Malta International Airport insisted today that its charges were well within the European average.

Reacting to comments by Ryanair officials yesterday, the company said its regulated fees had not been raised since 2006 and that an objective analysis showed they were well within the European average.

"The fact that there has not been any increase of these charges for so long may easily be translated into a reduction in itself, however the only fee that has been effected since was the PRM (Persons with Reduced Mobility) charge, which indeed was imposed by virtue of an EU regulation."

With regards to the introduction of new routes, MIA said it could only but welcome any well thought-out measure directed towards incrementing additional traffic to Malta "without disrupting the regular flow of already long established routes".

It pointed out that it was effectively supporting the introduction of new routes, within the parameters of transparent and indiscriminatory norms, and contributed €1 million last year as part of an incentive scheme to promote new destinations. This consisted of up to 40% reduction on the passenger service charge over a three-year period, and up to a 60% reduction directed towards strategic destinations also on a three year period. The routes that were benefitting from these incentives to date amongst others are Bari, Girona, Stockholm, Venice and Edinburgh.