Neil Rough, Douglas, Isle of Man
A glowing tribute to Air Malta
I have holidayed every year in Malta, bar one, since September 1979, and apart from two years have always flown with Air Malta, for many years more than once a year. So I think I am well equipped to comment on Air Malta.
I have just returned from Malta and was interested to read of the criticism about flight prices etc. on the web yesterday in the many letters regarding Ryanair.
Firstly, I have no financial or employee connection with Air Malta. I am merely a longstanding and loyal tourist to Malta but I am a Flypass member due to my frequent flying.
I live on the Isle of Man and, therefore, need to fly from here to the UK and then on to Malta and rarely do I now pay more than £125 for my return flight and this is not because I am a Flypass member.
I do not have to pay for meals, which for the most part are more than adequate, and I even get a free newspaper. I do not pay credit card charges, I do not pay for hold baggage or have weight or specific airline size restrictions on cabin luggage. I do not have to pay to go to the toilet, soft drinks are free on all scheduled flights and the cost of alcoholic drinks is very reasonable. I do not have to pay extra to choose my seat online. I can download my boarding card online or via mobile. Air Malta also advise either by web or mobile of the impending flight or indeed beforehand if there are any delays and confirm by mobile or the web at a time agreed by me of the departing flight. The web booking system is easy to understand as are the timetables, days of flights and prices for each flight on each day you may consider travelling, so it is possible to forecast times and prices before booking.
Add to that the fact that Air Malta flew when airlines like Ryanair cancelled flights in large numbers, not only during the recent ash crisis but also last January when the heavy snow and ice hit the UK - I know because I was flying both last December and January and got through to Manchester.
The staff at check-in desks both in Malta and Manchester, which is the UK airport I mostly use, are exemplary in their dealings.
Going back to cost, I note from my records that I first started to use flight only as against a package holiday in 2003 and the cost of Air Malta's return flight was £247. It then varied depending on the time and date of flight up as high as £300, down to £177 in the following years but since 2004 the average price has dropped from about £252 to £101 in July 2008, £114 in October 2008, £94 in December 2008, and last April I paid £125. I am quite happy at future prices. I return in July!
I pay nearly £90 for a 45-minute Flybe flight from the Isle of Man to Manchester, no meals, limited cabin luggage size and weight etc. so maybe that puts it all into perspective as I can pay a lot more if I booked nearer to the departure date.
We had our own airline, Manx Airlines, and it was swallowed up by BA for a couple of years then they pulled out and now we have an assortment of airlines. We do not appreciate what we have until we do not have it, and if you lose Air Malta then you lose - big time.
Good luck Air Malta and thank you for 28 out of 31 years of flying to and from Malta. While I am writing, thank you Malta for having me and enriching my life beyond comprehension for the past 31 years and I hope more years to follow.
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vincent a galea
May 22nd 2010, 19:20
AIR MALTA is our NATIONAL AIRLINE...As a MALTESE CITIZEN it makes me so proud to have such an AIRLINE!!!!
J.Scicluna - Rabat
May 22nd 2010, 18:28
It seems that our Air Malta is more appreciated by foriegn passengers than some of our own "fellow" nationals!
We have seen a number of airlines that come and go but our Airline has and always will be there as a bridge to the rest of Europe and beyond. Some people forget, or choose to forget, that more than half the tourists that grace our shores (and for this we thank them) arrive and depart on Air Malta who silently and relentlessly supports our important Tourism industry.
Unfortunately, we don't see Air Malta planes being greeted at MIA with water cannons or bands or flowers like other "migrating" airlines; and that is so much of a pity since Air Malta and all its employees more than deserve it!
Fly the flag with pride, KM!
CHARLIE ODONNELL
May 22nd 2010, 18:27
booked today ryanair from edinburgh direct 16th june under £40 returrn same date airmalta £383.90 ?? taking circa 7/8 hours via heathrow,must be some service you get for an extra £340 odd not including the money spent in heathrow for 3 hours??
Pule' Carmel
May 22nd 2010, 17:22
A tribute to Air Malta Indeed, especialy to those pilots who on realising that a temperature sensor on the engine was not operating properly turned back for the safety of the passengers rather than risk what was seen as working properly, and flew on. Also those captain pilots whose sharp eyes in a few seconds saw that their on board generators failed, completely took action while those sitting beside them managed to realise of such failures after three minutes.
Once I reported one of my most stupid students who said that he could interchange the fire in engine wiring to the circuit that shows the pilot that the aircraft is flying through the settling of the undercarriage in the lowest position. The Airmalta captain I spoke too thanked me for reporting the issue and he was so interested and explained to me what manouvre to follow if they ever detect fire in engine on take off. Throughout my life I met some stupid students but I thanked God Malta alsoproduces quite brilliant silent people who care so much for the safety of others. Well done Air Malta, it is not easy to run an national airline these days .
Josef Busuttil
May 22nd 2010, 13:26
I am also a frequent flyer of Air Malta and flying with Air Malta has always been to my full satisfaction. No comparison with low-cost airlines and very competitive with other national airlines.
Well done Air Malta.
Ed. Jones
May 22nd 2010, 20:28
I too support Airmalta, a bit more to pay yes i grant you that, but then one only get what they pay for, and as the article above says its correct to the last word. Take to-day for instance the unfortuane India air crash were 158 people lost their lives, according to Skynews its also due to some cheap economy airlines who sees profits more then the safety of their passengers..Check it out on Skynews.
Dafydd Thomas
May 22nd 2010, 12:13
I endorse entirely the favourable remarks made by Neil Rough. My wife and I have 4-5 holidays a year in Malta, and with just the one exception have always flown Air Malta. There was just one incident a couple of years ago when we were unable to board due to that particular flight being overbooked. Nobody could have done more than Ian Lees at Manchester Airport and Godfrey Grima (whom I've never met) to ensure a happy outcome. Again, many thanks to you both.
Joe Agius
May 22nd 2010, 12:06
I am another very satisfied - and loyal - Air Malta customer. I have lived abroad for 32 years and fly to Malta once, sometimes two or three times, a year. With 3 or 4 exceptions, I have always chosen Air Malta. Check-in is painless at both ends, flights are rarely delayed, cabin service is excellent. What is more, my wife twice needed to get to Malta in a hurry because of deaths in the family. Air Malta came up trumps on both occasions. Here in Switzerland, I have seen Air Malta described in the media as 'klein aber fein' - small but good. So stop whingeing and appreciate what you've got.
Godfrey Grima
May 22nd 2010, 11:10
Thank you, Mr Douglas. It makes it all worthwhile.
CHARLIE ODONNELL
May 22nd 2010, 10:30
just paid ryanair £39.93 return from edinburgh to malta 16-23 june,i'am intrigued to know if you have flown ryanair?? nobody pays to use the toilet on-board, or are you getting your misinformation from the daily mail,( 10kg hand luggage is enough for me, no waiting for carousels)