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Air Malta has become a total monopoly. Originally when I first started flying to Malta in 1993 I had a choice between Air Malta and British Airways. I always chose British Airways for many reasons mainly to take off and land within a feasible schedule with a commendable in-flight service. Air Malta was always heavily delayed with the most pitiful excuses (if they could be bothered at all). Then shortly after British Airways were pushed out of the scenario altogether and I was forced to travel with Air Malta.
Why has Ryanair been stopped? A million tourists to Malta is not to be sniffed at. Due to the pitiful tourism figures lately, half a million would be tantamount to the influx of tourists to Malta, not to mention generated revenue from many who thrive on this industry so why this red tape. I do know that many people who reside in the outskirts of London who have money to spend and take their holidays seriously, fly from the closest route from their home ‘for comfort’, so why this outlandish rule? Malta, please realise that you only have one airport; in England there are many. Also, due to research many of these people from many outskirts of London are the kind who only come for the sun and cheap holidays – not blinking at quality, which is fine due to the state of Malta as a holiday destination right now, as it leaves a lot to be desired so let’s not claim we are the French Riviera when in reality we are a building site with added-on noise, pollution, uncouth behaviour and many other attributes which belong in a ‘holiday from hell’ brochure.
Last year I was on a flight and an Israeli woman was chatting to a gentleman in between her and myself. She was on her way to Brussels and had a superior position within the EU organization. I cringed when she claimed the following: it’s so expensive here and for what? It is dirty, there is no service, it is noisy, the people are rude, aggressive and belligerent, the men cannot control themselves in a woman’s presence (?), whenever she went out to dine it resembled a monkey’s tea party with other Maltese families in the vicinity. I will not go on as I had to sit on my hands and inadvertently die. She claimed that the biggest insult was she had to change her flight due to business engagements and it was so expensive and she pitied people here as it’s so damn expensive to leave. She claimed that it reminded her of imprisonment as quite frankly it is. I was not smiling.
One other observation: yes pork and flesh from the pig is very cheap in Malta. However at the end of last year, after flying to London on the 0725h flight to return on the same night to be served the only option which is pork is quite an insult. Many, due to religious beliefs, do not eat pork. Many do not eat it full stop. There was no alternative.
Air Malta. You should seriously polish up your act as providing a glossy in-flight magazine advertising how ‘gorgeous, idyllic and charming’ island is along with being ‘the land of hospitality’ stinks. It is false advertising as most would not know hospitality if it came and slapped them in the face; that is if the recipients were not Maltese of course. Carry on stating ‘but ah, this is Malta’ doesn’t wash anymore as it is no longer a trump card.
Why is it so impossible for heavily discounted carriers? Most places within the EU have no problem with this and have been conducting business via low cost airlines since 1997 at least. This applies to Cannes which is no feat. Is someone in the back office doing his sums wrong or is he frightened that not so much will be able to be pilfered into his back pocket? Let’s see the sums.
“Air Malta has claimed in a confidential report that Ryanair would displace 118,000 of its passengers if it serves Stansted with a four-aircraft base in Malta, complete with discounted airport charges. Together with the prospect of easyJet operating to Luton, the other low-cost carrier vying for entry into the market, Air Malta fears losing 50 per cent of its passengers”.
Sorry to say this, but you’ve lost them anyway and anyone with the correct mindset one would look at the inflated figures and simply say ‘to hell with it’, I’m going somewhere else’. After all, to be ripped off before you have arrived has very detrimental observations and is usually a sign of what is to come, which sorry to say, is the truth.
Ryanair was ready to pay Lm5.35 million. Is this to be sniffed at? Whoever in charge has no idea of economic improvement and never will do as he is stuck in reverse when it comes to his/hers marketing research. Well done. You truly deserve the coffee table award.
Fazila Sciberras
Sliema
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