb 19th 2010, 14:28

Again the Gozo airstrip! Every small island I know of has one. Guernsey, a very eco-friendly island boasts as international airport.
The place where the airstrip is being proposed is now surrounded with rusty old water and oil tankers and other rubbish. Do we prefer that?
I believe that an airstrip is a must for Gozo and the business community in Gozo should be prepared to put its money where its mouth is and offer to enter into a private/public partnership with the govt. There are small planes that can be used as expert people tell us.
Let's not forget what caused the Spaniards to abondon the helicopter service. A major reasons was that the luggage leaving Gozo for international flights had to be re-checked at Luqa airport hence the people using the helicopter had to queue up again. The MIA must be ready to concede on this point.
And then there's political consensus. When a Labour MP before the last election whispered his pro-stance, he was shut up by the PL. But I'm sure that a political consensus can be reached considering that an airstrip in Gozo will mean instant jobs for Gozitans. And Gozo needs jobs.

Karl Sultana

Feb 19th 2010, 14:15

I dont know whether GBC members live in gozo or not? In gozo there is not enough market to build a disco where youths can enjoy themselves, there is a market for an airstrip? Airstrip for whom? For the owners of the remaining less than 10 Medium firms in Gozo? For whom for more than half of the gozitans that live in Malta 5/7 a week?
I think gozo need a people who have vision for island and focus on the long run solutions. In my opinion the only solution for gozo is to build a TUNNEL that you will be connected to Malta in less than 5 minutes. that is the only way to survive Gozo from being an island for pensioners + for people that only live by social services.
On maltarightnow.com this week was an article showing the group of facebook of gozitan youths in favour of the tunnel, hope that this discussion will hold and not taken for granted.
GOZITANS speak up for your rights...

James A. Tyrrell

Feb 19th 2010, 13:41

So there you have it folks, the Gozo Business Chamber have spoken. When are these people going to stop speaking on my behalf? I'm a tourist and I can assure you I can speak quite well for myself. I come to Gozo every year because of the peace and quiet the island offers. The last thing I want is planes taking off and landing all bloody day. What sort of holiday would that be? Given the size of the island this would be like taking a holiday on the edge of an airstrip.

Don't let these people fool you into thinking they are proposing this in the name of the Gozitan people or in the name of tourism because they are not. They want an airstrip on Gozo for purely financial reasons; their own finances not yours. Many of them will have their own private little toys, which they want, to land on Gozo and of course there is all the money to be made from such a venture. The fact that it will end up ruining Gozo as a tourist destination doesn't concern them!

lgalea

Feb 19th 2010, 13:30

Roy S. Perry STOP TRYING TO RUIN GOZO'S ENVIRONMENT ROY PERRY. IF YOU WANT A LANDING STRIP THEN GO BACK TO YOUR OWN COUNTRY AND MAKE IT THERE IF THEY LET YOU.

Luke Bowerman I am sure that there are thousands who do not agree because it will destroy archeological and cultural heritage. This is besides the fact that someone earlier on had accidentaly spilled the beans when he wrote that it could be used by FOREIGN MILITARY PILOTS for training. The real reason is that foreign powers want it because they want to be able to use another airport for their military aircraft apart from the Malta Airport. Those writing in favour of an airstrip are simply stooges being pushed to appear in favour of the airport so that once it is extended it will be used by foreign military aircraft. Do the Gozitans want this DANGER of foreign military aircraft landing and taking off from Gozo apart from the noise and pollution and apart from the danger of being a military target?

J. Borg

Feb 19th 2010, 12:50

with such wise business promoters gifted with such foresight........
who needs a recession???

Philip Sultana

Feb 19th 2010, 12:37

I would have thought that before worrying about international tourism, Gozo should take care of its domestic markets. It seems to me that some businesses and a significant proportion of the population are actively demarketing the island.

Roy S. Perry

Feb 19th 2010, 12:26

I would draw your attention to the Gozo and Comino Local Plan, published by MEPA in August 2006. Section 6.6 devotes itself to an extended site by the Heliport for 'Aviation Use' .

I really wonder why we are still waiting. There have been a number of proposals, meetings and presentations. An on-line poll of 888 persons has shown 62% either in favour or see it possible.

The construction of a strip on land already owned by the Government will only bring benefits to all. The major point here is that

NO EXTRA BUILDINGS will be needed.

