MaltaMedia.com

Air Malta has just launched its new winter schedule of operations running till 28th March 2009. The schedule presents Air Malta customers travelling from the Malta base with a choice of 30 direct destinations with over 110 flights every week.

“This season will be yet another interesting one for Air Malta and its customers. This winter, we are aiming at a growth in passenger figures of 30,000 passengers – an increase of 6% over last winter’s record season; during which we had managed to increase passenger arrivals by 12% over winter 06/07. Although this is an ambitious target considering the global slowdown in economic activity, we are cautiously optimistic that we can achieve good passengers figures also this season”, said Dr Brock Friesen, Air Malta’s Chief Officer Commercial.

Air Malta is once again offering both Maltese and tourists alike the best connections and services at value for money prices to and from the Maltese islands, connecting the islands to major European gateways. This season, for the first time, the airline will be operating to the German city of Leipzig in winter and has increased seat capacity on Milan by 15%.

“This winter we are continuing to focus on our strategy of increasing frequencies to core markets. We are again this year concentrating on attracting individual travellers and have recently launched several marketing campaigns throughout the UK, France, Germany, Italy, and Benelux, without neglecting the traditional sources of business like tour operators, travel agents and conference organisers. In Europe we are aggressively promoting value for money travel opportunities during Malta’s lean months. We are yet again marketing ‘The Malta Break Escape’ campaign, targeting short break holidays. The campaigns which started in early September are yielding good results and currently bookings are at par with last year’s record growth”, added Friesen.

Apart from Air Malta’s direct flight the Maltese airline is also offering a host of other destinations and connections through its main code-share partners, Lufthansa and Air One. Code-shares are a key initiative that the airline has taken and are increasingly connecting Malta to offline markets. Through its code-share partners Air Malta is now offering over 200 destinations in 85 countries and is synchronising its timetable with other carriers. Air Malta is not only flying to prime airports, but where possible even chooses the same terminals as the partnering airline at the hub airport. Its in-flight, check-in and ground services are to the same level and harmonised with its partner airlines so that any connecting passenger experiences a seamless travel service.

The agreement with Air One signed in August 2007, with whom Air Malta code-shares on Rome Fiumicino, is giving Maltese passengers access to various Italian domestic airports including Alghero, Bari, Brindisi, Cagliari, Genoa, Milan Linate, Turin and Venice, via Rome. On the other hand the code-share agreement signed with Lufthansa in November 2006 allows both carriers to offer 2 daily non-stop flights to the Frankfurt and a daily flight to Munich with connectivity to all German regional airports and offline European, American and Asian airports.

Last year the agreement with Lufthansa generated substantial new traffic into Malta with positive direct impact on the local tourism industry. The code-share agreement, which initially was solely operative on the direct Malta – Frankfurt and Malta – Munich routes, is now covering all German regional routes including Bremen, Hannover, Dresden, Berlin and Dusseldorf. It has also been extended to the Scandinavian cities of Oslo and Stockholm with positive results. Through the code-share agreement with Lufthansa there are non-stop daily services from Malta to the American Capital of Washington D.C. Dulles Airport via Munich. All these developments are increasing extensively the accessibility to the Maltese islands from major European and International gateways.

This season’s schedule sees Air Malta operating to Alghero*, Amsterdam, Athens, Bari*, Berlin, Birmingham, Bremen*, Brindisi*, Brussels, Budapest, Cagliari*, Catania, Dresden*, Düsseldorf, Frankfurt, Geneva, Genoa*, Glasgow, Hamburg, Hannover*, Istanbul, Larnaca*, Leipzig, London – Gatwick, London – Heathrow, London – Stansted, Manchester, Milan, Moscow, Munich, Naples*, New York*, Oslo*, Paris, Reggio Calabria, Rome, Sofia, Stockholm*, Tripoli, Tunis, Vienna and Zurich.

Air Malta has also launched the Winter 2008/9 edition of Flyaway Tours. The 48-page colour brochure is once again packed with attractive, flexible vacations and travel opportunities at great prices. Hotel rates start from only 35 Euros per person per night in London, 29 Euros in Rome, 38 Euros in Milan, 37 Euros in Catania, 29 Euros in Taormina, 31 Euros in Paris, 29 Euros in Vienna, 27 Euros in Brussels, 30 Euros in Berlin, 35 Euros in Munich, 36 Euros in Amsterdam, 28 Euros in Sofia, 22 Euros in Budapest and 20 Euros in Athens and Istanbul. Other destinations are also being offered. Whether it is for a business trip or a leisurely city break, prices are very competitive and affordable and Flyaway Tours can offer a choice of attractive opportunities.

This winter’s brochure is also featuring the possibility to book Portsmouth FC’s home matches in the English Premier League. With the agreement reached between the English Premier Club and Air Malta, Flyaway Tours are giving the opportunity to the Maltese public and are offering match tickets, hotel accommodation and flights complete in one complete holiday package.

A copy of the Winter Timetable and Flyaway Tours brochure can be obtained from Air Malta sales office at Malta International Airport and in Victoria (Gozo) or any travel agent. The latest additions and changes in this winter schedule and Flyaway Tours can also be viewed from the online timetable available on www.airmalta.com. The website also offers the facilities to book Air Malta flights, hotel accommodation through Expedia, car hire, online travel insurance and now one can also check-in for Air Malta flights online.