Air France to resume Toulouse and Malta IAP service in 2017 summer season

Air France has announced yesterday the resumption flights between Toulouse and Malta IAP in 2017 summer season. Last served in Sep-2015, the service will run between Jul. 25th and Sep. 3rd. Three weekly flights will be operated, on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Sundays. 

AF1762 TLS1130 – 1345MLA 320 2
AF1762 TLS1150 – 1405MLA 320 7
AF1762 TLS1505 – 1720MLA 320 4

AF1763 MLA1430 – 1655TLS 320 2
AF1763 MLA1450 – 1715TLS 320 7
AF1763 MLA1805 – 2030TLS 320 4

(Source: routesonline.com, 25-Jan-2017)

Maleth-Aero to add maiden 737 freighter in late 1Q17

Maleth-Aero has confirmed plans to introduce a maiden pair of dedicated freighters due later this quarter and early next quarter. The Maltese ACMI/charter operator said in a statement two Boeing 737-300Fs would arrive in March and April 2017 respectively. They will be deployed onto regular contract work within Europe.

"We are very pleased to be able to offer to the market these Boeing 737-300(F) aircraft which build nicely on the foundation of our existing cargo capabilities using both our managed B737-300(QC) and An-26 aircraft," M. O’Brien, CEO of Maleth Aero, commented. "Our strategic business plan provides for the introduction of a further two units early in Q3/4 2017." (Source: ch-aviation.com, 25-Jan-2017)

Thomson Airways to resume Birmingham-Malta service in 2017 summer season

Thomson Airways in the week of Jan. 22th's OAG Schedules Analyser extended its schedule listing into 2017 summer season, including a number of planned new and resumed service from various bases in the U.K. Among the resumed services is the route between Birmingham and Malta IAP, last offered in Oct-2011. The Birmingham-Malta route will be offered between Apr. 6th and Oct. 19th, 2017, with one weekly flight on Mondays. (Source: routesonline.com, 24-Jan-2017)

Ryanair B738 bound to Liverpool returns back to Malta IAP for technical reason

A Ryanair B737-800 (EI-EPA), performing flight FR-8929 from Malta IAP (Malta) to Liverpool (U.K.) had to return back to Malta IAP this afternoon for technical reasons. The aircraft departed Malta IAP at 1520 and re-landed safely 80-mins after departing. (20-Jan-2017)

Emirates B77W diverts to Malta IAP due to a medical emergency

An Emirates Boeing B777-300ER (A6-EGK), performing flight EK-751 from Dubai IAP (U.A.E.) to Casablanca-Mohammad V IAP (Morocco), had to divert to Malta International Airport this morning due to a medical emergency on board. The B77W continued with its flight to Casablanca after 80-mins on the ground. (17-Jan-2017)

Two Rafales and a C-135FR of the French AF divert to Malta IAP

Two Rafale fighters and a C-135FR refueling tanker of French Air Force operating in the Mediterranean sea where forced to divert to Malta IAP today around noon after the tanker reported a problem with one of its four engines. The Rafales landed first followed 20-mins after by the tanker. (16-Jan-2017)

Air Malta, Alitalia officially confirm end to equity talks

Air Malta and Alitalia have jointly decided to terminate the talks which would have led to Alitalia becoming a 49% shareholder in Malta's national carrier.

The two airlines agreed that the current changing landscape in the airline industry was not ideal for a such a transaction and that both airlines would concentrate on the current challenges without entering into a partnership.

Air Malta and Alitalia will continue to collaborate closely commercially through a recently launched extensive code-sharing program. (Source: Air Malta & Alitalia, 13-Jan-2017)

Armed Forces of Malta contracts Fincantieri for offshore patrol vessel upgrades

The Armed Forces of Malta awarded the Italian shipbuilder Fincantieri a contract for upgrade works on their offshore patrol vessel P61. The P61 was built by Fincantieri ten years ago based on the design of Italian Coast Guard’s Diciotti-class patrol boat.

The contract was signed by Brigadier Jeffrey Curmi, Commander of the Armed Forces of Malta, and Gian Battista Corbetta, head of maintenance, refitting overhaul & conversion of Fincantieri’s naval services business unit.

According to the company, work on the vessel will cost an estimated 7 million Euro and will include upgrades to ship board systems with the aim of improving the reaction capability of the unit.

Work on the 53-meter-long vessel is scheduled to begin in the second quarter of 2017 in Italy, in the Fincantieri shipyard of Muggiano (La Spezia), and will last about 6 months. (Source: navaltoday.com, 13-Jan-2017)

M.I.A. plc releases 2016 traffic results and 2017 forecast

During its yearly traffic results press conference, Malta International Airport announced its forecast for 2017, with traffic expected to reach 5.2 million passenger movements by the end of the year.

2016 ended on a positive note at the airport, with the company reaching an important 5 million passenger milestone in December and exceeding expectations, closing the year having welcomed 5,080,071 passengers.

Traffic at Malta IAP grew by a noteworthy 10% over the previous year, on the back of a 4.5% growth in aircraft movements and a 7.6% increase in seat capacity. Standing at 83.3%, seat load factor for 2016 climbed up by 1.82% over the previous year, signalling a marked efficiency by airlines to fill up available seats.

A monthly break-down of passenger numbers for 2016, in fact, highlights that the airport succeeded in hosting more guests during its shoulder months than the previous year, with November and December registering the highest spikes in passenger numbers of 22.4% and 32.2%, respectively. Featuring 18 new connections and increased flight frequencies, Malta IAP’s present winter schedule offers the most connections yet for this period and is expected to contribute to further growth in the shoulder months.

The top markets for 2016 were the United Kingdom, which saw an increase of 5.4%, Italy, which grew by 15%, Germany which grew by 8.0%, France, registering a growth of 5.5%, and Spain, which registered a growth of 26.7%.

During the press conference, the airport also revealed three new routes for summer 2017, namely Bordeaux operated by Volotea and Cluj-Napoca and Katowice operated by Wizzair. Other interesting developments for the summer months include new airline Eurowings launching operations from Vienna next April and the first Malta to Malta Cruise and Fly service by P&O. (Source: maltairport.com, 11-Jan-2017)