The world famous Breitling Jet Team will be the stars of the show at this year's Malta International Airshow today and tomorrow. The airshow, in its 17th edition this year, will play host to participants from France, Germany, Italy, The Netherlands, U.K. and the U.S. along with the Armed Forces of Malta and other participants from Malta's aviation field. The Breitling Jet Team, which flies a formation of seven L-39 advanced trainers, will perform the grand finale of the show on both days. Other highlights include a bright orange F-16 fighter jet from the Royal Netherlands Air Force, a KDC-10 refuelling tanker and a brand-new Diamond, as well as more famous jets such as the Harrier jump jet. Also, there will be no less than seven aircraft from the United States Air Force and Navy on display. Julian Jaeger, CEO of Malta Int'l Airport, said: "At M.I.A. we fully appreciate the Malta Aviation Society's undertakings which cater with great interest and dedication for the many keen aviation enthusiasts in Malta. M.I.A.'s partnership in the organisation of this event is a natural move which warrants an accomplished success." Members of the public are being encouraged to make use of a special public transport shuttle that will run between Valletta's City Gate and the airshow throughout the day. Entry tickets cost €8 and children under 14 years of age enter free. The gates open at 10 a.m. and will close at 5.30 p.m. The air display starts at 1.30 p.m. each day. Today's display will kick off with Microlights and the Eurojet Learjet 60, followed by the Malta School of Flying, a SOREM CL-415, Para Motor, and Para departure at 2 p.m. After that, an M.I.A.T.M. AB-212 will be on display, along with a departing Antares, a Para Drop, the AFM CASA 212 and the Antares display. At 4 p.m., the RNLAF F-16 will appear along with the Pioneer Team and the Breitling Team. Tomorrow, the displays will begin with an Antares display and departure, a Eurojet Learjet 60, a Para departure and various Microlights. At 2 p.m., a parachute drop will be performed with the AFM CASA 212 and the Pioneer Team also appearing. After that, M.I.A.T.M. AB-212 will be on display along with the Malta School of Flying, Para Motor, and SOREM CL-415. The Pioneer team will also depart at this time. Finally, at 4 p.m., the RNLAF F-16 will once again be performing along with the Breitling Team.(www.timesofmalta.com)
Ryanair announced that its traffic to Malta was up 6% for the first 8 months of the year but appealed for lower airport charges to enable this trend to continue. Ryanair said that Malta lost 200,000 tourists so far this year - a 9% year-on-year decline - despite its own 6%.Ryanair plans to grow its European traffic by 15% this year to 66 million passengers. However, Ryanair’s growth in Malta will account for less than 1% of Ryanair’s overall growth due to high airport charges, it warned."Ryanair continues to grow passengers and tourism in countries such as Italy and Spain where airport costs have been reduced – in some case to zero – in order to stimulate inward tourism and protect jobs. Italy and Spain will account for 50% and 35% respectively of Ryanair’s growth this year as both countries have addressed the main deterrent to growth – airport costs," the airline said, pointedly adding that it had added its 9th and 10th Italian bases at Bari and Brindisi.Ryanair said Malta should to follow Italy and Spain and address their "exorbitant airport costs immediately" in order to grow passenger numbers and jobs."If cost reductions are secured Ryanair will immediately help to reverse the declining tourism trend in Malta by growing further," it said.Ryanair has a proven track record of assisting tourism growth across Europe and is willing to immediately assist Malta to reverse its declining trend if airport costs are reduced. High airport costs are preventing increased tourism and jobs for Malta and a reduction in charges will deliver increased tourism and increased jobs," its spokesman Colin Casey said.(www.di-ve.com)
Efly has launched its flight operations from Malta International Airport (M.I.A.) this morning with the first commercial flight (with 56 pax) to Catania-Fontanarossa.The first flight departed Malta Int'l Airport at 0700LT (as LEF1002) and the return flight from Catania-Fontanarossa landed at M.I.A. at 0850LT (as LEF1003).Efly has currently one aircraft on strength, a BAe.146-300 with registration 9H-ELE.
Malta DCA has published the latest update of the Maltese Civil Aircraft Register (dated 18th September 2009).Additions/Deletions since last update of 4th August 2009:- Addition/s: none- Deletion/s: 9H-AFG - CL-600 Challenger 605 ...re-registered as P4-SAT
The decline in airport passenger numbers continued in August, Malta's pak month for tourism, albeit at a slower pace.
Figures issued by M.I.A. today show a decline of 3.4%. The average decline in passenger numbers between January and August was 8.8% for the first eight months of 2009 when compared to the corresponding period last year.The total passenger movements on scheduled and non-scheduled flights in August 2009 was of 377,283 a decline of 13,265 when compared to August 2008. Aircraft movements increased by 1.2% whilst cargo and mail figures registered a decline of 11.3% .Passenger traffic for main markets, UK and Germany, decreased by 5.8%, and 9.9% respectively, whilst the Italian market registered an increase of 4.8% when compared to August 2008.The busiest day in August 2009 was the 18th in terms of passengers with 15,454 movements whilst the highest number of aircraft movements totalled 110 on the 2nd.(www.timesofmalta.com)
Eagle Heli Tours has been granted a landing permit by the authorities to operate ad hoc helicopter flights between Malta and Gozo, from Malta Int'l Airport to the Gozo Heliport.The company said its service is available daily (Mon-Sun) between 10 a.m. and 7 p.m.It uses a small Robinson R44 helicopter which can take up to three passengers per flight. The journey takes some 11 minutes.Eagle Associates Malta Ltd introduced helicopter tours around Malta last February, operating from Malta Int'l Airport.(www.timesofmalta.com)
An Ethiopian Airlines B757-200, with registration ET-ALY, has diverted to Malta Int'l Airport (MLA) this morning, at around at 0525LT, because of a medical condition onboard.The aircraft was in flight between Addis Ababa (Ethiopia) and Rome-Fiumicino (Italy) when diverting to Malta.
The aircraft departed from MLA at around 0810LT to Rome-Fiumicino.
The Ministry for Infrastructure, Transport & Communications (Malta) is publishing draft legislation that will regulate the registration of aircraft and mortgages. The draft follows stakeholder consultation that took place earlier on this year and is aimed at establishing a successful aircraft register in Malta.Download the draftThe general public, as well as interested intermediaries are invited to submit comments and reactions by noon Monday 28th September 2009 to: info.mitc@gov.mt.(mitc.gov.mt)
The world famous Breitling Jet Team will be the stars of the show at this year's Malta International Airshow today and tomorrow. 
