TM/DCA: Malta Aircraft Register update

Transport Malta/Directorate of Civil Aviation published today the latest update of the Maltese Aircraft Register.

New addition/s: 

• 9H-AJW - Boeing B737-300 (c/n. 28733), registered to Maleth-Aero AOC Ltd. (ex 4L-AJW)
• 9H-IKO - Gulfstream G650 (c/n. 6120), registered to Emperor Aviation Ltd. (ex N620GD)

Cancellation/s: none

(Source: Transport Malta, 27-Apr-2015)

Italian Coast Guard M. Fiorillo calls at Valletta Port

The Italian Coast Guard Diciotti-class offshore-patrol vessel Michele Fiorillo (CP 904) has sailed into Valletta Port (the Grand Harbour) this evening.

OPV Fiorillo is presently berthing alongside at Boiler wharf, and she's scheduled to sail from the Malta in the coming days after a short stay. (26-May-2015)

Transaero's first scheduled flight from Moscow has landed at Malta IAP

Transaero Airlines' first flight to Malta arrived from Moscow today and passengers were welcomed by His Excellency Ambassador to Russia in Malta V. Malygin, MTA CEO P. Bugeja and Malta IAP CEO A. Borg. The aircraft (a Boeing B737-500, EI-DTX) was greeted with a water arch from the airport’s Fire and Rescue team and tourists on board were handed flowers before joining in on the cake-cutting ceremony. 

Based in Moscow, the Russian airline is one of the largest in the country, operating an extensive domestic network as well as internationally across Europe, Asia, North America and the Middle East. Transaero Airlines has the largest fleet of long-haul wide-body aircraft in Russia. Transaero Airlines is scheduled to fly weekly every Sunday this season from Moscow-Domodedovo. (Source: maltairport.com, 26-Apr-2015)

Air Malta A319 aborts landing at Vienna IAP to avoid plane on the runway

An Air Malta Airbus A319-100 aborted landing at Vienna IAP and climbed steeply to avoid another aircraft on the runway earlier today. The flight, KM-514, was on final approach when the incident happened. Passengers reported that they could see another aircraft on the runway. The pilot told them they had been ordered to abandon the landing. The plane landed safely 10-mins later. Air Malta confirmed the incident, saying it was not uncommon in busy airports and adding that passengers were never in any danger. (Source: timesofmalta.com, 23-Apr-2015)

Royal Moroccan Navy Tarik Ben Ziyad in Valletta Port

The Royal Moroccan Navy Sigma-class corvette Tarik Ben Ziyad (613) has sailed into Valletta Port this morning on a courtesy visit. 

The Moroccan corvette is presently berthing alongside at Pinto-3 wharf, and she's expected to sail from Malta on Thursday, April 23rd (20-Apr-2015)

Italian Coast Guard Bruno Gregoretti in Valletta Port

Italian Coast Guard supply vessels Bruno Gregoretti (CP 920) has sailed into Valletta Port (the Grand Harbour) this morning with the corpses of 24 migrants who perished in one of the biggest ever tragedies in the Mediterranean Sea. The corpses will be taken to Mater Dei Hospital morgue for autopsies and later burial. Magisterial inquiries will be held in Italy and Malta. The Italian Coast Guard vessel berthed at Boiler Wharf, Senglea, where Maltese and Italian officials were waiting. CP 920 is also carrying 28 survivors, all men, who will be taken to Italy.

Gian Luigi Bove, captain of the Gregoretti said it was believed that the migrants' boat capsized at about 7pm on Saturday. The Gregoretti arrived at about 2am on Sunday. Other vessels arrived earlier. There was no sign of the migrants' boat. He said that whenever his crew went on such missions they always hoped to find everyone alive. In this case they directly rescued two people and then found a number of bodies. The other survivors were then transferred from a merchant ship. The survivors, all sub-saharan men, appeared relieved to be rescued, but grief was all over their face, he said. (Source: timesofmalta.com, 20-Apr-2015)

Spanish Navy ESPS El Camino Espanol in Valletta Port

The Spanish Navy auxliary transport ship ESPS El Camino Espanol (A 05) has sailed into Valletta (the Grand Harbour) this evening on a courtesy visit.  

The Spanish transport ship is currently berthing alongside at Hamilton wharf, in the French creek, and she's expected to sail from Malta on Wednesday, April 15th. (13-Apr-2015)

Two easyJet A319s en route to Malta IAP divert to airports in Sicily due to temporary closure of main runway

Two easyJet Airbus A319-100s en route to Malta IAP, U2-6497 from Newcastle (G-EZGF) and U2-2597 from Milan-Malpensa (G-EZIJ), had to divert to Palermo and Catania (both in Sicily) respectively this evening due to temporary closure of main runway 13/31 at Malta IAP due to debris on runway following the departure of an Aerotrans Cargo Boeing B747-400 freighter minutes earlier. (11-Apr-2015)

Hellenic AF confirms participation in the 2015 Malta International Airshow

The Hellenic Air Force has confirmed its participation in the Malta International Airshow 2015. The aircraft participating will be a pair of Mirage 2000 interceptor jets from the 114th Combat Wing at Tanagra Air Base. Visitors will be able to get a close look at the Mirage 2000 aircraft as they will be on static display in the showground. Greece is another nation added to this year’s growing list of participating countries and the team on this year’s Malta Int’l Airshow warmly welcomes the return of the Hellenic Air Force to our airshow after its debut in 2005. (Source: maltairshow.com, 10-Apr-2015)

TM/DCA: Malta Aircraft Register update

Transport Malta/Directorate of Civil Aviation published today the latest update of the Maltese Aircraft Register.

