Ultra-short-haul flights are repeatedly in the crossfire of criticism and are taxed particularly heavily by more and more countries. For understandable reasons, islands can usually only be reached by sea or air. It is in the nature of things that there must also be particularly short flights. So short that even Ryanair doesn't do inflight sales.

The Irish low-cost company and its subsidiaries Lauda Europe, Buzz, Malta Air and Ryanair UK are known throughout Europe to be a flying general goods retailer. From drinks and snacks to perfumes and scratch cards to smartphone gadgets, pretty much everything is on offer. Depending on the crew on duty, sometimes subtle, sometimes downright obtrusive. Income from inflight sales is a not inconsiderable part of the group turnover. All the more surprising when there is no sale at all.

The islands of Sicily and Malta traditionally have a lot in common. It is therefore not surprising that Malta Air (Ryanair) and the state Air Malta connect several cities in Sicily with Luqa Airport. Before the corona pandemic, there were even extremely high-frequency flights, so that there could be talk of a kind of "airlift". The offer is currently reduced, but this does not prevent the two players from continuing to compete fiercely.

This is the sharpest on the Malta-Catania-Malta route, as this is the racetrack between the two islands. Air Malta also flies to Palermo and Ryanair's competitor Malta Air also flies to Trapani. In the past there were also regular flights to Comiso. Due to the current situation, the Sicily offer of both providers is concentrated on Catania in the 2022/21 winter flight schedule.

The flight time between the two island airports is given by the two providers as 40 or 45 minutes. Of course, this means the block time, because the pure time in the air is a maximum of about 20 minutes. This is also the simple reason why both Ryanair and Air Malta do not offer inflight sales on this route: the time in the air is simply too short.

If you compare the two providers with each other, a question quickly arises: "Who offers less?". Almost nothing is included with both airlines, although Air Malta is more accommodating with hand luggage. The state carrier allows you to take one piece of hand luggage in the IATA standard format and one small bag. The competitor Malta Air (Ryanair) requires the paid Priority package. In view of the short flight time, this is not exactly cheap and sometimes more expensive than the actual ticket price.

Comparison of air ticket prices

Basically, it can be said that the booking process with Ryanair is simpler than that with Air Malta. From a price point of view, it makes sense to compare both providers or to use the other company for the outward and return flight, since there is definitely great savings potential here - depending on the day of the flight.

The Irish low-cost airline has the flights operated by its subsidiary Malta Air and offers tickets in the single-digit euro range. Depending on the occupancy, however, three-digit prices are also charged for the ultra-short route. Nothing is included in the "Value Tariff" apart from the actual flight and taking a small bag with you. At least ten euros are due for the priority package, seat reservations are available from two euros. Taking checked-in baggage with you is comparatively expensive.

Air Malta charges – apart from promotional tickets – around 50 euros. The cheapest fare class includes one piece of hand luggage in the IATA standard format and one small bag. Seat reservations are significantly more expensive with Air Malta than with the competitor Ryanair, but the two providers don't really give much away in terms of price for checked baggage. It's expensive on both airlines.

Comparison of check-in

Basically, it should be noted that Luqa Airport (Malta) - in contrast to Catania - requires all passengers - regardless of the booked airline - to come to the respective check-in counter for a document control before entering the security area. This also applies if you have already checked in via the Internet.

This is exactly where Ryanair has a cost trap, because passengers who think they have to go to the counter "anyway" but "dance" there without a boarding pass on their smartphone or printed out are asked to pay for the counter check-in. This can cost up to 50 euros.

Ryanair does not allow you to select your desired seat free of charge during online check-in, but charges money for it. If you choose the automatic assignment, travelers are very often separated and what a coincidence: the combination is then offered for sale. Obviously part of the business model.

At the competitor Air Malta, the seats can currently be freely selected during online check-in, subject to availability. However, there are also seats for which a surcharge is required or a certain booking class had to be selected in advance. The subsequent booking of services is only possible to a limited extent with this provider during check-in. In addition, Air Malta requires the completion of an electronic health form, which is not checked in practice.

In Luqa, regardless of whether you are flying with Ryanair or Air Malta, you have to go to the check-in counter with your travel documents, the "corona documents" and, if you have your boarding card, your boarding card. There you will then receive a new printout of the boarding pass or a handwritten confirmation that the "Docs Check" has been carried out. Without one of the two documents, there is no access to the security area, because the airport has positioned security personnel in front of the entrance, who will not let anyone through without first visiting the counter.

