May it continue flying

If the helicopter service starts again in March, Gozo would have been left without an air link between Malta and Gozo for at least five months. Both the Gozo Tourism Association and the Gozo Business Chamber have stated that the stoppage of the service has hit Gozo's tourism badly and hotels have lost bookings. The government knew well in advance that the service would have to stop by the end of October but lost many precious months before it found another company to continue the service.

It has now been announced that the helicopter service will resume its flights as from March 21, with 20 flights in summer and 10 flights in winter. A 13-seater helicopter will be used. The announced fares are: student/Maltese national/senior citizen one-way - Lm16; return Lm26. Full rate one-way - Lm31; return - Lm50.

While welcoming the resumption of this service, local tourism operators have already told the helicopter operating company the announced fares were too high. The Malta Hotels & Restaurants Association (MHRA) has openly expressed its concern "as to whether this agreement will prove to be sustainable since the fares announced are exorbitant. In fact these almost doubled from Lm27 (return) and Lm18 (single) to Lm50 and Lm30 respectively".

The MHRA also said "that many issues such as the schedule, procedures to be followed, etc. have not yet been finalised. Consequently at this stage hoteliers are unable to make this announcement to their business partners or confirm any reservations, with the result that the number of passengers expected to travel on the helicopter during summer 2005 will be extremely lower than 2004".

Other local tour operators have told me privately they predict that given its proposed flight schedule and fares, the helicopter company will have a situation of three or four persons flying out with the odd group here and there. This will definitely not make the service profitable. The aviation authorities have cavalierly dismissed this argument on the basis that this is a service for those in the 5 star/4 star/villa/farmhouse market who would not mind paying such a price so long as the service was of a good standing. People in the tourism industry are not impressed knowing full well that today what matters most is the price.

Tour operators think that for the immediate future the only way the helicopter service can get off the ground and generate revenue is by offering panoramic flights to clients already holidaying in Malta. Clients might take up this service provided: a) they do not have to pay out of their noses for a ten/twenty-minute excursion flight and b) that waiting time at the airport is limited and no excessive red tape exists.

The aviation authorities also seem ready to allow the helicopter to land in Comino and elsewhere.

The government has triumphantly announced the resumption of the helicopter link between Malta and Gozo and is gloating that this is going to happen without subsidising this service, which has made the company charge such high fares.

For the benefit of Gozo's tourism and all those who earn a living from the sector I hope the company will find the helicopter service a viable venture and continue to operate for the months and years to come.

Mr Bartolo is the Labour shadow minister for tourism.

evaristbartolo@hotmail.com