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-IGH - Bombardier BD-700-1A10 Global 6000 (c/n. 9570), registered to VistaJet Ltd. (ec C-GUTE)

Cancellation/s: none

(Source: Transport Malta, 30-Jun-2014)

Lufthansa flight to Malta diverts to Rome to offload sick passenger

Lufthansa’s flight to Malta from Frankfurt this afternoon was diverted to Rome where it made an emergency landing to offload a sick passenger, a spokesman for the airline said. The Airbus A320, which left Frankfurt at 1322, will continue on its way to Malta after refuelling. Originally due in Malta at 1545, the flight is now expected to arrive at 1925. (Source: timesofmalta.com, 27-Jun-2014)

German Navy FGS S75 Zobel in Valletta Port

The German Navy Gepard-class fast-patrol boat FGS S75 Zobel (P 6125) has sailed into Valletta Port (the Grand Harbour) yesterday in the evening on a courtesy visit. 

The German fast-patrol boat is presently berthed alongside at Pinto-3 wharf, and she's expected to sail from the Grand Harbour on Thursday, June 26. (25-Jun-2014)

HMS Somerset in Valletta Port

The Royal Navy Duke-class frigate HMS Somerset (F 82) has sailed into Valletta Port (Grand Harbour) this morning on a courtesy visit. She has on board a Westland Lynx HMA.8SRU helicopter, serial XZ255.

The British frigate is presently berthing alongside at Pinto-4/5 Wharf, and she's expected to sail from Malta on Wednesday, June 25. (22-Jun-2014)

Royal Navy HMS Penzance in Valletta Port

The Royal Navy Sandown-class mine countermeasure vessel HMS Penzance (M 106) has sailed into Valletta Port (the Grand Harbour) this afternoon on a courtesy visit.

HMS Penzance is presently berthing alongside at Pinto-4 wharf, and she's expected to sail from the Grand Harbour on Friday, June 20. (18-Jun-2014)

Royal Navy HMS Chiddingfold in Valletta Port

The Royal Navy Hunt-class mine countermeasure vessel HMS Chiddingfold (M 37) has sailed into Valletta Port (the Grand Harbour) this morning on a courtesy visit.

HMS Chiddingfold is presently berthing alongside at Wine wharf, and she's expected to sail from the Grand Harbour on Friday, June 20. (18-Jun-2014)

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: none

Cancellation/s:

• 9H-AEZ - Piper 28-161 Warrior II (c/n. 28-8216008), registered to European Pilot Academy Co. Ltd.

(Source: Transport Malta, 17-Jun-2014)

French Navy FS Commandant Ducuing in Valletta Port

The French Navy D'Estienne d'Orves-class corvette FS Commandant Ducuing (F 795) sailed into Valletta Port (the Grand Harbour) this morning on a courtesy visit.

This is FS Commandant Ducuing's second visit in the Valletta Port this year. Her first visit was between 24th and 26th May. 

The French corvette is presently berthing alongside at Laboratory-S2 wharf, and she's expected to sail from the Grand Harbour on Friday, June 20. (16-Jun-2014)

German Navy FGS Augsburg in Valletta Port

The German Navy Bremen-class frigate FGS Augsburg (F 213) has sailed into Valletta Port (the Grand Harbour) this morning on a courtesy visit. 

FGS Augsburg is presently berthing alongside at Pinto-3 wharf, and she's expected to sail from the Grand Harbour on Monday, June 23 (16-Jun-2014)

Air Berlin A320 diverts to Malta IAP

An Air Berlin Airbus 320-200 (D-ABDQ), performing flight AB-8886 from Munich (Germany) to Catania-Fontanarossa (Italy), had to divert to Malta IAP this afternoon around 1455lt due to volcanic ash cloud on eastern Sicily. The aircraft continued with its flight to Catania-Fontanarossa after a tech-stop at Malta IAP. (14-Jun-2014)

Armed Forces of Malta takes delivery its first brand new helicopter, an AW-139

Today is a historic day for the Armed Forces of Malta (AFM) as for the first time in its history, it received a brand new multipurpose helicopter, an Agusta Westland AW-139, designed specifically around the operational requirements of the service. Visibly happy, AFM personnel inspected their new aircraft once it landed at the Malta International Airport a few hours ago. For logistics officers involved in this EU co-financed project as well as for operational airmen, it was a very special day seeing a brand new helicopter gracing the apron of their base. (Source: AFM, 14-Jun-2014)

Turkish Cargo A332 freighter diverts to Malta IAP

A Turkish Cargo Airbus 330-200 freighter (TC-JDO), performing flight TK-6733 from Istanbul-Atatürk (Turkey) to Misratah (Libya), had to divert to Malta International Airport this morning around 0710lt due to low visibility at destination. The freighter continued with its flight to Misratah after 1.5-hrs on the ground (14-Jun-2014)

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: none

Cancellation/s:

• 9H-GIA - Cessna 421C Golden Eagle (c/n. 421C-0623), registered to GS Wings Srl, Italy.
• 9H-SEA - Airbus A340-642 (c/n. 383), registered to Hi Fly Ltd.

(Source: Transport Malta, 13-Jun-2014)

SNMCMG2 in Valletta Port

Standing Nato Mine Countermeasures Group Two (SNMCMG2) has sailed in Valletta Port (the Grand Harbour) this morning on a scheduled port visit.

The group currently consists of: 

• Germany Navy tender FGS Rhein (A 513) 
• Germany Navy MCMV FGS Weilheim (M 1059) 
• Royal Navy MCMV HMS Blyth (M 111) 
• Turkish Navy MCMV TCG Akcay (M 270)

Vessels of SNMCMG2 are currently berthing alongside at Pinto-4/5 wharf, and they are expected to sail from the Grand Harbour on Monday, June 16. (13-Jun-2014)

Hermes Aviation starts operations with a single B734

Hermes Aviation (FlyHermes.com) started operations with this single Boeing 737-4K5 registered as 9H-HER (msn 24901). The airliner was delivered on May 26, 2014. The first revenue flight was on  Jun. 6, 2014. (Source: worldairlinenews.com, 8-Jun-2014)

M.I.A. plc releases traffic results for May 2014

Malta IAP this year registered a significant increase in May traffic, welcoming a total of 402,289 passengers. This marks a 6.4% rise in passenger movements compared to last year. May’s figures were due to an added seat capacity of 4.9%. Seat Load factor increased by 1.1%, reaching an overall 76.5% for the month.

Traffic from the U.K. grew by 8.9%, as a result of the growth being experienced in London-Gatwick as well as regional airports in the U.K.. Traffic from France improved by 21.4% following the growth on Paris flights by Air Malta and the introduction of a new Transavia route from Nantes. 

Growth in travels towards and from Italy also rose significantly by 13.9%, retaining its place as an ever-popular European destination, while traffic to and from Germany achieved a similar result to 2013. A 9.1% increase in traffic towards the Netherlands resulted in this country featuring for the first time as our fifth top destination.

Malta International Airport also saw significant growth from emerging markets Turkey, Hungary and Lithuania.

Overall, aircraft movements for the month rose by 6.5%, which was reflected in an increase of 24,341 passengers, when compared to the corresponding period of last year. (Source: maltairport.com, 4-Jun-2014)