Paul Barrett

Feb 19th 2010, 12:19

You have to decide what sort of Gozo you want and indeed what do the real Gozotons(?) want.
If they wish to remain an isolated destination with minimum but sustainable trade and a reasonably quiet way of life then the answer is to leave things as they are. The drawbacks however are less trade, more expenses with less money and a harder existence.
If they wish to become a major player in the Maltese economy then they must go all out for a bridge as well as a tiny airstrip and do away with the expensive and unreliable ferry service.
Someone earlier in these comments suggested 50M for a tunnel - I believe that that is an extremely optimistic sum and it would cost far far more than that for a tunnel.
What we do not need is a new Parliament building nor a roofless opera house and indeed nor a bridge to no-where - that should release some 85M which would go a long way to building a bridge.

Luke Bowerman

Feb 19th 2010, 12:09

I cannot under stand why all this negativity towards the extension of the runway in Gozo.

The runway is already there it just needs couple of hundred meters of extension. This will bring new business to the island and promote more investments. We do not need Boeing or Airbus airplanes landing there directly as that would mean a very big runway which is not practical. What we need is a twin piston aircraft hopping from one island to another, i know this is already being done by the sea plane but why not open your options and land directly in the center of GOZO? I say go ahead and extend the runway I am sure that there are thousands that will agree. This has been an on going issue for years what are we waiting for? A referendum??

Paul Xuereb

Feb 19th 2010, 11:32

Seriously can you imagine a flight 'Heathrow-Gozo' ?

Its not an airstrip that will bring business to gozo but the value and differentiating factor of the product offered.

In my opinion the GBC is looking short term, imagining the successful bid of its members to develop an airstrip out of a lucrative government tender, in true Cosa Nostra fashion - with blessings of the Queen of Gozo.

John Azzopardi

Feb 19th 2010, 11:25

Gozo needs the airstrip as an alternative form of transportation in this day and age. For or against doesn't cut it in this case. The need for some form of a viable airlink is necessary and a must to bring Gozo back up to date with Europe. The past few years has seen Gozo going back in time. I as a Gozitan want to see Gozo in equal standing with Malta and not below it's economic level as we are seeing now. In the past Gozo had moved along somehow, with factories, etc. Today, gozo is just being turned into a far flung place for one day tourist and maltese visits and not much more.

M Micallef

Feb 19th 2010, 11:13

the proposal for Gozo is an "airstrip" which is not a runway as some people are imagining. Small piston engine aircraft and special Short TakeOff and Landing (STOL) will be only be able to use the small strip. It will also be too narrow for airliners. The advantage of these small planes apart from being 3 times more cost effective per seat than a helicopter, makes far less noise and can provide more flexibility and revenue to Gozo. Even most executive jets will have a hard time taking off from the proposed strip, especially in the summer heat. Keep in mind that people from planes need lodging, food and amenities unlike yachts.
Those who are concerned about the environment please ask people in the know before reaching a conclusion.

regards,

A.Rapa

Feb 19th 2010, 11:12

Keep up the good work GBC. I cannot understand why any Gozotian should oppose to an airstrip which would mean job creation (For Malta & Gozo citizens), an increase in tourism, business and economy in the island and a much needed better link to the sister island. I'd be the first one to contribute to Gozo's growth in economy should there one day be this airstrip in place.

a attard

Feb 19th 2010, 11:11

What kind of tourism is the GBC expecting? Gozo is already losing the very ingredients Can make it worth visiting. When one see the horrendous ugly cluttered buildings in Xlendi and around the once pretty rock formations in Marsalforn. Its shocking to see the urban spread in Gozo. Driving from Mgarr through Ghajnsilem to Xewkija through Rabat through Fontana to Xlendi is nearly a continuous drive through one built up area. What is Gozo going to cater for to attract tourists? build a couple of skyscrapers? more shopping malls? try to squeeze a few Casino's. The only feature that is totally on its side as a magnet that its quickly losing its force is Gods own created natural features and landscape. If one drives around cannot help notices that there could be so much to be done to enhance the very features that can make Gozo more attractive despite of the continuous man made assaults on its natural beauty. Some people think that by laying TONNES of tarmac and building lots of 3 – 4 stories apartments where ever they can be squeezed in - one would be losing out on prosperity!.....and is the bumpy Xlendi road done yet?

Jesmond Micallef

Feb 19th 2010, 11:10

An airstrip on Gozo !!, why not another on Comino, to act as either a diversion or alternate airport should emergencies occurr, whatever they maybe. Consider flight altitude here, glide distance, maybe even Malta's equivalent to ETOPS.......

Why not ask people who decide these issues when it comes to "small" islands states like Jersey, the Isle of Mann, the Cayman Islands, the Bermuda Islands, Switzerland, Monte Carlo, San Remo, Lichtenstein, Andorra, and other "island" states !!!

