| This year has started well for the Malta holidays and | | | | West Sussex and close to South and West London |
| hotel industry, with an increase in visitors for the first | | | | that would provide Malta with the possibility of extra |
| few months compared to 2006 - a good indication that | | | | affluent holiday makers. |
| if the off peak season is doing well the rest of the | | | | In response to the arrival of Ryanair though, Air Malta |
| year could also see good gains in holiday tourists to | | | | has been offering reduced fares of its own, and has |
| the Mediterranean island. | | | | tried to defend her market share of the UK travelling |
| The measurable increase for the first months of 2007 | | | | public by starting a new route from Liverpool's John |
| has come just a couple of months since Ryanair | | | | Lennon Airport in the North-West of England. |
| started low cost flights to Malta from London's Luton | | | | The suggested reason for Malta turning down the |
| Airport to the island, and later months could be | | | | possibility of a new low cost route from the UK is that |
| boosted further after Ryanair started flying from Dublin | | | | London Gatwick does have tour operators offering |
| to Malta as well. | | | | their own flights, either as part of a package, or on a |
| Overall some predictions estimate that Malta will | | | | seat only sale. |
| benefit in the 2007 holiday season by an extra 80,000 | | | | With the arrival of more holidaymakers, the possibility |
| tourists, reversing the decline of recent years. | | | | of increased property sales to overseas buyers |
| The airline had to wait some time for the Maltese | | | | becomes more of a reality as well, so the real estate |
| authorities to finally relent and give the green light for | | | | sector as well as the holiday market is keeping a keen |
| the flights to start, with concern at one stage that if the | | | | eye on arrival figures for the months ahead. |
| low cost airlines walked away from the negotiating | | | | Some UK overseas property agencies who deal with |
| table that the island would slip from a mainstream | | | | property in Malta think that property prices could rise in |
| holiday destination to one catering for specialist groups | | | | 2007. |
| of travellers. | | | | 'With lower fares, Malta becomes a destination viable |
| But hopes that popular low cost airline easyJet would | | | | for 3 and 4 days trips a few times a year from the |
| provide further impetus for the Malta holiday trade | | | | UK, and that will attract buyers to look at Malta in the |
| seems to have been dashed with reports in the | | | | same way they do France and Spain when |
| island's press that talks have stalled, and a proposed | | | | considering where to buy a holiday home abroad. The |
| London Gatwick route has been shelved. | | | | weather in Malta and low fares could be a magnet for |
| A new low cost London Gatwick route would have | | | | buyers', commented one recently, |
| provided competition for the island's national airline, Air | | | | There is a warning however from some that property |
| Malta, and possibly have reduced the cost of flying to | | | | prices on the island might not necessarily escalate in |
| Malta further. | | | | the same way that regions of France have seen |
| Malta Flights | | | | when low cost airlines have started flying to their |
| Gatwick is located on the borders of Surrey and | | | | region. |