Air service could be provided by fixed-wings planes

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Travel & Tourism
Air service could be provided by fixed-wings planes
By MaltaMedia News
Oct 26, 2006, 17:15

Air services between Malta and Gozo could continue to operate even if the helicopter Spanish company Helisureste, which currently provides the service, terminates its operations by the end of October.

It is not being excluded that the government will take necessary action to provide the air service with fixed-wings aeroplanes. These aeroplanes are cheaper to operate than helicopters.

Minister for Competitiveness Censu Galea told PBS that initially the company had decided to put a stop to its operations as from the beggining of October. Later on it requested a subsidy from the government to continue operating through the winter months.

The proposal has been presented to the government however the Minister did not say whether it is being viewed positively.

Earlier on Thursday, The Times said that Minister for Competitiveness Censu Galea had said that discussions have been taking place with the company after it requested subsidies to operate the route. He was reported to have added that it is "unlikely" there would be a successful conclusion.

Helisureste has been operating the service since March 2005, after the previous operator, Malta Aircharter, closed its business six months earlier.

Helisureste has 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.

Gozo Tourism Association secretary Joe Muscat told The Times that he was not surprised that the service was likely to come to an end, and it would make little difference to tourism on the island since the number of persons making use of the services is low.

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