Children travelling with their parents no longer benefit from discounted fares on Air Malta flights.

While a spokesman for the airline said it still considered families as “very important”, an employee at the call centre was very apologetic when asked about the availability of child fares.

“Unfortunately, the company has decided to stop offering reduced child fares as from April 1,” the employee said.

“I know this is very unfortunate but it’s a new company policy,” they added politely, again apologising.

Until the change of policy, Air Malta used to offer different fares to parents accompanied by children. While infants under two years used to pay 10 per cent of the adult fare if staying on their parents’ lap during a flight, children under 12 paid 75 per cent.

According to the new policy – which has still not been officially announced although it has been in place for a month – all children over two are considered as adults. When approached yesterday, a spokesman said Air Malta was now making regular promotions and offering low fares, which families could make use of.

“Child discounts do not apply for fares that have already been reduced or in the case of very special fares but families can actually benefit from much better rates, in particular if they book early,” the spokesman said. He added that “competitors do not offer the same opportunity”.

Acknowledging it was true that low-cost airlines did not offer special rates for children, travel agents noted that almost all European legacy airlines, particularly those flying to Malta, had discounted child fares.

One agent mentioned Lufthansa, British Airways, Alitalia and Emirates among those offering cheaper flights for minors.

“Air Malta is trying to be a legacy airline but with a low-cost service.

“After the baguette affair [for economy class passengers] now we have the child fares issue. What’s next,” another travel agent wondered.

Over recent years, the Maltese air carrier has been making drastic changes in its operations in an attempt to complete a financial turnaround by the end of the five-year restructuring plan agreed with the European Commission.

It has until 2016 to get back in the black.

A number of measures have also been taken to cut costs across the board and tap new revenue streams, including the provision of paid onboard meals for economy class passengers.

Although by the last financial year Air Malta was still far from attaining the financial targets set, it is now expected to be able to make it by next year, particularly as a result of the reduction in international fuel prices.