Bermuda is also group of islands, cars there are linited to one per family household, here have a look :

http://www.bermuda-online.org/wheels.htm

d.attard

Feb 19th 2010, 11:09

So, failure to position Gozo in the market-place to her strengths is now leading to a illusionary panacea that will actually weaken said strengths.

A successful business must balance between investment (entry cost) and potential revenue.

Re Hotels, Gozo is a short-term destination and no matter how many airstrips one builds, seasonality issues and product will not work for a business that has to carry the burden of high entry costs.

Long stays can and will work through accommodation arrangements that carry some kind of unique selling point like a fantastic location/low cost.

But this in itself is not enough and must be complimented by an energetic cultural scene all year round.

Last time on Gozo I visited an exhibition in accordance with stated opening times. i was told i could only gain access in an hour's time due to mid-day break. This is a small matter that reflects on a much larger issue.

re transport, these guys must work on morning flights into gudja and make the crossing an exciting part of the marketing mix. The kind of visitor Gozo attracts will simply relish the experience be it summer or winter.

Greek islands-with-airstrips close between November and March.

P. Schembri

Feb 19th 2010, 10:56

All this hullabaloo reminds me of Neil Diamond's song "Money Talks".

Charles Micallef

Feb 19th 2010, 10:41

I am 'green at heart' but with a balanced view of things and I do think that all those are making a case against a small strip in Gozo are doing it for their alterior motives and nothing to do with ecology!!!!! They should have complained more about the noise coming from the dinosours of the Mil Helicopters than a small modern day turbo prop aircraft..!

Albert Farrugia

Feb 19th 2010, 10:23

Such a fuss about what, in effect, is simply a wide road! The ideal solution is there for all to see: simply widen and straighten an existing road. When a plane is about to land, close the road for a few minutes, just like what is done abroad at railway crossings. And in Gibraltar, the runway actually crosses a road, which is closed when an aircraft lands. Moreover, I think many people are basing their opposition because they are thinking of large jet airliners. In reality, what we are talking about here are small turbo-prop aircraft, used in mainland Europe for city-hopping.

E Formosa

Feb 19th 2010, 10:22

Further to what Mark Borg said, this is the link to the group of over 3800 people who are in favour of a tunnel/bridge between the islands:

http://www.facebook.com/#!/group.php?gid=291369156738&ref=ts

Mark Borg

Feb 19th 2010, 10:13

Why not consider the tunnel idea going on. An airstrip will cost more, is more of a hassle, tickets are more expensive and unpractical. A tunnel could cost about 50 million euros and is much more practical. Then they can take advantage on Malta's airport and all the rest of what Malta has to offer them university hospital etc. It is high time we join our 2 islands.

lgalea

Feb 19th 2010, 10:07

THE GOZO BUSINESS CHAMBER IS LIKE A PERSON BLIND WHO IS ONLY BLIND BECAUSE HE DOES NOT WANT TO SEE.
STOP TRYING TO DESTROY THE GOZITAN ENVIRONMENT AND ARCHEOLOGICAL CULTURAL HERITAGE.
THE ONLY WAY TO GET BUSINESS IS TO STOP SKINNING EVERYONE WHO IS NOT GOZITAN ALIVE, A PRICE FOR GOZITANS, A PRICE FOR THE MALTESE VISITORS AND A PRICE FOR TOURISTS.
GBC CAN YOU TELL US WHO IS REALLY BEHIND YOUR STANCE?

Karl Abela

Feb 19th 2010, 10:03

Once there was the idea of enlarging an existing main road and double it up as an airstrip. I think this is the best solution to preserve the landscape and keep the costs down. One does not anticipate more than 5 passenger plane landings a day so disturbing traffic is minimal. One can use a set of traffic lights and barriers similar to rail road intersections to stop the traffic until the plane lands which should be roughly about 5 minutes. Obviously, one still has to build a small terminal along this main road to welcome passengers and park and service aircraft, but at least we can do without a huge airstrip running through the middle of Gozo.

Mark Galea

Feb 19th 2010, 10:00

Well, dear GBC.
Seems you are, as usual, a mouthpiece for a particular businessman to increase the value of the property shown in the picture. Here in Gozo, the GBC is seen in a very bad light since it is a way a few Gozo businessmen try to take advantage - for example, remember when one of the members told the prime minister of that time to stop employing people with government because they were losing paying low wages?

laurence schembri

Feb 19th 2010, 09:57

Is the Airport part of Eco-Gozo? Answer from the Minister please.