As
a result of the crisis being suffered in the airline industry worldwide and
in an effort to reduce costs, the companies that operate flights between the
islands and the mainland have trimmed their flight schedules to an unacceptable
level (i.e., one flight a day from Ibiza to Madrid).
Following
protests by the travelling public, a meeting was held on Friday 2nd
November in Palma (Mallorca) and attended by Government representatives, members
of the three islands councils (Ibiza, Mallorca and Menorca), representatives
from the main Spanish airlines and trade unions. They unanimously approved a
request to have the Spanish central government control all flights between the
Balearic Islands and mainland Spain.
The
minister of public transport Francesc Quetglas feels that the Government needs
to take action. He also added, “this is only the start of help that will be
offered to the airline companies”.
As
well as asking for government help, the delegates also asked the Spanish government
not to increase airport taxes as they had planned. The increase in airport taxes
by 2% in 2002 would cost the leading Spanish airline company, Iberia, an extra
6,000 million pesetas (36 million Euros) a year.
The
State estimates that over the next few years airport tax could rise by as much
as 10%, a figure that the Government justifies saying that the money will be
spent in a bid to improve airport quality and security. But the airline companies
have manifested their disapproval of the planned tax increment assuring that
this extra annual expense could be enough to send the smaller airline companies
into bankruptcy.
So
far, the only thing that the Spanish government has agreed to do to help the
airline companies is to promote tourism in an effort to keep flight numbers
from decreasing.
Also
discussed at the meeting was the necessity to create a committee that would
permit direct communication between the Government and the airline companies
so that instant decisions could be made in times of crisis.
You
may ask what would be the benefits of having Government controlled flights.
The Canary Isles are already under a Government controlled system that operates
as follows:
1)
All national flight tariffs are established by the State and revised
annually by the Administration Board.
2)
Compulsory discounts are applied to young people under 22 and seniors
over 60 years of age. Sport federations and people that require hospital assistance
are also entitled to discounts.
3)
The usual discounts for residents also apply.
4)
The Government establishes the number of flights, timetables, minimum
capacity of flights and the type of aeroplane, all depending on each islands
need.
5)
The number of flight cancellations can’t affect more that 2% of flights
a year.
6)
Delays can’t be more than 30 minutes long on a maximum of 90% of flights.
It
seems to be that the only negative aspect of the Government controlling flights
programme will be the possibility of turning air travel in the Balearics into
a monopoly.
From
Monday 19th November it will be a little easier to travel between
Ibiza and Madrid.
AeBal,
the affiliated company of Spanair that operates exclusively in the Balearics,
informed the Govern balear (Balearic Government) on Monday 5th November
that they are re-establishing a daily flight between Ibiza and Madrid.
The
new flight will permit people to fly to the capital first thing in the morning
and return later that evening.
Until
now, Iberia´s midday flight was the only option for travellers meaning that
it was impossible to fly to Madrid and return to the island on the same day
as the Ibiza-Madrid flight and the Madrid-Ibiza flight departed at virtually
the same time.
The
Consell Insular (Island Council) is delighted with the decision as it relieves
the pressure on the controversial airline situation.
As
a result of the airline companies demanding the Spanish government control flights,
leading shipping companies have also become interested in the idea.
Eurolíneas
Marítimas (Balearia), Grupo Boluda and Trasmediterránea are all preparing documentation
that has to be presented to the Dirección General de la Marina Mercante (State
Marine Trading) before 30th November if they want to participate
in the Government controlled company in charge of the Balearics sea transport.
GERMAN SUPERMARKET CHAIN
INTERESTED IN IBIZA SHOPS
A
German multinational supermarket chain has shown interest in the Diskont supermarkets
on the island.
Diskont
supermarkets (Ibidis, S.A.), affiliated to the Catalan company Miró, closed
their 16 shops on the island during August and September this year, citing too
much competition from other leading supermarkets on the island as the cause.
The
50 Diskont employees had their contracts temporarily cancelled from 1st
October to 31st December so that they could receive unemployment
benefit until the future of the supermarket chain is decided.
The
workers receive 70% of their usual wages from the unemployment centre while
Diskont pays the other 30%.
“We
don’t want the workers to lose out over our decision to close the supermarkets,
that is why we are trying to help in as many ways as possible”, assured a spokesperson.
Diskont
also proved that they are not going to let their employees down by paying all
their workers wages for the month of September, even though most of the supermarkets
were closed.
Diskont
realizes how beneficial a sale to the German company would be as “it would mean
that hopefully nearly all our workers could be incorporated back into their
old jobs”.
WINTER ACTIVITIES
Winter
is well underway and already a full programme of activities for those boring
winter days has been thought out.
The
Ibiza residents have now got time to enjoy the island and relax without having
to think about the summer stress.
After
queuing for hours to “sign on” and receive their unemployment benefit, people
will be able to start enjoying the empty streets and beaches.
If
relaxing gets a bit boring, there is always plenty to do.
Sporting
activities seem to be the favourite option with hundreds of people taking to
the local gyms and “night jogging” seems to be more popular this year than ever.
The
Spanish football season is in full swing and the English cricket team has just
started a new season.
The
Theatre Trust is also starting their winter programme with a Rock ‘n’ Roll night
in the casino of Ibiza on 16th, 17th and 18th
November at nine o’clock.
Tickets
are available at all branches of ‘La Caixa’ bank and all proceeds from this
event will be donated to the Asociación Española Contra el Cáncer (Spanish Cancer
Research Fund).
A
full programme of musical, theatrical and cultural activities organized by the
Consell Insular (Island Council) is also available through out the winter months.
I
will be reporting on all of these events in future Local News but that’s all
for this week.
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