It is now five years since the island of Gozo was deprived of its viable and valuable air link.
Five years in which there have been ideas, proposals, debates, studies and surveys.
Five years during which a once thriving manufacturing base has almost vanished. The crafts, tourism and heritage sectors have also declined. The island’s economy is stagnant. Teenagers graduating from college are seeking work elsewhere.
Is the island to be a place to view only by day-trippers from the top of a bus? Will the future only see yet more monolithic apartment blocks used as summer homes?
Since the idea of a fixed-wing aircraft link was mooted there have been surveys which have shown the demand is there, not just among hoteliers and restaurateurs but among the public. A young Gozo student carried out a poll of all age groups for his thesis this year and found that nearly 60 per cent were in favour of a small airfield that would accept planes carrying up to 19 passengers. This result concurs with larger online surveys in recent years.
Also this year a feasibility study by aeronautical experts found that the project would help Gozo’s commercial and tourism sectors. But an approach to the government by an international airfield construction group was stonewalled.
The Malta Environment and Planning Authority, in the 2006 Gozo and Comino Local Plan, allocated an area adjacent to the heliport as being “for aviation use”.
However, in other government circles there seems to be obfuscation and a lack of will to drive things through.
The Civil Aviation Directorate stated that an extension of the existing helipad to 500 metres would be sufficient. But this appears to be contrary to the views of other aviation experts who rejected this length on safety grounds.
A parliamentary question in 2009 resulted in the Malta Council for Economic and Social Development being charged with producing a report. This was passed to its Gozo regional committee for action. Where is the result?
The Malta Tourism Authority is insisting that a financial viability study be carried out by international consultants, doubtless at a huge cost, and, yet, more time would have been wasted.
Do we really have to wait for a change of government for the scheme to be launched?
The best viability test is simply to build the airstrip and invite operators to provide a service to link with flights at Malta International Airport. The fact that there will be a queue will be testament enough.
But will it be too late to rescue the economy of Calypso’s Isle?