Madrid stalls again on flight discount issue

Madrid has agreed to at least study the Balearics' proposals to solve the region's domestic flight problems. The Balearic Transport and Finance Ministers, Francesc Quetglás and Joan Mesquida, met the director general of Civil Aviation, Ignacio Esatún, and a Development Ministry junior secretary for talks in Madrid yesterday and Madrid will study Quetglás's proposals that domestic flights to and between the islands be declared a public service and flight discounts be increased from 33 per cent to 50 per cent. The proposals are nothing new to Madrid however - similar recommendations where discussed on September 19 and still Madrid has yet to make a decision. The Minorcan Transport Platform announced yesterday that on February 1 it will be staging a mass march calling for greater flight discounts and more frequent flights. In the winter, Minorca and Ibiza flight connections are reduced significantly. The platform in Majorca is expected to follow suit. Over 20'000 people signed a petition for greater discounts and flights last year and the public are getting tired of Madrid's delay in making a decision - central government is unlikely to make one until after the elections, unless it can devise a solution which will prove a vote winner as public support for the Balearic proposal is large and growing.