With Air Malta – in contrast to Ryanair – the classic counter check-in is free of charge. It is therefore not necessary to check in online in advance with this company. However, if you want to get hold of a specific seat at no extra charge, it can still make sense to check in online as early as possible in order to be able to get hold of it.

Comparison of flights

Ryanair has the Luqa-Catania-Luqa route served by its subsidiary Malta Air. As a rule, Boeing 737-800 aircraft are used. The competitor Air Malta sometimes flies with Airbus A320 and sometimes with A320neo.

In any case, the cabin of the state provider makes a more appealing impression and is not characterized by as much plastic as that of the competitor Malta Air. Otherwise, the differences lie in small details: the backrests can be adjusted with Air Malta, but not with the Ryanair subsidiary . The seat pitch, on the other hand, is about exactly the same. Presumably these little things hardly play a role in view of the very short flight time.

There is not much to say about the flights, because there are not big differences. The best way to pass the time is to look out the window, because you can see Sicily from the air. Depending on the arrival and departure route, you also get a good view of the islands of Gozo, Comino and Malta. In view of the short flight time, the machines do not fly particularly high anyway, so that the impressive views of the Mediterranean islands are probably the highlight.

Comparison of inflight service

There is none on both Malta Air (Ryanair) and Air Malta. The flight time between Malta and Sicily vv is far too short to be able to make even one trolley pass through a fully occupied plane. Therefore, there is no regular sale at all.

In principle, both airlines have so-called paid catering. This means that the purse has to be pulled out for drinks and food. On the Catania route, however, the flight time is not sufficient.

If you are very thirsty, you can contact the crew at both providers. This is done, for example, by pressing the button above the seat. For example, mineral water in plastic bottles is available for sale at the passenger's explicit request. If necessary, however, you should do this quickly after take-off, because on this ultra-short route the aircraft will very quickly begin the landing approach again.

Alternative: You can also buy a drink in the security area in Catania or Luqa and take it on board. Especially in midsummer, when it can get very hot on the two islands, you can see many passengers boarding with a water bottle in their hands. If they are non-alcoholic drinks and they were bought in the security area, it is expressly permitted.

However, an inglorious circumstance must also be pointed out at this point: While the prices for drinks in the security area at Catania airport are roughly at the normal level of Sicilian gastronomy, in Luqa you have to dig disproportionately deep into your wallet when you are thirsty. Prices are significantly higher from outside the security area and well above the level of Maltese gastronomy.

Conclusion and alternatives

The flight connections between Malta and Sicily vv are so-called ultra-short-haul flights. On the mainland, given the extremely short distances, one would literally wonder why one would even need the plane for the few kilometers. On islands, however, the situation is different, because there is simply no bridge between Sicily and Malta. The local residents are therefore dependent on the flight connections.

Alternatively, a ferry connection is available. Depending on the course, these are exclusively for passengers and on others motor vehicles can also be taken along. These are operated by Virtu Ferries and depart from Valletta in Malta. In Sicily, only the port of Pozzallo is currently served. As a result, you first have to travel across Sicily to get to Catania. The journey time by bus is around 1,5 hours. The ship also travels significantly longer between the two islands because it is slower than the plane. In the regular price, the ferry is often more expensive than the flight connections. However, if you are planning a day trip, Virtu Ferries has special fares that can be cheaper than flying.

In terms of environmental protection, there shouldn't be any major differences between planes and ferries. Both modes of transport have their pros and cons, so each traveler should decide for themselves what they think is right.

With regard to the flight connection, the conclusion can be drawn that you should first analyze what you actually want to take with you. The bottom line is Air Malta can be cheaper if you have more than a small bag with you and if not Ryanair. But it makes perfect sense, especially for day trips, if you compare the prices exactly and book the other carrier for the outward and return flights, because this way - depending on the day of the flight - you can save quite a bit of money.

But you shouldn't have high expectations in terms of on-board service and co, because there are simply none with either provider. With Malta Air (Ryanair) you can enjoy the unusual pleasure of a short flight with a good view of the Mediterranean Sea and islands, but without the usual sales show. As mentioned: Even with the competitor Air Malta, there are no inflight sales on the Sicily flights.

One can criticize that the ultra-short-haul flights are expensive for the passenger compared to other connections to mainland Italy. Air Malta in particular often has flights for 19 euros and less to Rome and Milan-Linate. Given the fact that the flight time is significantly longer, passengers pay significantly more per minute of flight to Catania. It's no different with Ryanair, but the provider often knocks out tickets in the single-digit euro range, which, however, include pretty much nothing at all.

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