Airport departure tax
Notwithstanding the chorus of protests from all sectors of the public, including that of Nationalist MEP Simon Busuttil, who stated that such a tax is anti-democratic because it restricts freedom of movement, the government seemed determined to...
Notwithstanding the chorus of protests from all sectors of the public, including that of Nationalist MEP Simon Busuttil, who stated that such a tax is anti-democratic because it restricts freedom of movement, the government seemed determined to increase Malta airport departure tax to Lm20 as from August 1, 2005.
In fact, all airlines are already charging Lm20 departure tax to all those who have booked and paid for their tickets for travel as from this date - although this tax has not yet been approved and passed through Parliament! I appeal to the government to amend this tax and bring it in line with all other European airport taxes by applying instead a Lm2 airport departure tax to all passengers.
After all, when we Maltese travel abroad we are charged the same airport taxes as any other passenger.
With more than 1,300,000 passengers using Malta International Airport, this tax will guarantee government a revenue of Lm2.6 million - much more than the proposed tax as stated in the budget. I hope that common sense will prevail for once!