Central Government could still alter Balearic 50% air fare discount

REGIONAL Transport and Environment Minister, Gabriel Vicens said yesterday that he hoped that any changes Central Government may be planning in terms of regional air fares and discounts are first discussed with authorities in the Balearic Islands.

Vicens' was speaking after a visit he made to Madrid to attend an Environmental Consultative Committee on next year's national budgets.
He reported that within the framework of the 2011 Central Government budgets, powers will be given to the Minister for Public Works to alter the airline tariffs on inter-island flights and mainland connections. Vicens explained that if the Minister, José Blanco, were to come to agreements with the airlines serving the Balearics about the cost of their tickets, he could also alter the discount of 50 percent to which European Union Balearic residents are currently entitled.

Vicens said that if the Minister were contemplating any change, it should be done in consultation with the Balearic government because the discount was of “strategic importance” to island residnets. Vicens said that he regretted that the last month had been full of a series of declarations and counter declarations leaving it unclear as to whether Minister Blanco was, or was not, going to alter the air fare discounts.

Vicens said that if changes were to be made, then it were best that they be agreed “sooner rather than later.” He added that although it was within the power of the Ministry of Public Works to make alterations in tariffs and discounts, he hoped that the Minister would consider the knock-on affects of his decision.

Vicens said that by all means, the Minister should negotiate with the airlines but not at the cost of people living in the Balearic Islands. “We demand what has been promised, and that is that the 50 percent air fare discount for European Union residents in the Balearics be maintained,” said Vicens. He declared that the regional government was aware of the airline pricing system through representative attendance on a Transport Board which monitored changes.

Vicens expressed general disappointment with the level of state funding which will be made available to the Balearics next year for port and airport infrastructure. “We have not been properly financed in these matters by Central Government in recent years,” he claimed.