16/05/2004 00:00
TW
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POLITICAL parties in the Balearics were united yesterday in condemning the increase in the price of airline tickets sparked by the rise in petrol prices.

They were also agreed on the need to implement a price structure so that the increase in travel costs would adversely affect Islanders as little as possible. Amongst alternatives, the ”Special Baleric Régime” was suggested, an economic tool for compensating the region's inhabitants should they suffer any negative financial consequences of living in the Archipelago.

Joan Huguet, parliamentary spokesman for the Partido Popular (currently in power in the Balearics) drove home the importance of continuing to negotiate with the central government Ministry of Public Works, to “find mechanisms to correct the inequalities” with the Peninsula in the context of air transport.

Majorcan Socialist (PSM) spokesman, Pere Sampol, believed that the new price rise highlights the obligation of government to declare links from the Balearic Islands with the Peninsula as a public air service with set maximum tariffs, and not simply limit such a service to inter-island flights.