Harbour Air, which currently operates a Malta-Gozo seaplane route, has plans to start a Gozo-Sicily route in the near future in what would be the first flights connecting Gozo to the world.

The flights will operate from Mgarr Harbour to Catania airport, explains company spokesperson Anton Gambina, who also dispelled rumours that Harbour Air intends operating a Xlendi-Sicily route.

Mr Gambina in fact confirmed that no flights are being planned to or from Xlendi bay from either Malta or Sicily.

While the Xlendi business community would have been delighted to have tourists landing directly in the small port, environmentalists objecting to the proposal will undoubtedly welcome the news.

The new service is expected to give a boost to Gozo’s tourism market and give the island more exposure and publicity – all of which, in turn, should provide for better tourism revenues.

Discussions with the Malta Tourism Authority and with the Gozo Ministry are ongoing and positive, as they are keen to get the concept off the ground as soon as possible.

Harbour Air provides the only air link to Gozo at the moment since the helicopter service was terminated.

Harbour Air is currently operating 10-minute flights from Malta International Airport to Mgarr Harbour, as well as from Valletta Grand Harbour to Mgarr Harbour. Since its twin otter type aircraft is amphibian, it can land on both land and sea, and can accommodate up to 17 passengers per flight.

The company also runs 30-minute scenic flights around the Maltese Islands departing and landing in Grand Harbour. Flights from Mgarr, Gozo to Catania, Sicily are expected to have a 50-minute flight time.

A return flight is expected to cost between e150 to e210, depending, of course, on market forces.

Earlier this year it was announced that Gozo was to receive a boost in terms of cruise liner tourism through the development of a mooring facility off Xlendi so as to allow smaller cruise liners to berth there – adding another port of call to their itineraries.

A press conference to launch the service is expected to be held in the near future.

Harbour Air was the first seaplane airline to be granted an Air Operators licence in Malta. The company is supported by Harbour Air (Canada), the largest seaplane operator in the world.