Libyan flight delayed at M.I.A. after collision on the ground

An airport van has crashed into the nose of a Libyan Airlines CRJ-900 aircraft (5A-LAC), causing minor damage.

LN147 was due to leave to Tripoli at 1415h but it will have to stay in Malta until it has been inspected. Its 11 passengers and their baggage have been transferred to an Air Malta plane due to take off to Tripoli at 1715h.

The head of M.I.A. operations M. Dalmas told www.di-ve.com that the Air Malta plane would bring back Lufthansa Technik engineers who will inspect the damage to the plane's nose gear door and evaluate what the damage is.

Although the incident was minor, the same procedure has to be followed as for more major ones. Two investigations are already underway, one led by the Chief Inspector of Aircraft Accidents and another by the airport itself. These will determine the cause of the accident as well as ensure that sufficient procedures are in place to make sure it does not recur. Although ramp accidents are common in Europe, there are only few in Malta, Dalmas said.


(www.di-ve.com)

Air Malta sees growth in October traffic

Air Malta saw passenger growth of 5.1% in October compared to the same month last year, figures issued by the Association of European Airlines show.

The airline welcomed 163,600 passengers, recording a load factor of almost 71%.

In the 10 months to October, the airline carried 1.3 million passengers, a load factor of 67.2%. The number of passengers was down 2.9% on the same 10 months last year, with capacity having been increased by 5.8%.

The AEA said that the year-end total of passenger traffic in Europe was expected to be down by more than 4% on the already depressed 2008 figure.

(www.timesofmalta.com)

Air Malta losses exceeds €25m, chairperson mulls resignation

Air Malta financial losses are in excess of €25 million as Lawrence Zammit, Air Malta chairperson, is mulling resignation, newspaper Business today said.

The newspaper said: "Air Malta Chairman Lawrence Zammit is reported to have informed government that he is considering resigning his post during the first months on the New Year, possible when the Annual General Meeting is convened some time in March."

It is seem that Air Malta’s financial results are in excess of €25 million, with 2010 being seen as crucial for the company to "survive."

The blame is being placed on fuel price, the value of the sterling against the euro and on the unions. "The summer of 2008 saw the greatest rise in fuel price, while demand was strong and traffic increase … that year Air Malta was hit by an increase of €30 million in fuel costs," Joe Capello, Air Malta CEO, said.

Moreover, the company also blamed the unions for not being "realistic" in the current situation. Yet, the jobs of 2,000 employees are now at risk, with one senior official urging the authorities for "real and immediate action."

(www.maltastar.com)

M.I.A. releases traffic results for November 2009

During the month of November M.I.A. registered a 2.5% increase in passenger movements. The first eleven months of 2009 resulted in an average decrease of 6.8% when compared to the corresponding period last year.

The total passenger movements on scheduled and non-scheduled flights in November 2009 was of 180,236, an increase of 4,330 passengers when compared to November 2008. Both the Aircraft movements and cargo & mail figures registered an increase of 0.4% and 19.2% respectively.

Passenger traffic for main markets Italy, Spain and France increased by 5.4%, 80.6% and 6.7% respectively, whilst decreases were registered from the U.K. with 0.5% and Germany with 5.5%.

The busiest day in November 2009 was the 1st with 8,589 passengers and 72 aircraft movements.

(www.maltairport.com)