New addition/s: 

• 9H-VCC - Bombardier BD-100-1A10 Challenger 350 (c/n. 20535), registered to VistaJet Ltd.
• 9H-VCD - Bombardier BD-100-1A10 Challenger 350 (c/n. 20538), registerd to VistaJet Ltd.
• 9H-VCG - Bombardier BD-100-1A10 Challenger 350 (c/n. 20545), registered to VistaJet Ltd.
• 9H-VCH - Bombardier BD-100-1A10 Challenger 350 (c/n. 20546), registered to VistaJet Ltd.
• 9H-VCI - Bombardier BD-100-1A10 Challenger 350 (c/n. 20550), registered to VistaJet Ltd.
• 9H-VFI - Bombardier CL-600-2B16 Challenger 605 (c/n. 5984), registered to VistaJet Ltd.
• 9H-VJK - Bombardier BD-700-1A10 Global 6000 (c/n. 9619), registered to VistaJet Ltd.
• 9H-VJL - Bombardier BD-700-1A10 Global 6000 (c/n. 9626), registered to VistaJet Ltd.
• 9H-ZMB - Gulfstream G650 (c/n. 6116), registered to Comlux Malta Ltd.

Cancellation/s: 

• 9H-AFF - Partenavia Vulcanair P68 Oberver 2 (c/n. 397), registered to Sunfly S.L., Spain
• 9H-CFA - Tecnam P2002-JF (c/n. 224), registered to Hub'Air sprl, Belgium
• 9H-CFC - Tecnam P2002-JF (c/n. 211), registered to Hub'Air sprl, Belgium
• 9H-CFD - Tecnam P2002-JF (c/n. 212), registered to Hub'Air sprl, Belgium

(Source: Transport Malta, 7-Apr-2015)

M.I.A. plc releases traffic results for first quarter and March 2015

In the first quarter this year, passenger movements registered an increase of 5.6%, while aircraft movements grew by 1.4%. 

Passenger traffic in March grew by 4.5%, reaching a record of 275,334 passenger movements. This was brought about by a 1.6% increase in aircraft movements which translated into an increase of 2.2% seat capacity. The average seat load factor, which measures the percentage of filled seats on each flight reached 79.9%.

The U.K. and Italian markets grew again last month by 9.6% and 9.8%, respectively. The German market shrunk by 7.4%, due to reduced capacity on the Frankfurt route, and the French market grew by 2.7%. Traffic from Turkey also rose significantly with a 74.4% increase over 2014.

The maximum take-off weight and cargo and mail decreased by 0.4% and 5.2% respectively. (Source: timesofmalta.com, 2-Apr-2015)

Malta IAP welcomes Finnair's first flight from Helsinki

Malta IAP this morning welcomed Finnair with a water salute and a cake-cutting ceremony. Finland’s largest airline began operating twice weekly flights to and from Helsinki today. The airline chose Malta as part of its summer expansion across European destinations and will be flying directly to and from Malta IPA with timetables designed for optimal connections with Finnair's network of Asian destinations. (Source: timesofmalta.com, 2-Apr-2015)

Malta IAP welcomes Wizz Air's first flight from Warsaw

Malta IAP today welcomed the first flight from Warsaw, operated by Wizz Air. Wizz Air will fly on Wednesdays and Thursdays from Warsaw's Frederic Chopin airport, Poland. Passengers were welcomed by dancers in traditional Maltese costumes and were given a flower, courtesy of the Malta Tourism Authority. A celebratory cake was also prepared for the occasion. Wizz Air started operating flights to Malta in 2013 and they have continued to grow, having carried over 32,000 passengers this winter alone – making it one of the fastest growing airlines on Malta IAP’s schedule. (Source: timesofmalta.com, 1-Apr-2015)

Air Horizont set for delivery of first aircraft

Air Horizont is on track to take delivery of its maiden aircraft, a B734, ahead of its planned launch in May. Skyliner Aviation reports 9H-ZAZ (msn 25349) was recently spotted at St. Athan airport in the United Kingdom following its repaint into the start-up's colours. The jet is chartered from an unknown Maltese firm as Air Horizont has yet to secure its own Air Operators Certificate (AOC). Once operational, the Zaragoza-based carrier will serve Seville and Alicante in Spain as well as Munich and Rome Fiumicino in Germany and Italy respectively. (SourceL ch-aviation, 31-Mar-2015)