Ryanair launches flt ops between Malta and Eindhoven

Ryanair has launched this morning flight operations on schedule between Malta Int'l Airport and Eindhoven (EIN) in the Netherlands.

This first flight, operated by Ryanair's sole MLA-based aircraft, Boeing B738 (EI-DCT), has departed from Malta Int'l Airport at 0803LT as RYR3475 returned back at Malta IAP from Eindhoven at 1351LT as RYR3476.

Air Malta cuts down 11 flights to UK in summer 2011

Air Malta cuts down Heathrow, Gatwick, Birmingham, and Manchester flights for summer 2011, reducing capacity by some 38,000.

The national airline will be discontinuing eleven flights from the U.K., as the first signs of reduced activity from Air Malta – which announced its first-ever summer losses this year – start to worry tour operators.

Air Malta’s flight schedule for summer 2011 shows it will be halving its activity from London-Gatwick from 14 flights, cutting two flights from its previous seven to Manchester, one flight from London-Heathrow, and practically pulling out of Birmingham by operating only until April 30th, 2011.

U.K.-based tour operators and hoteliers who spoke to MaltaToday said the reduced capacity could see Malta lose over 300,000 bed nights after its record summer.

"At 80% capacity over a six-month season, Air Malta would be bringing in 38,000 tourists less," the same sources said.

(www.maltatoday.com.mt)

Malta Air Traffic Services selects the Searidge Low-Cost Ground Surveillance System for Malta IAP

Searidge Technologies, provider of intelligent video solutions to air navigation service providers (ANSPs) and airports, announced that Malta Air Traffic Services Ltd. (MATS) has selected the Searidge intelligent video solution, IntelliDAR as their airport surface management system. MATS is the Air Navigation Service Provider for Malta Int'l Airport.

Searidge will deploy IntelliDAR as a Low-Cost Ground Surveillance (LCGS) system to provide situational awareness of the movement area, adjoining taxiways and apron. It will leverage commercial off the shelf video sensors and advanced intelligent video processing to detect and track aircraft and vehicles on the entire surface and present all ground traffic information via a one-look display to air traffic controllers, in real-time.

"Over the past 18 months, Searidge has provided us with a remote apron management system that has allowed us to improve the communication efficiency at our airport," explains L. Fenech, CEO, MATS. "The Searidge track record in delivering high quality, innovative solutions is excellent and we are pleased to expand the solution to now include LCGS capability."

The Searidge remote apron management system currently deployed at Malta IAP will be leveraged and scaled up to a full IntelliDAR LCGS system. It will automate and replace many functions and processes that are currently manually conducted, which will improve airport efficiency and safety.

"IntelliDAR based LCGS offers significant performance benefits over legacy radar based LCGS" says A. Sauriol, vice president ATM/Airport Solutions, Searidge Technologies Inc. "In addition to a having a better cost/performance curve, IntelliDAR based LCGS enables key applications that radar can't, such as airport gate/apron management and security integration."

The system will be rolled out and certified over the next twelve months and replace the existing manual surface management procedure set. Once fully deployed, the system will be capable of further automation and integration, including interfacing to electronic flight strips, approach radar, airport operational database and the runway lighting system to enable peripheral applications and additional efficiencies.

(www.airtransportnews.aero)

PNS Rah Naward in Valletta Port on a courtesy visit

The Pakistani Navy Sail Training Vessel PNS Rah Naward (24) has arrived this morning in Valletta Port (Grand Harobur) on a courtesy visit.

PNS Rah Naward, a brig type sailing vessel, was purchased by the Pakistani Navy from Tall Ships Youth Trust in September 2010. Formerly known as Prince William, she was renamed as PNS Rah Naward on September 23rd, 2010, at Albert Docks in the city of Hull, U.K.

PNS Rah Naward is currently alongside at Wine Wharf and is scheduled to sail from Malta this Thursday, October 28th.

