Air Malta announces new chairman, €31 million loss

Air Malta has made a €31 million loss in its last financial year, a loss mostly attributed to a weak British sterling and high fuel costs.

Finance Minister T. Fenech said that during the financial year ended March 31, 2009, fuel alone cost the airline €18 million in losses. He added that the hedging of oil purchases helped reduce these losses from €27 million.

The decline in the sterling’s value, meanwhile, affected Air Malta significantly, due to the importance of the British market. This decline alone caused €12.8 million in losses.

Projections for the current financial year also show losses, although not as high as in the previous one.

The minister noted that the airline’s losses were also due to the fact that the company bore a responsibility towards the country, as well as its bottom line. However, he added, continued losses raised questions on the airline’s sustainability.

Air Malta would now look into another restructuring plan, and was also considering recapitalisation. Government has also started talks with the European Commission over state aid to Air Malta, which, per E.U. regulations, can only be given under certain conditions.

Mr Fenech also took the opportunity to announce that the company’s chairman, Lawrence Zammit, will be stepping down after he asked not to be reappointed. His replacement will be the current chairman of MCESD and GO, Sonny Portelli.

Mr Zammit said that after serving as the airline’s chairman for over 6 years, he sought to step down for purely personal reasons.

His designated successor, meanwhile, said that he was under no illusions about the challenges that the new post would bring.

(www.di-ve.com)

A Saudi Arabian MD-11F skids on the grass at M.I.A. while entering Apron-9 on Thursday night

No one was injured in an incident late on Thursday night, around 2216LT, in which a Saudi Arabian Airlines MD-11 cargo aircraft (HZ-AND) has skidded onto the grass at Malta Int'l Airport.

The large three-engined airliner ended up with part of its undercarriage stuck in the soft soil next to taxiway ECHO while taxiing to enter apron-9 at M.I.A. The airport fire-fighters were deployed as a precaution.

The plane had flown in from Brussels on its way to Saudi Arabia.

The MD-11F is expected to be pulled-out from the grass during the day.

Malta Int'l Airport has handled 2.92 million pax in 2009, a drop of 6.1% from 2008

Malta Int'l Airport last year handled 2.92 million passengers, a drop of 6.1 percent compared to the previous year.

In December alone passenger numbers grew by 6.5% when compared to December 2008. Passenger numbers had also risen, albeit slightly, in October and November after having declined in the earlier months of 2009.

Company CEO Julian Jaeger said at a press conference that seat capacity on the Malta routes last year was 4.2 million seats, a drop of 2.4% when compared to 2008.

The main markets last year remained the UK with 34.2% of market share, Italy 17.1% and Germany, 14.3%.

The top airlines were Air Malta (56% of passengers) followed by Ryanair (15%) and easyJet (5%).

There was a drop of 33% in charter traffic last year and a further drop is expected this year because of changes in passenger trends and increasing use of low cost airlines.

The CEO said that after the Christmas Day bombing attempt in Detroit, M.I.A. had looked at improving security, including a change in the procedures for passenger checks. M.I.A. was and remains within international security requirements.

When he spoke on commercial activities, Mr Jaeger said that following the recent extension of the terminal building, M.I.A. was now revamping the food court to give it a more Maltese feel.

Mr Jaeger said that M.I.A. is expecting growth of 2.8% this year over the 2009 figures.

(www.timesofmalta.com)

M.I.A.’s Expansion Project Wins International Award

Last June M.I.A. unveiled its expansion project which besides being intended to enhance customer comfort has also improved its logistic offer not merely embellishing the structure of the terminal building but more importantly also focusing on its objective to diversify and increase its non-aviation activity.

M.I.A. plc is being classified amongst the top 15 airports worldwide and has been awarded the title of "Most Noteworthy Airport for a New Small Budget Programme." The past winner in this category was Bristol International Airport and the award by "Passenger Terminal World", the international review of airport design, technology, security, operations and management, has this year alongside M.I.A. also awarded airports of the calibre of Dubai, Brussels, San Francisco, Stockholm, Heathrow, Changi, Barcelona and Vienna. The classification was determined by a high-profile jury made up of leading professionals of the industry.

