news su air malta

[AZJumbo]

New Opportunities

Date: Thursday, 27 November 2003
Ref: 083-2003

As of early next year, Air Malta will implement and operate a new low-cost, no-frills service to and from London Stansted Airport. Soon after, Air Malta will also start a direct scheduled flight service between Catania and London Gatwick. This was announced today by Air Malta’s Chairman, Lawrence Zammit during a Press Conference at the Airline’s Head Office in Luqa, Malta. These two services resulted from the findings of the Network Group that included a number of top Air Malta officials. The Network Group’s aim was ‘to present recommendations for a schedule and charter network strategy that improves operating results and fits the airline’s strategic vision’.

As of the 29th March 2004, Air Malta will be operating three weekly summer flights to London Stansted as low-cost, no-frill flights. The airline has branded this new service as Fare 4U, which will operate every Monday, Wednesday and Friday departing Malta at 2100hrs. Seats on the Fare 4U designated flights will be on sale in Malta, the UK and the entire Air Malta network from the 8 December 2003 and one-way prices will start from an incredibly low rate of Lm23 (GBP38) excluding taxes. This one-way pricing structure will allow customers a greater amount of flexibility. Food and beverages on board Fare 4U designated flights will be available for sale.

Mr Zammit stated that Air Malta had taken the decision to start operating a low-cost, no-frill service, not only as a reaction to increased market demand, but also as a result of the airline’s real need to increase revenues and passenger numbers. This service, which was being promoted at significantly lower prices than what was normally available on the market, should stimulate incoming tourism to Malta as well as give an opportunity to Maltese travellers to visit the UK more often.

Zammit continued that, at this critical stage in the Airline’s development, it was imperative for Air Malta to take stock of the situation and reorganise the way it operates its business. “We must learn how to maximise on the opportunities that arise. Not only that, but we must also learn how to create opportunities that are commercially viable and that leave the desired financial return. This is the only way the airline will survive”. Zammit also intimated that given the right results, Fare 4U could be extended to other Air Malta destinations in the future thus allowing more of its clients to share together with the airline any new opportunity that arises.

Stansted, which is the fastest growing major airport in Europe and is the fourth busiest airport in the UK, underwent a Lm36 million extension to the terminal building that was completed in April 2002. The airport caters for extended hours of operations and is the main hub of low-cost airlines. Air Malta commenced scheduled operations to Stansted in May 1999.

Air Malta’s Chairman also announced that the Airline would start operating a new three-weekly flight service between Catania and London Gatwick. The flights, which will depart Malta every Tuesday, Friday and Sunday, will stop in Catania where passengers will embark or disembark. The flight will then leave Catania, bound for Gatwick Airport. The return flight will also stop in Catania on its way back to Malta. The first flight from Catania to Gatwick is due to operate on the 2nd May 2004.

Zammit said that this ‘first’ for Air Malta came about as a result of Malta’s forthcoming membership of the European Union. As of 1st May 2004, Air Malta will be allowed to carry revenue-generating passengers between European Union countries – without the passengers having to start or end their journey in Malta.

Not only was Air Malta providing a direct air link between Sicily and the UK, thereby facilitating travel between the two destinations, but it was also providing UK and Malta based clients with the possibility of enjoying two-centre holidays.

The success of this service is extremely important to Air Malta as a European Union airline, since it would determine the feasibility of similar opportunities that the airline could exploit in the future.

Seats on the Catania – Gatwick designated flights will also be on sale in Malta, the UK, Sicily and the entire Air Malta network from the 8 December 2003.

Air Malta has operated scheduled services to Sicily for a number of years and has always viewed the Sicilian market as a natural extension of Malta’s small domestic market. The decision to fly between Catania and London was taken due to the potential both markets have to develop as well as the support that Air Malta has been given by the Sicilian Authorities.

Zammit reiterated the need for Air Malta to exploit any opportunity that could lead to increased revenues without incurring higher costs. He concluded, “The airline could only continue to survive if the company’s commercial goals were achieved”.

Air Malta’s Chief Operating Officer, Joe Cappello also addressed the press conference.



adesso pure air malta invade l'italia a scapito di AZ, mamma mia che ridere!!!

siamo il paradiso delle compegnie straniere, ve ne siete mai accorti?

[Steman]

E' vero che le compagnie straniere godono di certe "condizioni" del mercato italiano.
Ma io provo a vederla anche dal punto di vista del passeggero e qualunque nuova proposta e' sicuramente positiva per chi deve volare...
A tutti noi farebbe sicuramente piacere che la nostra Compagnia di bandiera fosse un gigante efficientissimo con una flotta immensa etc. etc. ma ben pochi di noi si possono permettere di volare con una compagnia monopolista da tariffe assurde....quindi viva la concorrenza.


O no?

Ciao

Stefano

[marcogiov]

adesso pure air malta invade l'italia a scapito di AZ, mamma mia che ridere!!!
siamo il paradiso delle compegnie straniere, ve ne siete mai accorti?

In Europa la competizione è libera e la regola è vinca il migliore, anche se non c' è fair play: i bilaterali con i Paesi extra UE avvantaggiano troppo le linee aeree dei Paesi più grandi.
Bravi ad Air Malta che hanno il coraggio di sfidare.

[AZJumbo]

steman hai ragione...a me piace AZ ma quando c'è da cacciare dei soldi credo che opterei per una soluzione alla ryanair in temrini di $
Viva la concorrenza, ma non quella sporca (esempio la stessa ryanair con sovvenzioni scorrette), oppure linate che fa il gioco delle compagnie straniere (ma qui si può incolpare solo SEA e politica).

Per air malta ho molto rispetto, riescono a gestire una flotta di una dozzina di aerei anche di inverno, e non è facile

[Artic]

Ma sbaglio o air malta ha accordi con l'alitalia?
Air malta vuole entrare in skyteam?

[marcogiov]

Ma sbaglio o air malta ha accordi con l'alitalia?

Vero, c' è un accordo di code share.
Lo stop a Catania verso Londra non toglie passeggeri ad Alitalia, che non volerebbe mai quella tratta, vorrei dire li toglie alle low cost inglesi. Ma in realtà non toglie niente a nessuno, porterà più turisti inglesi in Sicilia.