VistaJet adds first Cessna 560XLS

The first Cessna 560XLS Citation for VistaJet has been outfitted in Malta and has commenced flying.  Registration 9H-XOB (c/n. 560-5621) has received a gloss light gray overall scheme and VistaJet titles on the tail.  

Aircraft two and three are expected to be up and running within a month.  Around ten aircraft are planned to join the new fleet over time, besides the existing Challenger 350, 605 and 850 and Global 6000 and 7500 platforms.  

(Source: scramble.nl, 20-Sep-2021)

Medaavia to resume flights between Malta and Libya

Maltese based Mediterranean Aviation Company (Medavia), announced yesterday that it is indeed to resume operations between Libya and Malta.  Flights will start from Monday 20 September.

The confirmation of the resumption of flights between Libya and Malta follows on from an announcement yesterday by the Official Libyan government Spokesperson, Mohamed Hamuda.

Hamuda had not specified which airliners would resume flights. However, yesterday’s announcement by Medavia and the lack of announcement by either Libyan Airlines or Air Malta confirms that the resumption of flights is limited to Medavia.

While it is a welcomed move, it will be a service open to a minority of Libyans.  The cost of Medavia flights is relatively expensive for most average Libyans and tickets are charged in Euros.

Hence, in reality, it will be used mostly by diplomats, oil workers and Libya’s well-healed elite.  But, nevertheless, in view of the E.U. flight embargo on Libya, it does represent the only direct flight from Libya onto E.U. territory.

(Source: libyaherald.com, 17-Sep-2021)

Air Malta to resume services to London-Gatwick, Madrid and Moscow Airports in Summer 2022

Air Malta is pleased to announce its intention to resume flights between the Islands and London-Gatwick, Madrid and Moscow-Sheremetyevo airports for Summer 2022.  London-Gatwick will be served with a daily service whilst Madrid and Moscow will be served three times per week and twice a week respectively.

These new services will start from the 27th March 2022 and are part of a total of over 250 flights per week to 20 destinations which also includes 15 services per week to London-Heathrow that Air Malta will operate to in summer 2022.

The airline will continue code-share agreements with Aeroflot, airBaltic, Air France, Austrian Airlines, Brussels Airlines, Czech Airlines, Emirates, Etihad, KLM, Lufthansa, Qatar Airways, Swiss International Air Lines and Turkish Airlines that will enhance its network capabilities.

(Source: Air Malta, 16-Sep-2021)

Three flights bound to Catania divert to Malta IAP

Three flights bound to Catania-Fontanarossa (Sicily, Italy) this afternoon where forced to divert to Malta International Airport due to bad weather over Catania. 

First to divert was Wizz Air's Airbus A320-200 (HA-LWP), operating flight W6-4375 from Sofia Bulgaria. This was followed by Norwegian's Boeing 737-800 (SE-RPD), operating flight DY-3744 from Copenhagen  (Denmark). And last to divert was Brussels Airlines' Airbus A319-100 (OO-SSB), operating flight SN-3131 from Brussels, Belgium.

The three aircraft continued with their flight to Catania-Fontanarossa later on.

(Source: flightradar24.com, 11-Sep-2021)

Malta IAP releases traffic results for Aug-21

407,435 passengers travelled through Malta International Airport in August, with this total being roughly equivalent to 50% of the traffic handled in August 2019.

Last August's traffic result was influenced by the solid performance of markets such as France and Poland, as the summer holiday season reached its peak.  Seat load factors for August on several routes between Malta IAP and these two markets were particularly encouraging, having surpassed the 80%mark.

A look at the overall picture for the month shows that every flight operated from Malta IAP carried an average of 111 passengers on board, which is 28% lower than the average for August 2019 of 155 passengers.

August saw the resilient U.K. market continue to recover at a faster-than-envisaged pace.  With a total of 99,881 passenger movements registered, the United Kingdom outperformed Italy and regained the top spot after having last ranked first in April 2020.

Although August's traffic results surpassed initial expectations, the travel industry remains in the shadow of changing entry requirements, uncertainty, and short-term planning, as the aviation winter season looms on the horizon.  Malta IAP is currently working with partner airlines towards finalising a flight schedule for the upcoming season.

(Source: maltairport.com, 10-Sep2021)