MaltaMedia.com

Air Malta is celebrating the continued success of its Reggio Calabria operation with the milestone, achieved recently, of 150,000 passengers since starting its operations to and from the Southern Italian airport. The service and response from the city were very positive with Air Malta carrying an average of 40,000 passengers every year to various major European cities.

Since 2005, when the Maltese airline started operating to Reggio, Air Malta soon realised the potential of the city and a few months later, in winter 2005/06, it launched the Reggio – Rome service which continues to this day. Starting with only 120 passengers in the first year of operation in summer 2005, the airline steadily increased traffic and over the years carried over 90,000 passengers on this route alone, with demand for other Air Malta services between Italian cities on the increase.

Air Malta has continued to expand its operations from this airport and recently started new services connecting Reggio to Paris (Orly). As from 4th May, Air Malta will start a new operation between Reggio to Genoa with a twice weekly flight every Tuesday and Saturday.

In summer Air Malta has also offered air services from Reggio to Madrid and Barcelona. This season the airline is planning to operate flights between Reggio and Madrid.

Air Malta’s contribution in connecting the Reggio Calabria city to the Italian capital as well as to other major European cities was recently honoured during a gala event at the renowned Teatro Communale Francesco Cilea hosted by the town mayor. During this activity, Dott. Giuseppe Scopelliti, the city’s mayor, who has been elected as the President of the Calabria Region in the latest regional elections in Italy, presented Joe Cappello, Air Malta’s Chief Executive, with the San Giorgio d’Oro award for his efforts and contribution to the city in connecting the Sothern Italian city to international hubs of Rome and Paris and to Malta.

Commenting on the award during the presentation ceremony Joe Cappello said, “I am really honoured and proud of being presented with this award. Air Malta has recognised the potential of the Reggio Calabria market and following the positive collaboration with mayor, Dott. Scopelliti, we have slowly increased our services to and from the city’s airport. Since starting our services between Malta and Reggio we carried over 50,000 passengers increasing tourism opportunities both for Malta and Reggio Calabria. Through our services we are not only providing good air connections for the city of Reggio Calabria but also helping to make more accessible both Reggio and Malta to new tourism opportunities. We are trying to emulate in Reggio the success story of our Catania route which last year celebrated its 30th year of operation. With the cooperation of all we hope to continue expanding our services for the benefits of all stakeholders.”