Agreement reached on Ryanair base in Malta
The government and Ryanair have reached agreement for the low-cost airline to base one and possibly two aircraft in Malta, sources said.
Ryainair will also operate six new routes between Malta and European destinations where the airline currently does not have a base. The services will start by the summer, pushing the number of Malta routes on the Ryainair network to 18.
The new routes are expected to include destinations in Spain and the Netherlands.
It is hoped the move will attract more visitors to Malta since the trend among modern-day travellers is to go away more often but stay for fewer nights.
The sources said the government - not Ryanair - will have the final say on the routes serviced by the aircraft since it is keen to ensure that routes serviced by other carriers and tour operators are not adversely affected by this agreement. Ryanair agreed to this condition after initial opposition.
Ryanair currently have around 20 per cent of the air travel market in Malta.
The Irish airline saw a 13 per cent increase in passengers to Malta in 2009, helping its market share improve to 15 per cent - second only to Air Malta.
The government and Ryanair have reached agreement for the low-cost airline to base one and possibly two aircraft in Malta, sources said.
Ryainair will also operate six new routes between Malta and European destinations where the airline currently does not have a base. The services will start by the summer, pushing the number of Malta routes on the Ryainair network to 18.
The new routes are expected to include destinations in Spain and the Netherlands.
It is hoped the move will attract more visitors to Malta since the trend among modern-day travellers is to go away more often but stay for fewer nights.
The sources said the government - not Ryanair - will have the final say on the routes serviced by the aircraft since it is keen to ensure that routes serviced by other carriers and tour operators are not adversely affected by this agreement. Ryanair agreed to this condition after initial opposition.
Ryanair currently have around 20 per cent of the air travel market in Malta.
The Irish airline saw a 13 per cent increase in passengers to Malta in 2009, helping its market share improve to 15 per cent - second only to Air Malta.
