Local air carrier Britishjet marked its third year of operations yesterday by announcing that it was going to expand its destination network and frequency as well as introduce an innovative idea, a low cost double destination package.
Speaking at a press conference yesterday, owner Robbie Borg said: “When Britishjet started operations, many people did not even give us six months, but look where we are now.”
Mr Borg said that when other low-cost airlines came to Malta, he had been taken aback and had been forced to cancel a number of flights. “We have no hidden extras and our clients know this, which is why many have migrated back to us,” he said. He also said that figures for passengers carried so far this year were up between one and two percentage points over last year.
Unveiling the airline’s winter schedule for 2007, Mr Borg announced the setting up of the double package, which will basically involve passengers travelling from the UK to spend a couple of nights in Malta before jetting off to some winter sunshine at Sharm el Sheikh in Egypt.
Mr Borg said Egypt was just the pilot project and that other North African double-headers could be in the offing.
Explaining his motives, he said: “It is very difficult to get tourists to come to Malta in winter.
“In winter, two days are more than enough to experience what we have here. Without the sun, we cannot offer cold Europeans that winter warmer that they crave,” said Mr Borg.
He continued: “But if we then take them on to Egypt, where it hits as high as 30 degrees centigrade, we can offer them a good package.” He said that Britishjet was now awaiting the necessary permits from both the Maltese and the Egyptian authorities.
“We are aiming to start operations in November and we urge both Malta and Egypt to expedite the process because interest will soon be turning concrete and we have to have a product on sale,” he said.
Mr Borg said that the product would largely be sold to customers directly, explaining that there were not many local tour operators who were still functional. He also confirmed that his company had made the necessary contacts with hotels in Egypt in order to accommodate prospective passengers.
Mr Borg said he was confident that the operation would be successful, but would not project a ballpark figure for additional arrivals. He did, however, say that Britishjet was looking to acquire the services of another aircraft, most likely an Airbus A320.
He said that Britishjet operated some 15 flights per week, but would shortly be announcing new destinations.
Asked about handling charges, Mr Borg said: “It is still very expensive at Malta International Airport and we are looking to secure cheaper tariffs for the new double-package operation.”
Asked by The Malta Independent how much a ticket to Sharm el Sheikh would cost a Maltese person, he replied: “Well, in the region of Lm150, it’s about the same as to London.”
Also asked by this newspaper about the possibility of terror attacks, as witnessed in the same Egyptian resort, and more recently in other North African countries, Mr Borg countered: “After 7/7, we had mass cancellations to London. But when you look at other nationalities, it is quite clear that the Maltese and the Brits have one thing in common. They don’t give up easily and they just get on with it. It was two years ago and people have moved on.”
Mr Borg reminded clients that Britishjet was the first local low-cost carrier to set up operations and that bookings can be made on the new website at www.britishjet.com