The national secretary of state for transport, Julio Gómez-Pomar, says that he will back the Balearic case for a flat-rate, inter-island air tariff at the European Commission.
Following a meeting today with Marc Pons, the Balearic transport minister, and the national minister of development, Ana Pastor, Gómez-Pomar explained that the Balearic proposal for a 30-euro rate would have to be raised with Brussels in order that it could be adopted in line with European legislation. He added that a principal difficulty with such a scheme lies with any possible "hidden subsidies".
However, he said that the ministry would support the tariff - for residents and for visitors - citing the example of flights between Sardinia and Milan and Rome, which are set at approximately 40 and 50 euros.
There is to be a further meeting with the Balearic government to discuss the matter in a fortnight's time.
Pons said that the meeting represented "very positive news" and a "significant change" on behalf of the ministry, which has taken the first steps towards talking with Brussels. "We know that this won't be simple and that there will be a lot of work," the minister acknowledged, adding that the regional government would give the development ministry all the help that was necessary.
He also noted that the next meeting will consider improvements to the public service obligation flights between Minorca and Madrid.
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