Smartlynx A320 diverts to Malta IAP due to loss of cabin pressure

A Smartlynx A320 (LY-LCD) performing flight ART245 from Tenerife Sur, Canary Island (Spain) to Antalya (Turkey), was enroute at FL390 about 130nm east of Malta when the crew initiated an emergency descent to FL100 due to the loss of cabin pressure. The crew had not alternative but to turned around the aircraft and diverted to Malta Int'l Airport for a safe landing on RWY31 at about 45 minutes later, at 0116LT.

The airplane was able to depart Malta after 22 hours on the ground and positioned to Milan-Malpensa (Italy).

(www.avherald.com)

SR Technics Malta rolls-out first aircraft

SR Technics and easyJet today announced the completion of the first maintenance visit of an easyJet aircraft in Malta. This marks the successful start of the companies’ maintenance partnership at SR Technics’ new facility on the island. The first easyJet Airbus A319 (G-EJAR) maintained in Malta has been named 'Pride of Malta' at today’s celebration event, attended by the Maltese Prime Minister, Dr L. Gonzi, and senior management of SR Technics and easyJet.

easyJet is SR Technics’ base load customer in Malta, following last year’s signing of an agreement between the two companies for a ten-year extension of their maintenance cooperation. As part of the agreement with easyJet, SR Technics has now started to perform maintenance tasks on easyJet’s Airbus A319s in Malta.

Dr Gonzi said: "Today, we are witnessing a strong show of confidence in our country, our economy, its future prospects and its workforce. This is yet another major step towards our collective vision and belief - that of becoming a regional center of repute in high value-added manufacturing and ancillary services."

J. Stewart, CEO of SR Technics, said: "We are delighted to start our operation in Malta. Through the partnership between easyJet and the involved Maltese organizations, SR Technics will make a substantial contribution to easyJet’s long-term growth and ongoing success by providing world-class levels of safety, quality, reliability and aircraft availability. The mutual aim of the partners is to set global standards in the industry in terms of operational quality and commercial terms."

C. Lynn, Network Development and Planning Director, said: "We are delighted to be part of a new beginning for SR Technics in its new facility in Malta. Today marks the re-delivery of our first aircraft and a continuous line of aircraft maintenance over the coming ten years. Over 150 aircraft will be passing through this facility during this period. Malta was jointly selected by easyJet and SR Technics as the ideal location for cost effective high quality maintenance. We’re confident in the success of this venture and as such are committed to a long term partnership with SR Technics and the island of Malta."

In November 2009, SR Technics announced its plans to establish a presence in Malta. The operation in Malta allows SR Technics to deliver its world-class MRO services from a new, highly attractive platform and to substantially increase its competitiveness in the labor-intensive airframe maintenance segment. As part of the ramp-up activities, a comprehensive recruiting and training program has been designed to ensure that the quality and operational standards for the Malta maintenance operation will be maintained to SR Technics’ brand standards.

SR Technics has also started to market its capacities for third-party customers. The company is using a two-bay hangar at Malta International Airport. Currently, SR Technics employs 124 staff at its new facility, the majority being Maltese.

(www.srtechnics.com)

FS Chevalier Paul in Valletta Port on a courtesy visit

The French naval vessel FS Chevalier Paul (D 621) - a Forbin Class (Type Horizon) Frigate - has arrived this morning in Valletta Port (Grand Harbour) on a courtesy visit.

FS Chevalier Paul is currently alongside at Deep Water Quay no.1 and is scheduled to sail from Malta on Monday, October 18th at 0600LT.

Lufthansa posts high load factors on Frankfurt-Malta route

Lufthansa has been posting load factors ranging between 80 and 100% on its Frankfurt-Malta service and this must have contributed to the decision to launch a weekly flight from Munich in mid-2011.

"Our flights from and to Frankfurt are very successful," the German carrier’s new general manager for Malta, S. Heydlauf, notes. He explains that "a number of factors in the profitability argument won the case for an additional flight."

The plan is for the Munich flight to depart in late afternoon towards the end of the week.

Lufthansa’s daily service to Frankfurt offers connections to over 90 destinations in Europe. The network also allows passengers from Malta to travel on to 21 cities in North America.

