Easyjet threatens to abandon Madeira route due to changes in mobility subsidy

Tobi Hughes·
News Blog

Following the approval of the new Madeira mobility subsidy model, presented yesterday by PSD Madeira deputies, in the Assembly of the Republic, EasyJet reiterates once again that it will not be able to implement the changes inherent to it.

In a statement, the low-cost airline states that the implementation of these measures implies “the expulsion of easyJet from a liberalised market, by a political decision, and that it will force the company to interrupt the two domestic routes currently existing between Madeira and the Portuguese continent (LISFNC & OPOFNC), which will have a huge negative impact both on people’s lives, as well as on tourism and the economy of the entire region ”.

The same statement recalls that Easyjet has operated international routes to Madeira since 2007 and has provided domestic services since 2008, with “recognized benefits for residents of the region, ensuring greater competition and availability of lower fares for all”.

It promises to continue to monitor this decision, and to analyze all details related to it, with our regulatory and legal teams.

Taken From Diário Notícias

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Tobi Hughes

10 Responses

  1. I suggest the local government rethink this idea which will affect Madeira local residents and tourism and look at the desperate need for aerial firefighting appliances .
    This week we have seen fires, again potentially deliberately started, decimating Ponta do Pargo and other towns near by. It was purely through the hardwork of the local volunteer firefighters that there was no lose of life.
    It is only a matter of time until there will be lose of life due to too few firefighters and more importantly the lack of aerial appliances such as helicopters and aircraft. It is time to invest in these immediately.

  2. Not surprised. EasyJet does not accept this corrupt government to dictate what they can and can’t do. And they are right…

  5. The stupidity of the logic is beyond belief. Why book early get a cheaper price and wait maybe months until your trip is over and you get a small refund when you can literally book at the last minute and only pay 86 euros. Of course this means the cost of the subsidy has increased and if you have waited too long your return flight will probably cost more than 400 euros and you end up having to pay the difference on top. Business men and politicians of course will love this since no need to pay out such large sums for their last minute bookings and then spend ages at the post office trying to get their rebate. TAP will be laughing all the way to the bank if they can eliminate the only competition and inflate their monopoly prices again. People who use Easyjet can book through travel agents and get all the necessary paperwork guaranteeing they will receive the rebate and don’t forget unlike with TAP it is possible to book in advance with easyjet and actually pay less than 86 euros return, you will never find return flights with TAP for under 86 euros

  6. Can you please explain the nuts and bolts of this mobility subsidy
    Gear exactly is this
    Thanks to anyone who can enlighten me

  7. Currently because there is no direct flights between funchal and faro and only a couple of flights between funchal and Porto the 86 euros can actually cover four flights which easily can exceed the 400 euros maximum allowance. This means often in order to avoid paying more than 400 euros you go to a travel agent and book a combination of flights using TAP between Faro or Porto and Lisbon and easyjet between funchal and Lisbon. Quite how the proposed new subsidy fares of just 86 euros return would apply when two airlines are involved is another question. It is also ironic that this proposal could be the death nail to any new routes by Ryanair between funchal and faro since I’m sure they like easyjet will be unwilling to extend interest free loans to the government who just like now only pay out the subsidies once the flights have been completed and if you try to claim the refund on just the outgoing flight all 86 euros is deducted from the cost of that flight with the full balance only paid once the return flight has been completed. All I can say is anyone who is resident and wants to claim the refund on flights with easyjet make the booking via a travel agent if you don’t want the stress trying to claim using on line booking documentation. And one other word of warning pay for the flights using a Portuguese debit card or cash. If you use a UK debit or card the refund will be refused and if you pay using a Portuguese credit card you will be expected to wait a further maximum of 28 days before the refund is issued on the assumption that you may not have actually paid for the flights when they were taken.

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