Ryanair yesterday rejected Air Malta’s attempts to justify its outrageous fuel surcharge. “The price of fuel has increased for Ryanair (too) who have not and never will impose a fuel surcharge,” Ryanair said in a statement.

Furthermore, Air Malta chairman criticises Ryanair’s negotiations with airports. “Ryanair makes no excuse for making every effort to reduce the cost of flying for its customers, including seeking cost reductions from all its partners, including airports, many of which airports, like Malta International, enjoy a monopoly status in the regions they serve. These airports have made massive profits at the expense of passengers in the past but Ryanair will continue to champion the consumers’ interest even if Air Malta would rather slap on excessive, outrageous and unjustified fuel surcharges.”

Commenting on Air Malta’s excuses, Ryanair’s deputy chief executive, Michael Cawley, said today “(Air Malta chairman Lawrence) Zammit has said that we’ve quoted the incorrect average flight price for Air Malta. I now challenge him to publish their average fare and let’s find out if it’s really only 150 per cent more expensive than Ryanair rather than the 227 per cent which we had published.

“Since Ryanair has arrived in Malta, hundreds of thousands of Maltese travellers have enjoyed low cost travel, while our flights have saved the Maltese tourism industry which has shown growth in 2007 for the first time in approximately five years.”