Air Malta

[lbaspotter]

GANGNAM STYLE by PSY video spreads like a virus online and have now reached the skies as Air Malta made a PSA (Public Service Announcement) discouraging the use of phones in flight.

[video]https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=qNq0hT1VkTc[/video]

 

[Aviador]

It's not original but it's got to be one of the best ones.

 

[BSL-2km]

Air Malta is a company i have flown with countless times, having gone to school on the Island in the 80's, great memories of riding in the old Boeing 720B over to Tripoli Libya every few months to visit parents, then onto a Libyan Arab F27 to ferry us down into the desert, some scary moments, but great aircraft... Turbulence nor any sort of dodgy landing phases anyone who was brought up on these birds landing on sandy strips in the middle of nowhere..
Air Malta then moved to a 737 fleet before the A320 took control. Great airline, lovely place.
Not sure what Libyan Arab have done, used to be all 727's maybe 707 if i remember correctly...

Just a little reminiscence, glad i found this forum

 

[jfy1999]

Air Malta have had financial issues recently so the opening up of travel to Malta will be a welcome relief.

Air Malta unveils Heathrow and Manchester schedule | Travel Weekly

Carrier reports increase in consumer confidence

travelweekly.co.uk

 

[CM.]

Bad news: Air Malta seem to be making cuts to the UK network.

Manchester- Route being axed.
London Heathrow- Frequency being reduced.

They are adding more capacity on some of their European routes such as Amsterdam and Paris.

 

[Seasider]

Reaction to not being on green list?

 

[CM.]

Reaction to not being on green list?

Yes according to the source MaltaToday.

 

[jfy1999]

Air Malta to cut half of its staff, reveals new fleet plans

Several daily Operator News updates covering all Operator Route Network changes, strategic fleet developments and aircraft orders, start-ups and bankruptcies, mergers and acquisitions and partnerships and alliances.

www.ch-aviation.com

Between 110 and 120 administrative staff would be transferred out of the company to other public sectors as part of a voluntary transfer scheme that would remain open until January 28, local media report.

In addition, Air Malta would close down its ground handling operation in the second quarter of 2022, leading to a further loss of 300 workers, who would be offered similar inter-governmental transfers down the line.

[…] In another cost-saving measure, the airline reportedly has dropped plans to acquire two A321-200NX(XLR)s after abandoning its long-haul plans. It now wants to lease three A320-200Ns instead.

 

[Aviador]

Pandemic asside I did wonder if Ryanair AKA Malta Air would ultimately lead to the demise of Air Malta. I really hope this isn't a slippery slope for Air Malta. Fingers crossed for a more fruitful 2022 for the airline.

 

[Aviador]

Malta government to shut down loss making airline Air Malta.

MSN

www.msn.com

 

[Kevin Farnell]

Malta government to shut down loss making airline Air Malta.

MSN

www.msn.com

Reading the article, it seems to be more a case of new management and cutting unprofitable routes in order to allow new state aid.

 

[Aviador]

Reading the article, it seems to be more a case of new management and cutting unprofitable routes in order to allow new state aid.

I read it the same but the way I understood it was that it would also mean the airline would no longer be known as Air Malta. I expect this is the most likely scenario legally following a restructure which likely requires state aid which isn't permitted in the EU. This is might not be the case if it is considered as a new venture. Perhaps our resident legal guru might be able to fathom it out? @JENNYJET

 

[JENNYJET]

By reaching into the depths of my memory of reading EU Law for my English LL.B, State aid for ailing but important entities of the country is permitted if it not intended to create an advantage commercially over other member states. The EU in itself does not provide "State Aid" for companies independant of the country's structures as UK found out with British Steel, a privatised company no longer funded by the state ownership model. The EU may assist if natural disaster strikes such as flooding and earthquake. Greece is in receipt of EU assistance for this reason. It is a complex area of Law because the EU has primacy over member states laws when it affects the interests of other member states. This is why Brexit occured.

What Malta is doing, as I understand it, is a restructure and was seeking assistance from a huge money pot. In US, there is Chapter Eleven Bankruptcy Protection and in UK, it is Formal Legal Administration ( to find a way to keep a business running or to aid the sale of same ). The transfer of staff to other areas of state interest is how I have read the article in order to keep the airline flying.

This is my very simple take on the matter, anything more detailed would probably get me booted off the forum and it is not gospel, EU Law has changed significantly since Brexit and I have not kept up with it.

 

[Kevin Farnell]

I understood it was that it would also mean the airline would no longer be known as Air Malta.

The article says 'The new airline will retain the Air Malta name and aircraft, Abela told a press conference'.

 

[Aviador]

According to an article in the TTGmedia.com Air Malta is to close and then become KM Malta Airlines as part of the restructure. It says the new airline will only serve Gatwick and Heathrow in the UK. The full article is here

 

[Coathanger16]

It was confusing enough when the Ryanair subsidiary is called Malta Air.

Can see a lot of confusion happening now between Malta Airlines and Malta Air

 

[Aviador]

It will be the end of an era.

Air Malta 1974 - 2023

 

[Kevin Farnell]

Goodbye Air Malta

Sad to see this airline go after 50 years of operation and serving so many UK airports.