By Matthew Bonanno

Copyright timesofmalta

The newly unveiled direct flight between Malta and New York City will cost around double the current, non-direct flights by other airlines, an analysis by Times of Malta shows. The connection, announced by Foreign Affairs Minister Ian Borg on Tuesday, will be operated by Delta Air Lines between New York’s John F Kennedy International Airport and Malta International Airport. The airline will operate an initial schedule of three weekly flights using a Boeing 767-300, between June and October. However, people in Malta wanting to use the new route to travel to the Big Apple will need to dig deep into their pockets. How much does it cost to fly direct to New York? The average price from a sample of 18 direct, return economy-class Delta flights across dates in June, July and August is around €1,700 at the time of writing. The cheapest flights from these dates is €1,091 while the most expensive are €2,408. Flights in August are the most expensive. How much do non-direct flights cost? On the other hand, Google Flights shows that the price of a non-direct flight between the two airports by airlines such as Lufthansa and SWISS, which have layovers in Frankfurt and Zurich respectively, typically ranges between around €700 and €900 and sometimes even less. For example, on the dates when the flights cost €1,091 – leaving Malta on June 13 and coming back on June 21 – the equivalent Lufthansa flight with a four-hour layover costs €544. When comparing flight durations, the direct Delta route takes around 10 hours and 30 minutes, while the shortest non-direct flights clock in at around 12 hours and 20 minutes. Who will the flights benefit? While the flights will be costly for those living in Malta, tourism industry stakeholders say the route will attract high-spending American travellers. The Malta Hotels and Restaurants Assocation called the route a gamechanger. “The American traveller is recognised globally for longer stays, higher spending, and a strong interest in cultural heritage, gastronomy, and authentic experiences, all areas where Malta excels,” the association said. Where is the financial support for the flights coming from? Speaking in parliament on Wednesday, Tourism Minister Ian Borg said that as part of its wider strategy, the Malta Tourism Authority will support the benefits of the direct flight by re-allocate budgets previously earmarked for sponsorship of music events to the promotion of cultural tourism. What has the reaction been? Most companies that deal with tourists have welcomed the direct flights. The Malta Chamber joined the chorus on Thursday, welcoming the announcement of direct flights between the United States and Malta as a “major breakthrough,” but cautioned that connectivity alone is “not sufficient” to guarantee high-quality tourism. It called for a “redoubling” of efforts to ensure Malta delivers “an exceptional visitor experience.” “US travellers are known for their discerning tastes, which means quality across all aspects of the tourism product chain is crucial,” the Chamber said in a statement. It urged “stricter enforcement of regulations” covering cleanliness, maintenance, and service standards.