Air Malta update cockpit policy

The devastating airline incident this week has sparked a discussion around the world about how crew policies can be improved to enhance passenger safety. Our thoughts are with the family members of these passengers as well as our colleagues around the world. Air Malta is committed to continually improving its safety policies and maintaining its impeccable safety record. In light of this, we have decided with immediate effect to make it compulsory to have two crew members in the cockpit at all times. This measure complements our other security procedures already in place. (Source: Air Malta, 27-Mar-2015)

Air Malta A320 returns to Malta in precautionary measure

Air Malta’s KM-394 flight to Amsterdam and Brussels this afternoon returned to base shortly after take-off as a precautionary measure. A spokesman for the airline said the flight returned to Malta after about 30-mins following a fuel system caution indication on one engine. Once back on ground, system checks were carried out by Air Malta engineers on the engine. The aircraft is now back in service. The spokesman said the airline apologised to its customers for this delay but it gave utmost attention to safety of its passengers and crew. (Source: timesofmalta.com, 24-Mar-2015)

Mobile-stairs vehicle hits wing-tip of Turkish Airlines A321 at Malta IAP

An Air Malta mobile-stairs vehicle hit the wing tip of a Turkish Airlines aircraft (Airbus A321-200 'TC-JRR') at Malta International Airport this afternoon, just as the aircraft was about to depart for Istanbul. The flight, which had been scheduled to leave at 1500lt, was delayed for several hours until a replacement aircraft arrived. An Air Malta spokesman said the airline and the airport authorities were investigating the matter. (Source: timesofmalta.com, 24-Mar-2015)

Malta's Alieurope to ply charter market with B737s

Alieurope is a Maltese start-up looking to offer its two B737-400s to the Italian and European charter markets in general. The operator recently signed an agreement with Sicilian tour operator, Virtus Viaggi e Turismo, to provide flights from key Italian airports such as Palermo, Parma, and Milan Orio al Serio to Split, Samos, Cyprus, Mytilene, Malta and to European capitals. (Source: ch-aviation.com, 19-Mar-2015)           

Belgian Air Component will be sending its F-16 solo display to 2015 Malta International Airshow

The Belgian Air Component will be sending its premier F-16 jet to the Malta International Air Show 2015. Flown by Capt. Tom de Moortel, callsign 'Gizmo', the F-16 will once again entertain the airshow visitors with another outstanding display of power, jet noise and flying skills after an absence of four years. The Malta Aviation Society is grateful to the Belgian Armed Forces for adding Malta to its planned list of countries where the Belgian Air Component will be participating during this year's airshow season. (Source: maltairshow.com, 18-Mar-2015)

Air Malta's flight to Manchester returns to Malta IAP due to abnormal water condensation in a window

An Air Malta Airbus A319-100 (9H-AEG), performing flight KM-146 from Malta (Malta) to Mancheste (UK), was en route at FL360 about 60-nm northeast of Cagliari (Italy) when the crew decided to return to Malta reporting a cracked window. The aircraft landed safely back in Malta about one hour later. The airline reported no cracks were found at the window. However, condensation water above usual levels was found between the panels of the window which caused the impression of a cracked window. (Source: avherald.com, 16-Mar-2015)

Air Malta launches its summer 2015 schedule

This summer Air Malta is offering customers a selection of 160 weekly flights to around 50 destinations. With this schedule, running from the 29th March till 24 October, the Maltese airline is planning to carry 1.2 million passengers. 26 of these routes are scheduled services, whereas 23 are charter flights.

A number of changes to last year’s summer schedule were made to maximise opportunities, increase efficiency and make flights more attractive, both for Maltese citizens as well as for the tourists visiting the islands this summer.

This summer the Maltese airline has increased flights to Amsterdam to a daily service. Flights to Brussels have also increased from seven to nine flights every week. Changes have also been made to the schedule on Italian routes. This year Air Malta operates a daily service to Milan-Linate airport. For the second consecutive summer the airline will also be operating to Venice, with a maximum of three flights per week and has also increased three flights per week to Catania.

This season Air Malta will also be operating an interesting series of charter flights, both for Maltese and foreign operators. Most of the flights will be operated to Tel Aviv in Israel, and regional airports in England, France and Eastern Europe.

This summer Air Malta will operate direct scheduled flights to Amsterdam, Athens, Berlin, Brussels, Budapest, Catania, Düsseldorf, Djerba, Frankfurt, Geneva, Hamburg, London-Gatwick, London-Heathrow, Lyon, Manchester, Marseille, Milan, Moscow-Domodedovo, Munich, Paris-Charles De Gaulle, Paris-Orly, Prague, Rome, Venice, Vienna and Zurich. (Source: Air Malta, 13-Mar-2015)

M.I.A. plc releases traffic results for February 2015

Malta IAP hosted 208,896 passengers in February 2015, registering an increase of 8.1% over the same month in 2014. February's results were achieved thanks to an increase in aircraft movements which translated to a seat capacity increase of 3.1% over last year. February also saw a significant increase in seat load factor, to 75.9% per cent, compared to 72.5% during the same period in 2014.

"This is another reminder that the passenger growth we are seeing in Malta is steady, consistent and year-round. This is what all stakeholders have been working towards and it is encouraging to see such excellent results being registered month after month," said new CEO A. Borg.

He added that winter traffic so far, from November 2014 to February 2015, had grown by over 43,000 passengers, an increase of 5.1 per cent over the same period last year. The airport’s winter season officially ends on the Mar 28th.

Nearly half of last month’s growth came from traffic to and from Italy, with an increase 17% over February 2014. This is mostly due to increased capacity on the Catania route and an overall seat load factor increase across most Italian destinations. Growth in February was also registered from the U.K (3.9%) and Germany (6.2%). 

The French and Turkish markets also grew considerably compared to last year, with an increase of 35.6% and 55.8% respectively. Traffic from Turkey is on an upward trend, which should continue to grow, based on Turkish Airlines' recent announcement that frequency to Malta IAP will increase from the current daily flights to 13 per week later on this year. 

Meanwhile, the maximum take-off weight (MTOW) increased by 3.3% and cargo and mail also grew by 4.1%. (Source: maltairport.com, 5-Mar-2015)