Low-cost airline Ryanair said today that high fuel and Malta airport costs had caused it to curtail growth in Malta and may even lead to services on some routes being stopped for the winter.

“Despite our positive results in Malta to date, further growth or the establishment of a base (in Malta) are unrealistic in the absence of lower airport costs, particularly in a market environment where continuing record oil prices threaten to make some existing routes unviable,” Bridget Dowling, sales and marketing manager, said.

“Malta has huge potential to grow its tourism product, however this requires vision from the Maltese government to lower airport costs and prioritise growth, choice and competition by opening up the island to the low fare revolution which consumers in other European countries have enjoyed.”

She said that over the past 18 months Ryanair carried 350,000 passengers to and from Malta, giving a badly needed boost to the island's tourism.

Ryanair operates routes to London, Dublin, Pisa, Barcelona, Stockholm, Bremen, Valencia and Venice.

No final decision has been taken yet on the reduction of services for the winter, or which routes will be affected.