Air Malta

[backtrack]

This thread for topical discussions about Air Malta.

 

[Aviador]

I wonder how the service will get on next summer with the competition from Ryanair?

 

[White Heather]

The Air Malta flight is inclusive tour passengers predominantly, so the Ryanair flights should not impact on it really.

 

[Bigman]

I would like to think that Air Malta would not be worried at all. Plenty of punters for all concerned. It just meand that thousands will not have to trail across to Manchester to get the cheapest deals.

 

[Aviador]

Doesn't Air Malta operate almost daily scheduled services from Manchester to MLA? They might be slightly worried.

 

[backtrack]

Air Malta operate 2 x daily scheduled services to MLA, from MAN, using the Airbus A320.

So from this, (bearing upon how full their a/c are), they is a clear demand for travel to MLA from our region. Maybe FR have considered that too when choosing their new routes from LBA. Based on the demand from MAN, i wouldnt see KM or FR having too much trouble with the route.

However, recently, our KM flight has come in from HUY with a split load/pax, picked up more from LBA, and then gone to MLA...can anyone put an explanation for that? The only one i can think of is MAN's KM flights are scheduled, whereas ours is based on tour operations mainly.

 

[empire]

However, recently, our KM flight has come in from HUY with a split load/pax, picked up more from LBA, and then gone to MLA...can anyone put an explanation for that?

That is unusual considering HUY does not have any regular Malta flights.

 

[lbia]

The Air Malta LBA-MLA doesn't perform brilliantly with an average load of 100 passengers, however i'm not too sure if this route goes via NCL?! When I worked in a Travel Agent they said Malta was the hardest destination to sell, and Mr Meeson said that it would not have worked for Jet2 and he believes it will be the first route to be dropped by Ryanair.

 

[backtrack]

The only Malta flight HUY has now is a yearly Newmarket Holidays special departure

Are you sure you havent mistaken HUY for say NWI or NCL?

No i am 100% sure. The other week it happened too. I even checked the ticket labels and they said HUY where the destination goes. It also happens on the BHG flight to/from Bourgas too, transit loads with HUY.

 

[backtrack]

Maybe it was a one off then? I shall look out next time.

 

[Aviador]

The only Malta flight HUY has now is a yearly Newmarket Holidays special departure

Are you sure you havent mistaken HUY for say NWI or NCL?

No i am 100% sure. The other week it happened too. I even checked the ticket labels and they said HUY where the destination goes. It also happens on the BHG flight to/from Bourgas too, transit loads with HUY.

The IATA code for Bourgas is BOJ. I seem to remember seeing both the MLA and BOJ flights tied up with another airport but I can't remember which airports were used.

 

[White Heather]

Malta is one place where you either love it or hate it, so it is not surprising that it doesn't sell too well really. I have been there once as my sister lived there, and I am glad I went as the island has a peculiar charm all of its own, and Valetta is great, but I would not go back. No greenery, no trees, the birds all get shot, they dump their old buses and trucks down Cliffs and at the sides of the road. But, the Maltese Government had last year been trying to entice a carrier to operate from LBA to MLA and I seem to recall were offering incentives. Easyjet then started flying from NCL and now we have Ryanair. How long it will last remains to be seen. If anyone will make it work, its Ryanair.

The airport arrivals board always tends to show that the flight is coming in via another airport, but I have never seen the MLA shown this way. I have never seen it showing on any other arrivals at other airports either, and definitely not at HUY as I check their arrivals daily.

 

[eastcoaster]

Air Malta flight to Malta has just been cancelled by Thos Cook for summer 2010.

 

[Aviador]

Running scared from Ryanair do you think?

 

[eastcoaster]

Very much so.

 

[backtrack]

So there will be no Air Malta flights next summer? Whats the "Thos Cook" got to do with it?

 

[White Heather]

Thomas Cook are the tour operator and they charter Air Malta to do their flights. No Thomas Cook = no Air Malta.

If Jet2 had done Malta, they would probably have chartered some of their seats rather than giving up on the service altogether.

 

[User001]

Could Air Malta be making a return to LBA?

Leeds has re-appeared on the Air Malta website, but, no flights seem to be bookable,e at this time.

One to watch.

 

[lbaspotter]

I've just checked Air Malta website for a booking in August and it gives option of Malta-Leeds via Heathrow.

Have Air Malta got or recently agreed either a codeshare or interlining deal with British Airways user001?

 

[User001]

KM and BA have code shared for a while, but. This must be a new one as it was not there last week.

Sorry for the false alarm, was hoping it could be another new route. The timings would typically help LBA and its stand congestion too.