Helisureste appoints Travel-Malta its sales representatives

Birkirkara, 28/02/06 - Helicopteros del Sureste, aka Helisureste, operators of the intra-islands helicopter service has appointed Travel-Malta Destination Management as their sales and marketing representatives on the islands.

The appointment was made on 23 February and is effective from 1 March.

All requests for ticket distribution to agents, requests for additional flights between Malta and Gozo, ad hoc and series charters and "all other helicopter operations within the Maltese islands are to be requested and channelled" to Travel-Malta, says Helisureste's director general Luis Minano San Valero. Put another way, Travel-Malta is running the show on the Spanish company's behalf.

The Birkirkara-based company's managing director, Vanni Corrieri, at onetime ran Malta Air Charter, the Air Malta subsidiary that operated the Gozo-Malta helicopter service, and feels confident that he and his company "can do a good job of it".

For more information, contact: Travel-Malta at St Helena's Buildings, Tumas Fenech Street, Birkirkara BKR 03. Tel: 21499903. Fax: 21499904. E-mail: res@travelmalta.com.mt Site: www.travelmaltadmc.com.

Refalo appointed to UNWTO strategic group

Madrid, 28 02/06 - Dr Michael Refalo, Malta's high commissioner in the United Kingdom, has been appointed a member of the World Tourism Organisation's Strategic Group.

"I am honoured that the World Tourism Organisation has recognised my work for Malta and international tourism", commented Refalo, who is a former minister for tourism.

Other members of the group, established in 1997 to advise the UNWTO secretary general on major tourism industry issues, include the president of the World Travel and Tourism Council (WTTC), the president of the International Federation of Tour Operators (IFTO), the president of Steigenberger and Messe Berlin, the president and CEO of the Travel Industry Association of America, Antonio Enriquez Savignac, the chairman of Club Mediterranée, the director of International Relations at TUI and the Chief Executive of the International Hotel and Restaurant Association.

On 9 March Refalo will chair the final meeting of the World Tourism Organisation's Task Force on Destination Management at ITB in Berlin. The task force will then become part of the World Tourism Organisation's central structures.

Ryanair founder to hold 49% of new Mexican LCC

Mosta, 28/02/06 - Ryanair founder Tony Ryan has jumped into the suddenly crowded Mexican low-fare market, reports ATW. The Ryan family, along with Irish equity firm Kite Investments, formed RyanMex, a company that will hold a 49 per cent stake in a new LCC dubbed AeroBus, which was unveiled at a Mexico City press conference yesterday and expects to launch in September with two B-737-300s, employing up to 500 and carrying 1.5 million passengers in its first year of operation and increasing its fleet to 10 aircraft by the following year, according to Irish press reports. Mexican bus transportation company IAMSA will hold the remaining 51 per cent.

PlaneConsult, run by former Ryanair operations director Conor McCarthy, reportedly will assist with the launch. McCarthy advised AirAsia CEO Tony Fernandes on the launch of that carrier.

Assuming AeroBus and other LCCs are launched, Mexico will have at least four low-fare airlines vying for a piece of the market. Volaris plans to launch this month with four leased A319s and recently ordered 16 firm A319s and optioned 40 more. Gol is involved in an airline set to start up in mid-year, while Mexicana is transforming its Aerocaribe Regional subsidiary into Click, which also proclaims itself an LCC.