The Ryanair Group is aiming to be the long-term winner and investor in Malta, CEO Michael O'Leary said on Thursday, while launching the 2023/2024 winter schedule.
The Ryanair CEO said that what distinguishes the airline from other airlines in Europe is that Ryanair has recovered from covid "very strongly".
He said that the airline will be introducing a new route, Malta to Memmingen, Germany
"In total there will be 51 routes operating to and from Malta by the airline, it also has six aircraft permanently based on the island. We will continue to invest heavily in the island ... We connect Malta to 228 airports all over Europe," he said.
The Ryanair CEO said that the airline will be increasing the frequency of 20 routes for destinations including Brussels, Catania, Dublin, Krakow, Rome, and Vienna.
Malta is becoming an increasing centre of activity for the Ryanair Group, he said. "Ryanair is a major force for good in the Maltese economy," he added.
"There are challenges remaining out there," he said whilst detailing the airline's operational growth, particularly referring to the ongoing Air Traffic Control (ATC) strikes in France. He urged EU Commission President Ursula Von Der Layen to take action to protect overflights which are being cancelled as a result of the ongoing strikes. He said that he does not oppose the ATC strikes but commented that it should be the domestic French flights being cancelled as a result, not European overflights.
The airline, in a statement, said that it is operating 51 routes and carrying 3.5M passengers per annum to/from Malta's airport, "providing Maltese citizens with more choice at the lowest fares for their well-deserved winter breaks. This unrivalled growth (+23% vs. Winter 22) is underpinned by Ryanair's 6 Malta-based aircraft, representing a $600M investment."
"As an island economy on the periphery of Europe, Malta is dependent on airlines like Ryanair to grow its connectivity and support its travel and tourism industry," the statement read.
O'Leary emphasised that Malta's connectivity and economy is at risk due to the potential impact which would happen as a result of the proposed Energy Taxation Directive's effect on intra-EU flights, exempting "the most polluting long-haul flights" which he said are "responsible for over 52% of EU aviation emissions yet operating just 6% of Eu flights". He added that Europe should "award environmentally friendly airlines like Ryanair". He said that it is important for Malta to use its voice which is "equal to larger states" in this regard.
A Ryanair statement read that "short-haul intra-EU passengers are already paying for all emissions under ETS while long-haul passengers pay zero. It makes no sense to double tax passengers who are flying short haul intra-EU flights, especially when this 'enviro tax' is not actually to be used to fund the decarbonisation of EU aviation. Many peripheral States such as Malta, Ireland, Portugal, Spain, Greece, and Cyprus, depend on tourism and have no alternative to flying, yet they are forced to pay all of Europe's ETS taxes, while they generate less than half of EU aviation emissions. This is clearly unfair." Ryanair called on the EU to scrap this ridiculous double tax and apply all enviro taxes fairly to all EU departing flights regardless of destination.
To celebrate the launch of Ryanair's Winter 23/24 Malta schedule, the airline is offering its Maltese customers fares from just €29.99 one way, available only on Ryanair's website/app.