Ryanair and Easyjet Proposals Approved
VALLETTA, Malta (di-ve news) -- September 04, 2006 -- 1400CEST -- The adjudicating committee appointed by the Government to review the bids submitted by airlines in response to the call for low cost carriers to operate new routes to Malta, today forwarded its recommendations to the Government. The adjudicating committee's report stated that two airlines, Easy Jet and Ryan Air, replied to the call for proposals. Easy Jet submitted proposals to develop the Luton and the Mulhouse-Basel routes, while Ryan Air submitted proposals to develop the Luton, Pisa and Dublin routes. Easy Jet applied to start daily flights to Luton and five weekly flights to Mulhouse-Basel. Ryan Air applied to start daily flights to Luton and three weekly flights to Pisa and Dublin. Ryan Air stated that they will increase the frequencies of the Pisa flight as demand picks up. The committee has recommended that the Government could accept all the proposals submitted. Minister Francis Zammit Dimech said that the Government is accepting this recommendation and letters were in fact sent today to both airlines informing them of this decision. The Minister said that the Government was reacting in the fastest possible manner, conscious of the lead time required by the airlines to promote the flights. The Minister added that, since this is a State Aid matter, acceptance of these proposals remains subject to approval by the European Commission. The Adjudicating Committee was composed of Mr Peter Portelli - Permanent Secretary at the Ministry for Tourism and Culture, Mr Marcel Pizzuto - Permanent Secretary at the Ministry for Competitiveness and Communications, Mr David Mifsud - CEO, Malta Tourism Authority; Mrs Marie Louise Mangion - Head EU Affairs and Policy Development at the Ministry for Tourism and Culture, and Mr Chris Fenech - Marketing Manager, Malta International Airport.
VALLETTA, Malta (di-ve news) -- September 04, 2006 -- 1400CEST -- The adjudicating committee appointed by the Government to review the bids submitted by airlines in response to the call for low cost carriers to operate new routes to Malta, today forwarded its recommendations to the Government. The adjudicating committee's report stated that two airlines, Easy Jet and Ryan Air, replied to the call for proposals. Easy Jet submitted proposals to develop the Luton and the Mulhouse-Basel routes, while Ryan Air submitted proposals to develop the Luton, Pisa and Dublin routes. Easy Jet applied to start daily flights to Luton and five weekly flights to Mulhouse-Basel. Ryan Air applied to start daily flights to Luton and three weekly flights to Pisa and Dublin. Ryan Air stated that they will increase the frequencies of the Pisa flight as demand picks up. The committee has recommended that the Government could accept all the proposals submitted. Minister Francis Zammit Dimech said that the Government is accepting this recommendation and letters were in fact sent today to both airlines informing them of this decision. The Minister said that the Government was reacting in the fastest possible manner, conscious of the lead time required by the airlines to promote the flights. The Minister added that, since this is a State Aid matter, acceptance of these proposals remains subject to approval by the European Commission. The Adjudicating Committee was composed of Mr Peter Portelli - Permanent Secretary at the Ministry for Tourism and Culture, Mr Marcel Pizzuto - Permanent Secretary at the Ministry for Competitiveness and Communications, Mr David Mifsud - CEO, Malta Tourism Authority; Mrs Marie Louise Mangion - Head EU Affairs and Policy Development at the Ministry for Tourism and Culture, and Mr Chris Fenech - Marketing Manager, Malta International Airport.