A petition to try and re-instate winter flights to European destinations has been started by a well-known local businessman Martin Makepeace. A few weeks ago the Island Council announced that it would not be renewing its agreement with low-cost airline Ryanair. Ryanair received a subsidy from the Balearic Government in return for offering international flights to a handful of European destinations. A meeting was held last week by the group with the Councillor for Tourism on the Island, Carmen Ferrer. In the near future they plan a meeting in Mallorca to speak directly to the Balearic Government. The more signatures they have the more bargaining power they have to push for a result.
This is a copy of the letter to that was presented to Councillor Carmen Ferrer on Friday.
Dear Ms Ferrer
We have started an online petition which now has over 1,600 signatures (in just 7 days) asking you to re-think your decision and strategy not to pay the previously agreed subsidy to Ryanair so they can operate international flights during the winter months.
We understand that in these economically difficult times it is a challenge to subsidise an airline to operate flights, but we believe you have a very simple decision to make on behalf of the island population.
Decision 1: Do business with Ryanair and we get several international flights per week from Italy, Germany and England bringing thousands of people in and out of the island and contributing substantial amounts to the local economy, stimulating the property market and promoting Ibiza as a winter tourist destination.
Decision 2: Shut the door to Ryanair and isolate Ibiza once again, seriously shaking the confidence of potential investors and those who want to visit family and friends or discover Ibiza as a winter destination. Most of these people say they are not prepared to travel via Barcelona or Mallorca etc at extra cost and time.
Ibiza is a world class brand and product and should be operated on a 12 month basis and we hope that the island government will try and find a way for the busy and prosperous summer months to cover some of the costs of the quieter, challenging winter months. International flights are a fundamental basis of our island economy and without these we cannot hope to compete with our neighbours and other destinations who are more than happy to do business with the low-cost carriers.
The good news is that we have spoken to Ryanair and the door remains open so we strongly urge you, as the government representing all the people of Ibiza, to speak to them again and help put Ibiza on the world map not just in the summer season but all year round.
Yours sincerely,
Martin Makepeace
To make your voice heard and join the thousands who are demanding direct winter flights, please visit –
http://www.gopetition.com/petitions/winter-flights.html
