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Labour MEP Joseph Muscat yesterday questioned government’s decision to privatise Malta International Airport, and insisted that the low cost airline saga would not have taken so long if the main gateway to Malta was still in government’s hands.
Speaking during a national seminar on tourism organised by GEM Foundation, Joseph Muscat stopped short of indicating what policy a prospective labour government could adopt with regards to Malta International Airport – today owned by Vienna International Airport.
Joseph Muscat stated that he did not want to sound “pro-nationalisation”, however he juggled around what he defined as “strange happenings” within MIA during the low cost issue and speculated on “conflict of interests”: “We should not forget what happened,” he said, while adding that the privatisation of MIA made government “helpless” on the issue.
Joseph Muscat’s intervention followed another by hotelier Kevin Decesare, who said that he was part of the core group appointed by government that decided on the low cost proposals.
He said that the main issue was that low cost airlines pay not more than 8 euros in handling charges per passenger, while MIA charge 28 euros.
As Air Malta chief executive officer Joe Capello insisted on having a “level playing field,” Kevin Decesare stressed that if the airport was still in government’s hand, a level playing field would have been in place a long time ago.
He augured that Irish low cost flyer Ryanair would live up to its promise to carry the thousands of passengers it is forecasting for Malta through its three announced destinations.
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