A return airline ticket with Air Malta from Malta to Catania is being sold at €66 per person for a trip in January.

The amount of taxes payable on the ticket amounts to a number of euros broken down as follows: security charge (VT) – €1.81; council city tax (HB) – €4.50; MJ – 82c; security bag charge (EX) – €1.58; airport security charge (DB) – €2.19; embarkation tax (IT) – €4.18 and international passenger service charge (UF) – €16.76. This works out at a total of €31.84.

My calculator has worked this out as being 48.24 per cent of the ticket cost.

Taxpayers are entitled to a clear explanation as to who receives these taxes and why we have to pay each and every one of them.

Furthermore, since, as an island, air travel is the main means of transport to anywhere else in the world, I strongly believe there should be some form of consideration to reduce these high taxes. These taxes are an impediment to many people to explore other countries, especially when one has to travel as a family.

I also believe the Consumer Department must evaluate the imposition of taxes in order to ensure consumers are not being taken for a ride, yet again.

I do not think the Consumer Department needs to have the directive of Parliamentary Secretary Chris Said all the time as citizens should be placed on the same level of those holding a political office.