Helisureste has proposed a "wet lease" agreement with the government for its air service operations between Malta and Gozo to be resumed. The company terminated its operations on the 31st October.
Helisureste is insisting not to incur any further loses in operating the service. The proposed "wet lease" will entail the hiring of helicopters together with the crew members and maintenance for the lessee to operate the service according to its own needs. No subsidy is to be involved in the deal. According to spokesperson from the Ministry of Gozo who spoke to The Sunday Times, all options are being considered.
Speaking in Parliament earlier during the month Minister for Gozo Giovanna Debono said that the company does not wish to pull out of the operations permanently and left equipment related to the service in Gozo in a bid for the helicopter trips to commence once again.
Helisureste had been operating a 24 hours service on a 13-seater helicopter from the Heliport in Għajnsielem to Malta International Airport. Although the company targeted to carry 40,000 passengers per year by the end of this year, there was a low take-up. Trips have reportedly been cancelled at the last minute, with return ticket costing up to Lm50.
The government has also considered developing an airstrip to make way for more air trips between the two islands. Earlier on the government had also expressed its hope of introducing fixed-wing aeroplanes.
See also:
Helicopter service halt blow to tourism, says GTA
By MaltaMedia News
Oct 30, 2006, 15:16 CET
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