Originally Posted by
fac_2
Hi Guys anybody heard anything about flights / possible base in Easy Malta?
There has also been some discussion of this in the Luton thread.
The likelyhood of an Easyjet base in Malta in the near future is highly unlikely. The goverment remains opposed and naturally Air Malta is vehemently against the idea!
The government do however want to see (low cost) airlines operating on certain routes all year round, and in response to a call for proposals Easyjet signalled this week that they'd like to start flights from Luton and Basel to Malta. Interestingly Ryanair also wishes to fly Luton to Malta (as well as from Pisa and Dublin).
Allowing Easyjet or Ryanair to set up a base on the island is an issue which has divided the Maltese. On one side the argument is that the dwindling tourist industry would benefit enormously, but on the other side majour employer Air Malta would struggle to survive, and they are even arguing that
too many tourists would compromise the island's infrastructure and resources
Easyjet and Ryanair are both willing to set up base in Malta. Ryanair were even willing to pay for a series of upgrades to the airport! Seeing as the only obstacle is a political one, then this could all change. Governments can change their mind if put under pressure, indeed governments just change anyway, and I wonder would this be an issue in next general election...
While the government is dictating which routes can and can't be operated by low cost airlines we will see no Easyjet/Ryanair base. But we will see routes
Basel, Pisa,
Luton, Dublin seem likely.
Then government are also considering calling for proposals on the following routes:
- Lisbon (Difficult for Easyjet to take them up on this, as they would need to fly a W from one of their other bases)
- Warsaw (Potential for Centralwings or Wizzair here)
- Turin (Not convinced that Easyjet or Ryanair would W this. Potential then for an Italian airline)
- Verona (Ryanair on a W from Hahn possibly?)
http://www.di-ve.com/dive/portal/por...=245638&pid=23
http://www.independent.com.mt/news.asp?newsitemid=37853
http://www.timesofmalta.com/core/article.php?id=234959
http://www.timesofmalta.com/core/article.php?id=234880
PS: Interesting to see both airlines now wanting to operate the Luton to Malta route. I wouldn't be surprised if they both try to insist that will not operate to the island at all unless they get the Luton route. There shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth
