Malta airport waives landing fees

Malta International Airport will once again waive landing fees for the coming winter season with the aim to further stimulate traffic during the shoulder/winter months.

The waiver follows on from last year's initiative of giving a 100% refund to all scheduled airlines on all their landing fees last winter.

"This initiative forms part of Malta Airport's Incentive Programme for airlines which has just been updated. The first Airline Incentive Scheme - launched back in 2007 - was aimed to attract airlines interested to start off their operations to Malta or looking at increasing their presence on the Maltese Islands. The scheme targeted markets which back then were considered strategic, like the Iberian peninsula, Scandinavia and Eastern Europe," the airline said in a company statement.

The updated programme includes these strategic objectives together with new incentives such as the waiving of the night surcharge all year round as well as free aircraft parking for scheduled passenger flights which is also valid all year round.

"All these initiatives help to alleviate the airlines' fixed costs when flying to and from Malta Airport. Another initiative included in the Incentive Programme is that aimed at increasing non-EU traffic," MIA said.

The Malta Hotels and Restaurants Association welcomed the news that for the second year running Malta International Airport was waiving the landing fees.

"This is certainly a step in the right direction which should encourage all parties to see how each can also contribute further to make Malta more competitive during the winter period, especially since the market continues to become ever more price sensitive," the MHRA said.

"The winter period is a very tough period for all stakeholders of the tourism industry and a collective effort to stimulate more business to Malta can make a positive difference. It is traditional that hotels reduce their prices to rock bottom levels throughout most of the loss-making winter months in an effort to generate more business, as this help them to remain open. Airlines generally do the same and so do a number of other services providers of the industry."

The MHRA has over the years encouraged government to do the same by applying discounted rates on state charges, such as utility rates, by way of introducing incentives that can help hotels and restaurants become more competitive and stay open throughout the winter months. "Such incentives would have widespread benefits and would enhance employment levels. In this light the MHRA encourages Government to find ways of supporting hotels and restaurants throughout the winter months," the MHRA said.