‘Ryanair not to blame for Air Malta troubles’
by Chiara Bonello
Ryanair is not competing with Air Malta in any way, as there is a distinct division in their businesses, and the truth is no high-cost airline ever got into trouble because of low-cost carriers, Ryanair deputy CEO Michael Cawley said yesterday.
Speaking during a press conference on tourism growth in Malta, Mr Cawley said that, if the Ernst and Young consultants have suggested that this could be the case with Air Malta, then they are “on the wrong track and should be fired”.
Mr Cawley went on to say that, if this was suggested, the team is a ‘waste of money’, as the difficulties had been flagged and evident before Ryanair or any other low-cost carrier came to Malta.
“Every route that Ryanair is on, nobody else flies to,” Mr Cawley explained, adding that they were advised by the Malta Tourism Authority to pick such routes.
Mr Cawley also asserted that the passenger fees at Malta International Airport were the highest in Europe, at €25 per passenger, when the average cost Ryanair pays in the rest of Europe, including in airports like Gatwick, is just €6.65.
Ryanair, like other low-cost airlines, benefits from what is known as the Route Support Scheme, a scheme which offers the airlines lower landing fees at MIA.
MIA reaction
In what it termed setting the record straight, Malta International Airport responded to the claims made by Mr Cawley, saying: “Malta Airport is definitively within the European average in so far as its airport charges are concerned.”
The charges in Malta amount to an average €19.89 per departing passenger, which covers landing fees, aircraft parking fees, passenger service charges and security fees.
MIA pointed out that fees at Larnaca International Airport, Cyprus are 30% higher than the fees charged in Malta, and at Athens International Airport, Greece they are 25% higher.
Moreover, these charges, which have remained unchanged for the past five years, are lower than fees in Antalya (Turkey), Munich (Germany), Budapest (Hungary), Birmingham (UK), Orly and Lyon (France), to mention but a few.
MIA also highlighted the fact that most of the revenue from these charges is spent on maintaining the operations and the infrastructure of the airport.
“€52 million has been invested, over the past eight years, in capital projects,” MIA said, adding that millions are spent each year on maintaining the airport’s safety and security standards, and ensuring the quality of services given is second to none.
It expressed its conviction that the shareholders’ funds, including the 6,600 local shareholders and the Maltese government, which together own 49% of the company, are being invested in the islands’ tourism and transport industry for the benefit of the national economy and in the best interest of Malta.
Cawley on Libya
Turning to the situation in Libya and its potential impact on Malta, Mr Cawley commented that: “We have not noted any slowdown in bookings or any out-of-the-ordinary cancellations, despite the no-fly zone over Libya and the situation being what it is.”
Ryanair flights to Trapani had to be re-routed to Palermo, since Trapani Airport was closed to civilian traffic. “It is crucial that Malta International Airport continues to operate as a commercial airport,” he said.
However, he added, “Malta must do what is sensible for Malta. It has handled itself very well so far.
“Although we understand it is a sensitive time for Malta, what with the Air Malta situation, we are here to reassure the MTA and the industry that we see fantastic potential for growth in Malta,” Mr Cawley said.
“Ryanair, the largest airline in Europe with over 70 million passengers, made specific proposals to the MTA in a very positive meeting this morning. These included discussions on some 17 new routes, among other things,” he said.
The plan is that these proposals, which Ryanair believes are complimentary to the Air Malta flights, will be implemented over the coming two years, Mr Cawley said.
Speaking about areas in which Ryanair surpasses other airlines, he said the airline boasts the lowest fares, most on-time flights, fewest lost bags and fewest cancellations in Europe.
The average cost of a Ryanair flight is just €34, he said, whereas with Easyjet the average cost is around €52, or 15% more, and with Air Malta, the average flight costs €127, or 274% more.
Frequent travellers can get three or four trips with Ryanair for the cost of one flight with other airlines, Mr Cawley said.
As a matter of fact, 93% of Ryanair flights arrive on time, he said, when, according to statistics, 69% of Air Malta flights are on time. Just 0.4 bags per 1,000 passengers are lost with Ryanair, according to statistics.
www.independent.com.mt
CIAO
_goa
by Chiara Bonello
Ryanair is not competing with Air Malta in any way, as there is a distinct division in their businesses, and the truth is no high-cost airline ever got into trouble because of low-cost carriers, Ryanair deputy CEO Michael Cawley said yesterday.