Lufthansa, which has been flying to Malta since March 1984, serves 206 destinations in 82 countries. Together with its airline subsidiaries, Lufthansa carried over 76 million passengers last year.

(www.timesofmalta.com)

Malta Aircraft Registration Act launched

Malta's Minister for Infrastructure, Transport and Communications, the Hon Dr A. Gatt, has launched the Malta Aircraft Register Act this morning.

The law, which came into force on October 1st, was enacted following political consensus by both sides of Parliament.

Aircraft Registration Act (Cap. 503)

(click link to view/download)

First aircraft for SR Technics Malta has arrived

The first aircraft to undergo maintenance at SR Technics Malta has arrived at Malta International Airport this afternoon.

This first aircraft, an easyJet A319 with registration G-EJAR, has landed at Malta Int'l Airport at around 1715LT as EZY8003.

M.I.A. plc releases traffic results for September 2010

Passenger movements at Malta Int'l Airport in September 2010 reached 373,610 - the highest number ever registered in the month of September. The increase in passenger movements, when compared to September 2009, is equivalent to an increase of 15.4%. Seat capacity in the same month almost hit the half-a-million mark with 498,243, an increase of 11.5% over September 2009.

In September, aircraft movements grew by 11.7% over the corresponding period last year, whilst the average seat load factor also increased by a significant 2.5% to reach 75% - up from the 72.5% registered in September 2009. The maximum take-off weight (MTOW) was 9.3% higher than that registered in September last year, whilst cargo and mail was 20% lower than that recorded during the same month in 2009.

The French, Spanish and Italian markets grew significantly in September, by 43.8%, 34.8% and 32.6% respectively, whereas Germany recorded a more modest increase of 5.9%. The U.K. was the only core market that registered a decline during September - passenger movements were 1.9% less than last year.

The results for the first nine months of the year, in terms of passenger movements, therefore show an increase of 12.4% when compared to the same period last year, totalling 2,584,305 passenger movements. The strong increase of 9.6% in seat capacity was the main driver of this result, whilst the average seat load factor improved by 1.7% reaching 71.4% for the period January to September 2010.

(www.maltairport.com)

Air Malta and Etihad Airways sign a codeshare agreement

Air Malta and Etihad Airways have signed a codeshare agreement that will give customers of both airlines access to more destinations.

This new agreement will come into effect on Friday October 1st and is expected to increase connectivity between Malta and Abu Dhabi. Customers of Etihad Airways will be able to fly to Malta easier whilst Air Malta customers have been given access to Abu Dhabi-based airline’s network of more than 60 destinations.

The codeshare agreement will allow Etihad Airways to place its two-letter 'EY' code on services operated by Air Malta between Milan and Malta while Air Malta will place its 'KM' code on Etihad’s flights between Milan and Abu Dhabi.

James Hogan, Etihad Airways' Chief Executive Officer, said, "Malta is one of Europe’s top leisure destinations and one that is also increasing a greater volume of business traffic. This new codeshare with Air Malta will open up the market to Etihad Airways as well as provide access to our wealth of destinations to the residents of Malta."

Joe Cappello, Chief Executive of Air Malta, said, “Through this codeshare with Etihad, more tourists from far-flung destinations can fly to Malta while the Maltese have an extensive network to avail themselves of both for business and leisure travel.”

"As a full service airline, Air Malta is in a position to enter into codeshare agreements with other reputable airlines and offer its customers seamless travel to destinations beyond its network," added Mr. Cappello.

Codeshare agreements are also proving to be essential to increase flight connections and accessibility for the movement of cargo between countries in a faster manner which is beneficial to the industry.

Air Malta is continuing to enhance its codeshare list of partners on specific routes signing agreements with quality airlines to increase and improve its destination network.

Both Air Malta and Etihad Airways share excellent reputation and commitment towards their customers by providing superior service and enhanced levels of customer satisfaction both in economy as well as in business class cabin. They operate a state-of-the-art fleet equipped with in-flight entertainment and offer passengers complimentary refreshments as well as generous free baggage allowance.

(www.airmalta.com)