I write in response to the article about Air Malta’s proposed ‘fleet maximisation’ that appeared on July 31.

I have been visiting Malta since 1981, on average three times a year, and, apart from four occasions, have always flown Air Malta (in fact, I have been a Flypass member for a number of years).

I recently accessed the Air Malta website with the intention of booking a scheduled flight in May 2016, from Manchester.

My KM147/146 return flights, booked for October 2015 and February 2016, offer ideal times, early evening departure from Manchester, and, again, an ideal mid-afternoon return from Malta.

The flights in May 2016 are no longer ideal. In fact, one flight leaves Manchester at 00.50am, arriving in Malta at 5am.

What a great way to start your holiday, tired, having to wait until 2pm to access your hotel room; a day wasted, and this is a scheduled flight.

I am now forced to consider using another airline to fly to Malta.

Kevin Sciberras is exactly right, what a way to treat loyal customers.

There are, within a 50-mile radius of Manchester airport, a population of approximately 15 million, of whom three million are over 65. This, Air Malta and MHRA please note, is a target group and that is just a section of the UK.

What an ideal opportunity to increase flights in winter, rather than reduce them. The warmer climate of Malta, the similarities, language, food, friendliness of the Maltese people, etc, would be very attractive to this age group.

I am not a marketing expert but I am sure that Air Malta and MHRA could, with a concerted campaign, especially extensive media coverage in the UK, introduce speciality packages for the over 60s or 65s, with exclusive Air Malta flights from all UK airports.

To Air Malta and MHRA, I say, instead of implementing maximisation, go for expansion and, please, Air Malta, rethink your 2016 schedules from Manchester.

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