Speaking during a press conference on tourism growth in Malta, Mr Cawley said that, if the Ernst and Young consultants have suggested that this could be the case with Air Malta, then they are “on the wrong track and should be fired”.
Mr Cawley went on to say that, if this was suggested, the team is a ‘waste of money’, as the difficulties had been flagged and evident before Ryanair or any other low-cost carrier came to Malta.
“Every route that Ryanair is on, nobody else flies to,” Mr Cawley explained, adding that they were advised by the Malta Tourism Authority to pick such routes.
Mr Cawley also asserted that the passenger fees at Malta International Airport were the highest in Europe, at €25 per passenger, when the average cost Ryanair pays in the rest of Europe, including in airports like Gatwick, is just €6.65.
Ryanair, like other low-cost airlines, benefits from what is known as the Route Support Scheme, a scheme which offers the airlines lower landing fees at MIA.
MIA reaction
In what it termed setting the record straight, Malta International Airport responded to the claims made by Mr Cawley, saying: “Malta Airport is definitively within the European average in so far as its airport charges are concerned.”
The charges in Malta amount to an average €19.89 per departing passenger, which covers landing fees, aircraft parking fees, passenger service charges and security fees.
MIA pointed out that fees at Larnaca International Airport, Cyprus are 30% higher than the fees charged in Malta, and at Athens International Airport, Greece they are 25% higher.
Moreover, these charges, which have remained unchanged for the past five years, are lower than fees in Antalya (Turkey), Munich (Germany), Budapest (Hungary), Birmingham (UK), Orly and Lyon (France), to mention but a few.
MIA also highlighted the fact that most of the revenue from these charges is spent on maintaining the operations and the infrastructure of the airport.
“€52 million has been invested, over the past eight years, in capital projects,” MIA said, adding that millions are spent each year on maintaining the airport’s safety and security standards, and ensuring the quality of services given is second to none.
It expressed its conviction that the shareholders’ funds, including the 6,600 local shareholders and the Maltese government, which together own 49% of the company, are being invested in the islands’ tourism and transport industry for the benefit of the national economy and in the best interest of Malta.
Cawley on Libya
Turning to the situation in Libya and its potential impact on Malta, Mr Cawley commented that: “We have not noted any slowdown in bookings or any out-of-the-ordinary cancellations, despite the no-fly zone over Libya and the situation being what it is.”
Ryanair flights to Trapani had to be re-routed to Palermo, since Trapani Airport was closed to civilian traffic. “It is crucial that Malta International Airport continues to operate as a commercial airport,” he said.
However, he added, “Malta must do what is sensible for Malta. It has handled itself very well so far.
“Although we understand it is a sensitive time for Malta, what with the Air Malta situation, we are here to reassure the MTA and the industry that we see fantastic potential for growth in Malta,” Mr Cawley said.
“Ryanair, the largest airline in Europe with over 70 million passengers, made specific proposals to the MTA in a very positive meeting this morning. These included discussions on some 17 new routes, among other things,” he said.
The plan is that these proposals, which Ryanair believes are complimentary to the Air Malta flights, will be implemented over the coming two years, Mr Cawley said.
Speaking about areas in which Ryanair surpasses other airlines, he said the airline boasts the lowest fares, most on-time flights, fewest lost bags and fewest cancellations in Europe.
The average cost of a Ryanair flight is just €34, he said, whereas with Easyjet the average cost is around €52, or 15% more, and with Air Malta, the average flight costs €127, or 274% more.
Frequent travellers can get three or four trips with Ryanair for the cost of one flight with other airlines, Mr Cawley said.
As a matter of fact, 93% of Ryanair flights arrive on time, he said, when, according to statistics, 69% of Air Malta flights are on time. Just 0.4 bags per 1,000 passengers are lost with Ryanair, according to statistics.
www.independent.com.mt
CIAO
_goa
(non a caso fra un mese sarà la mia quinta volta sull'isola)