M.I.A.’s investment has been described as having totally transformed the passengers' experience marking a new approach to its commercial activities. MIA’s CEO Julian Jaeger on receipt of this award, stated "this award shows we are on the right track, this recognition gives us confidence that we will become one of the best airports in the Mediterranean and it is significant for us that one of the most important industry publications substantiates our positive performance in this regard."

The Passenger Terminal World Annual 2010 has made reference to M.I.A. stating "When a new terminal can cost US$1.5 billion it is hard to think that many wonderful airports are being developed for a fraction of that sum, but Malta Airport is one such. With its current development programme it is a small airport with big plans – improving the commercial offer, enlarging security and other essential services, and gaining plaudits from the country’s population."

Julian Jaeger thanked all those who contributed to this achievement in particular the concessionaires amongst which the Nuance Group that have created an innovative walk-through shopping mall as well as a "destination" concept that highlights local produce and handcrafts; Miller Distributors Ltd, and the "8 till late" Convenience Store, as well as the Travel Stores Ltd., and Salvu Grima that have brought in to M.I.A. renowned brand names such as La Coste, Calvin Klein, French Connection, and Samsonite, moreover the Classic Group and their Diamonds International.

The project is the result of an exercise in creativity whereby an increase in capacity was required in the Security Area and the consequent restructuring has led to changes which enabled M.I.A. to maximise on commercial space creating a well-balanced offer between retail outlets and a variety of food and beverage services, which certainly enabled M.I.A. to distinguish itself to meet the requisites of the deserved award, indeed as quoted in Passenger Terminal World Annual 2010 "there is much more to an airport than just the building fabric; it is what goes on inside and how it affects the passenger that is even more critical."

(www.maltairport.com)

Air Malta Gatwick flight in 12-hour delay

An Air Malta flight to Gatwick, due to have left Malta at 8.30 a.m. has been delayed for 12 hours as the London airport continues trying to cope with heavy snowfall.

Meanwhile an extra Gatwick flight, laid on after a flight was cancelled yesterday, left Malta at 9.30 a.m., some two and a half hours behind schedule, also because of the problems in Gatwick. Yesterday's flight was cancelled when the airport was closed. Two flights to Heathrow operated normally.

EasyJet, meanwhile, has cancelled its Gatwick-Malta flight, like it did yesterday. In all, the low cost airline cancelled more than 100 flights today.

Gatwick reopened late yesterday but overnight faced new problems at the gates, with some passengers having been kept on their planes at the airport for hours.

An Air Malta spokesman said it was hoped ways could be found for the delayed flight to leave Malta earlier.

(www.timesofmalta.com)

An Air Malta relief flight delayed as weather continues to hinder Gatwick operations

An extra Air Malta flight to London Gatwick to take passengers stranded after a flight cancellation yesterday has been delayed for a further two hours as heavy snowfall continues to hinder operations at London's second airport.

The flight was due to leave at 7 a.m. today. Yesterday's flight cancellation was caused by the closure of Gatwick airport.. Air Malta was however able to operate its two flights to London Heathrow.

EasyJet cancelled its Gatwick flight yesterday and has done so again today. (It has cancelled a total of 65 international and domestic flights today).

A Thomson flight from Malta to Manchester, due to have left Malta at 1.50 last night is now not expected to depart before 3 p.m. - Manchester being the worst affected airport by the weather.

Gatwick reported fresh problems at its gates this morning, with some passengers stranded on planes for hours before disembarking.

Air Malta said it offered free re-booking to passengers booked on yesterday's cancelled flight. Some were able to take flights to Heathrow.

"As a value focused airline Air Malta extends its support to its passengers in such circumstances and tries to minimise the inconveniences by limiting disruptions whilst offering alternatives where interruptions in services are necessary. Other airlines simply cancelled flights without giving their clients any alternatives," the airline said.

(www.timesofmalta.com)