Pricing of Air Malta Flyaway Tours

I refer to the letter entitled What Is The Real Cost Of Flyaway Tours? by Peter Montebello, Jr (November 21). While we appreciate the comments made in the letter, Air Malta feels that they are misleading and wrong.

One has to first make a distinction between EU rules governing air tickets and EU rules governing package holidays as these are distinct. The EU regulation governing air tickets states that the final price of air tickets must include taxes and all charges. As from January 1, 2008, when this EU regulation was still not in force, Air Malta was the first airline operating on the Malta route that started including the whole price of the ticket including all taxes and charges when it advertised its flight-only prices. This pricing decision was taken in view of the airline's policy to be transparent to its clients.

Package holidays, highlighted in Mr Montebello's letter, are governed by a distinct EU Directive, that is the regulation on package holidays. Mr Montebello does not distinguish between a travel brochure and the final contract for the provision of the travel service agreed to at the reservation stage. He thus arrives at the wrong conclusions.

One of the strongest assets of the Flyaway Tours brochure is its flexibility as it empowers clients to develop their itinerary. Clients can add extra nights, combine two or more destinations and tailor-make their travel arrangements according to their requirements.

With so many different options, coupled with the constant changes to airport taxes, government taxes and related charges in the various destinations offered, Flyaway Tours prefer not to include taxes and fuel surcharge in the brochure.

The EU Directive is designed to protect consumers who contract package travel in the EU and Air Malta is in no way misinforming its customers. Air Malta's Flyaway brochure is issued and valid for six months and whilst every effort is taken to be in line with the quoted prices, these may vary in exceptional circumstances. It is only when a contract is signed that the client "secures" the quoted price agreed with him. To date this system has proved efficient with no problems emanating from this practice. The terms and conditions in every brochure clearly reflect this procedure.

As is clearly and repeatedly indicated throughout the whole brochure, Flyaway Tours packages are based on W Class airfares. This is the starting price that will only change if the W Class is full and the step-up system to the next available class is applied with the client's consent and acceptance only.

Finally, the Flyaway Tours telephone number (2166 2227) is a normal local telephone line and incurs the same costs as any other normal local call would.

We would like to take the opportunity to advise our clients that the airline has reversed its decision to charge premium rates to calls to its call centre number 2166 2211.

Calls to this number are now being charged at a normal local call charge rate.

The public can rest assured that throughout the years Flyaway Tours have built a reputation for value-for-money holiday packages to all Air Malta's destinations and beyond. Flyaway Tours intends to continue building on their past successes and continue offering value-for-money package holidays for the local market.