Air Malta 154332 219251248 2008-06-14T09:08:01Z YrPolishUncle 6552652 rv unexplained deletion {{Infobox_Airline | airline=Air Malta| logo=Air Malta.PNG| logo_size=150| IATA=KM| ICAO=AMC| callsign=AIR MALTA| parent=[[Government of Malta]]| founded=[[1973]]| headquarters=[[Luqa]], [[Malta]]| hubs=[[Malta International Airport]]| [[Catania-Fontanarossa Airport]] frequent_flyer=Flypass, KMiles| lounge=La Valette| fleet_size=14| destinations=36| key_people=Lawrence Zammit (Chairman)| website= http://www.airmalta.com|}} '''Air Malta plc''' is the national [[airline]] of [[Malta]], based in [[Luqa]]. It operates services to 36 destinations in [[Europe]] and [[North Africa]]. The [[airline]]'s hub and base is at [[Malta International Airport]], [[Malta]]. == History == {{Fact|date=April 2007}} When Malta obtained its independence an airline called Malta Airlines was set up by the new government, but later was liquidated. After a new Socialist government came to power, under the leadership of Prime minister Mr Dominic Mintoff, it was decided to create a national airline (Air Malta), with the assistance and co-operation of the Pakistani government. The airline was established on [[March 21]], [[1973]], when it was created by a resolution of the Malta House of Representatives, set up as a limited liability company and granted a certificate of rights to operate international services from Malta. At first, this airline was situated in Gudja. (Although Air Malta did not begin until 1973; BEA noted in its timetables that its services to and from Malta were "operated in connection with Malta Airlines." Flight numbers were still prefixed with BE, and were not code-shares.) <ref>1 2</ref> Air Malta began service on [[April 1]], [[1974]], with two [[wet lease]]d [[Boeing 707|Boeing 720B]]s that served [[Rome]], [[Tripoli]], [[London]], [[Manchester]], [[Frankfurt]] and [[Paris]] from Malta's airport. In 1983, 3 new Boeing [[737]]s were delivered. In 1986, Air Malta ordered two new 737s, and in 1987 ordered its first [[Airbus]] [[A320]]. They then sold the two 720s on their fleet. In [[1989]], Air Malta exercised an option for one more A320, and in 1992, two more 737s were ordered. That year 4 Avro RJ 70s were ordered, to be put on routes Malta to [[Catania]] and [[Palermo]] and to new destinations such as [[Tunis]] and [[Monastir, Tunisia|Monastir]]. [[Image:air.malta.a320-200.9h-aep.arp.jpg|thumb|right|[[Airbus A320-200]]]] After the opening of the new [[Malta International Airport]] in 1992, Air Malta created ''CargoSystems'', which includes the air transportation of cargo on Air Malta planes. In [[1994]], Air Malta inaugurated a cargo center at the airport. Between 2002 and 2007, Air Malta embarked upon a fleet replacement programme, opting to change all aircraft to Airbus A319s and A320s, thus reducing the average age of the fleet to around 2.5 years. Air Malta has concluded over 191 [[interline ticketing agreements]] with other [[IATA]] airlines. It also has a codeshare agreement with Qantas from Sydney-Singapore-London-Malta. According to the [[Association of European Airlines]] quarterly review of May 2006 Air Malta is the airline that loses the least amount of passenger baggage. The amount of baggage lost in the first quarter of 2006 was 4.1 bags missing per 1000 passengers. In September 2007, Air Malta made two agreements with Abu Dhabi-based Etihad Airways by which Air Malta will be wet-leasing two Airbus aircraft to Etihad Airways for the winter period starting September 1st, 2007; and will be providing operational support on another Airbus A320, aircraft to be leased by Etihad Airways. Air Malta is owned by the Maltese government (98%) and private investors (2%). Air Malta also has a 25% shareholding in [[Medavia]]. The airline employs 1,547 staff.<ref>[[Flight International]] 27 March 2007</ref>. [[Image:air.malta.a319-100.9h-aeh.arp.jpg|thumb|right|[[Airbus A319-100]]]] == Destinations == Further information: ''[[Air Malta destinations]]'' *In [[2007]] Air Malta is to expand services to [[Romania]], introducing a series of weekly flights to [[Timişoara]] (to add to links it already has to [[Bucharest]] and [[Cluj-Napoca|Cluj]]). It has also restarted twice-weekly services to [[Benghazi]].<ref>{{cite news | title= Air Malta destinations | work=[[Airliner World]] | page= 7| date= August 2007}}</ref> *Air Malta also operates seasonal charters from [[Birmingham International Airport (United Kingdom)|Birmingham]], [[Cardiff International Airport|Cardiff]], [[Bristol International Airport|Bristol]], [[Newcastle International Airport|Newcastle]], [[Newquay Cornwall Airport]], and [[East Midlands Airport|East Midlands]] in the UK. == Incidents and accidents == [[Air Malta Flight 830]] was hijacked in June 1997, by two Turks. The hijack ended in Cologne with no casualties. Since its inception in 1973, Air Malta has had no fatal accidents. == Fleet == The Air Malta fleet consists of the following aircraft (as at [[May 2008]]) *5 [[Airbus A319-111]] 9H-AEG (Mdina), 9H-AEH (Floriana), 9H-AEJ (San Pawl il-Baħar), 9H-AEL (Marsaxlokk), 9H-AEM (Birgu - Citta Vittoriosa) *8 [[Airbus A320-200]] (two aircraft are operated for [[Etihad Airways]]) 9H-AEP (Nadur), 9H-AEN (Bormla), 9H-AEF (Valletta), 9H-AEI Rabat, Citta, Vittoria, (Gozo), 9H-AEK (San Giljan), 9H-AEO (Isla - Citta Invicta) *1 [[McDonnell Douglas MD-90-30]] (which is operated by [[Hello (airline)|Hello]]) HB-JIB (not named) Note: HB-JIB (ex-[[BritishJET]]) is leased from [[Hello (airline)]] Air Malta is also responsible for the operations of an A320 (9H-AFE) on behalf of [[Etihad Airways]] - this aircraft is leased by Etihad from a U.S. company, but is operated under Air Malta's Air Operators Certificate. ==External links== *[http://www.airmalta.com/ Official website] *[http://www.airmalta.com/fleet/ Fleet] *[http://www.ch-aviation.ch/aircraft.php?search=set&airline=KM&al_op=1 Fleet] ==References== 1. Bradshaws Air Guide Aug/Sept 1953 2. Bradshaws Air Guide March 1959 {{Airlines of Malta}} {{IATA members|europe}} {{Association of European Airlines}} [[Category:Air Malta]] [[Category:Airlines of Malta]] [[Category:IATA members]] [[Category:Association of European Airlines members]] [[Category:Government-owned airlines]] [[br:Air Malta]] [[ca:Air Malta]] [[de:Air Malta]] [[es:Air Malta]] [[fr:Air Malta]] [[gl:Air Malta]] [[id:Air Malta]] [[it:Air Malta]] [[he:אייר מלטה]] [[hu:Air Malta]] [[mt:Air Malta]] [[nl:Air Malta]] [[no:Air Malta]] [[pl:Air Malta]] [[pt:Air Malta]] [[fi:Air Malta]] [[sv:Air Malta]]