1 comment.The reduction of Air Malta routes will hit Gozitan economy
 Email item
|  Print item
|
|
Labour leader Joseph Muscat was in Gozo today campaigning for the Local Council elections which take place on Saturday the 10th of March.
At a meeting this morning he said, “the reduction of Air Malta routes will hit the Gozitan economy as many jobs in Gozo depend on the tourism sector. The Government must clarify what is being planned for Air Malta routes in the future, as fewer flights to Malta would mean more problems for tourists travelling to Malta and Gozo.”
The Labour Leader continued, “we want to create jobs for Gozitans in Gozo. We need to create new jobs in new sectors and that is why it is imperitive that nothing is done to jeopardise tourism in Gozo by reducing Air Malta flights and routes. The Government must shoulder its responsibility for failing to take the necessary steps to save Air Malta.”
“The Government is being irresponsible and is not being honest and open about the future of the national airline, by at first denying that it would close down profitable routes and then by admitting that some for the routes and airport slots have ceased,” Joseph Muscat concluded.
Me and my Husband have been travelling to Gozo for 20 years. As divers we have always travelled Air Malta, it is an excellent airline, where you have 20k of luggage and are able to purchase extra baggage allowance for diving equipment. This is not the case with Easyjet and Ryanair, where you only have 15k of luggage and to take diving equipment (even if it was allowed) would cost an astronomical amount. Gozo is a diving paradise and over the years there are thousands upon thousands of divers that have come to your shores. I am finding it more difficult to get Air Malta flights, last year I could travel on a Friday from Manchester, this year that has gone and it is Saturday that we have to travel, cutting our holiday short by a day. If you cut anymore of these flights you very sadly are going to find that divers will very reluctantly have to stop coming to what is a beautiful place, and the only people who will suffer are the people of Gozo and Malta.