Futura direct will cease inter island flights for winter

Regional Wings to start new service

Talks will be initiated to discuss the social implications of providing a regular service between the Balearic Islands

Hazel Martin.Maó

Regional Wings has confirmed that it will be commencing regular flights between the airports of Son Sant Joan (Mallorca) and Maó next Monday 3rd October, offering six connections daily in each direction. This follows some frustrated efforts during April this year.

The airline will also maintain the date of 31st October to initiate flights between the airports of Mallorca and Eivissa, with another six connections, using three turboprop ATR 42 500 aeroplanes.

Regional Wings enters the inter island market as the principal competitor to the only company presently operating regular flights - Air Nostrum. It has declared these connections as a ŒPublic Service´ meeting all the necessary requirements to begin a regular service within the Balearic Islands: approved timetable, reserved Œslots´ in which to operate, as well as the approval of its fares by the Civil Aviation authority.

This follows the withdrawal of the services offered by Futura Direct, who will suspend all inter island flights at the end of this tourist season. The company has taken this decision after verifying that the annual concession is not profitable when operating between all the islands. Futura first appeared in the Balearics about a year and a half ago, during which time it has been chosen by many residents, to whom it offered some interesting deals.

From May until 23rd September the airline has transported 11,259 people between Maó and Palma and 11,361 in the opposite direction. Most of these spent only a weekend in one of the other islands because the timetable only allowed for flights on Fridays and Mondays.

Charter flights connecting the Balearic Islands via Palma have not lived up to expectations owing to the fact that less people wished to fly to Eivissa than to Menorca. As a consequence, the airline´s management had taken the decision to cease its inter island activity this October. This action was based on the fact that, in order to operate in the islands it is necessary to provide a service all year, which is not profitable.

The company is also reluctant to confirm its presence next summer - it all depends upon whether the Balearic Government intends revising the obligation of airlines to offer a service during the winter months. However Futura is not going to abandon the Balearic market completely until it has also undertaken studies into the social implications of pulling out. Futura wishes to have talks with the appropriate authorities and with Civil Aviation in an effort to find a solution to the problem; it would be a shame to jeopardise inter island communications.

Until its activities come to an end Futura Direct has launched a special promotion for Balearic residents who want to fly from Maó to Palma: the first 100 applicants can travel for less than 30 euros and the next 62 for 40 euros.