View source for Air Malta

{{Short description|Defunct national airline of Malta (1973–2024)}}
{{About|the defunct airline that was formerly the flag carrier of Malta|the new airline operating as the flag carrier|KM Malta Airlines}}
{{Distinguish|Malta Air}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=December 2020}}
{{Infobox airline
| airline = Air Malta plc
| logo = Logo_airmalta.svg
| logo_size = 250
| IATA = KM
| ICAO = AMC
| callsign = AIR MALTA
| founded = {{Start date and age|1973|03|31|df=yes|br=y}}
| commenced = {{Start date and age|1974|04|01|df=yes|br=y}}
| ceased = {{End date and age|2024|03|30|df=yes|br=y}}
| headquarters = [[Luqa]], [[Malta]]
| hubs = [[Malta International Airport]]
| frequent_flyer = {{ubl|class=nowrap
  | Flypass
  | KMiles }}
| fleet_size = 7
| destinations = 20<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.ch-aviation.com/portal/airline/KM | title=Air Malta on ch-aviation.com | website=ch-aviation.com | access-date= 21 November 2023}}</ref>
| key_people = {{bulleted list|
  | David Curmi ([[Executive Chairman]])
  | Declan Keller (Chief Operations Officer & Accountable Manager)}}
| website = {{URL|www.airmalta.com}}
| aoc = MT-01
| focus_cities = 
| subsidiaries = [[Malta MedAir]]
| parent = 
| num_employees = 375
}}

'''Air Malta''', stylized as '''airmalta''', was a [[Malta|Maltese]] [[airline]] headquartered in [[Luqa]] and based at [[Malta International Airport]]. It operated services as the country's [[flag carrier]] to destinations in Europe, the Middle East and North Africa. Air Malta ceased operations on 30 March 2024 and was replaced on the next day with a new flag carrier, [[KM Malta Airlines]].<ref>{{Cite news |last=Scicluna |first=Christopher |date=2023-10-02 |title=Air Malta to close in March, new airline to replace it, PM says |language=en |work=Reuters |url=https://www.reuters.com/business/aerospace-defense/air-malta-close-march-new-airline-replace-it-pm-says-2023-10-02/ |access-date=2023-11-26}}</ref><ref name=businesstraveller.com>{{Cite web |title=Maltese government to shut down and relaunch flag carrier |url=https://www.businesstraveller.com/business-travel/2023/10/04/maltese-government-to-shut-down-and-relaunch-flag-carrier/ |access-date=2023-11-26 |website=Business Traveller |language=en-GB}}</ref>

==History==
[[File:Air Malta Boeing 720B AP-AMG LHR 1978-8-24.png|thumb|Air Malta leased its first Boeing 720B's in 1974 and they were joined by another three a few years later.]]
[[File:Boeing 737-2Y5-Adv, Air Malta AN1170418.jpg|thumb|right|Once a mainstay of the fleet, the Boeing 737-200 series has since been phased out, seen here at London Heathrow Airport in 1983.]]

===Early years===
Shortly after the Second World War, several small private airlines were formed in Malta. Amongst these were '''The Malta Instone Airline''', '''BAS (Malta)''' Ltd, and '''Malta Airlines'''. In 1947, the former two companies merged to form '''Air Malta''' Ltd in fierce competition with the latter. Eventually, in 1951 Malta Airlines absorbed the operations of Air Malta Ltd and continued operating through an agreement with [[British European Airways|BEA]] until 1973. The owners of Air Malta Ltd used their real estate, staff, and equipment to set up a [[ground handling]] company called MAS, Malta Aviation Services, this was set up in 1955. During this time, Col. R Strickland was Managing Director at Malta Aviation Services Ltd and Mr W H Woodroffe was Station Manager. 1st February 1955 - Emanuel Paris promoted as Senior Station Officer for MAS with offices at Luqa airport. In 1958  Mr J T Crossey was the Managing Director and Mr F G Haywood was Station Manager whilst Mr Emanuel Paris was appointed deputy Station Manager. On 30 September 1958 Mr E Paris replaced Mr F G Haywood as Station Manager of the airport, being the first Maltese national to take over this post.

In the early 1970s, the Maltese government appointed Albert Mizzi as chairman of the airline and made a call for an international airline partner to help set up an airline and Pakistan's flag carrier [[Pakistan International Airlines|PIA]] was selected for this purpose.<ref>{{cite web |title=History |url=https://vassallohistory.wordpress.com/air-malta/ |access-date=29 September 2023}}</ref> The name chosen for the new airline was similar to that of its forerunner, Air Malta Co Ltd, and was established on 31 March 1973. BEA was chartered to continue its Malta operations, this time for Air Malta, until Air Malta's first flight on 1 April 1974. The government took over both Malta Airlines and Malta Aviation Services and the private owners were given a shareholding in Air Malta Co. Ltd.

Air Malta started operations, with two [[wet leased]] [[Boeing 720B]]s from [[Pakistan International Airlines]] that served Rome, [[Tripoli, Libya|Tripoli]], [[London]], [[Manchester]], [[Frankfurt]], Dublin for holiday charters, as well as [[Paris]] from Malta. It later bought three more Boeing 720Bs and bought the original two.

In 1981, three [[Boeing 737|Boeing 737-200]]s were wet-leased, which were so successful that in 1983, three new fully owned Boeing 737-200s were delivered. In 1986, Air Malta bought three new Boeing 737-200s, and in 1987 ordered its first [[Airbus A320 family|Airbus A320]]. In 1989, Air Malta exercised an option for one more A320, and in 1992, three more [[Boeing 737 Classic|Boeing 737-300]]s were ordered and four [[Avro RJ70]]s were ordered for routes to [[Catania]] and [[Palermo]], and to new destinations such as [[Tunis]] and [[Monastir, Tunisia|Monastir]].

After the opening of Malta International Airport in 1992, Air Malta created ''CargoSystems'', which includes the transportation of cargo on Air Malta planes. In 1994, Air Malta inaugurated a cargo center at the airport. It was also during this time that a codesharing agreement with [[Trans World Airlines]] began.

===21st century developments===
[[File:air.malta.a320-200.9h-aep.arp.jpg|thumb|An Air Malta [[Airbus A320 family|Airbus A320-200]] wearing the former livery in 2007]]
Between 2002 and 2007, Air Malta embarked upon a fleet replacement programme, opting to change all aircraft to Airbus A319s and A320s. The last aircraft in this order, an A320, was delivered on 22 March 2007, and the fleet has not been replaced since.

Air Malta had around 190 interline ticketing agreements with other [[IATA]] airlines. According to the [[Association of European Airlines]] quarterly review of May 2006, Air Malta was the airline that lost the least amount of passenger baggage. The amount of baggage lost in the first quarter of 2006 was 4.1 bags massing per 1000 passengers.

In winter, the airline often leases out aircraft to maximize earnings during the low season. In September 2007, for instance, Air Malta made two agreements with Abu Dhabi-based [[Etihad Airways]] by which Air Malta wet-leased 2 Airbus aircraft to Etihad Airways for the winter period starting 1 September 2007, and provided operational support on another Airbus A320 aircraft leased by Etihad Airways. In January and February 2009 Air Malta wet-leased an A320 to [[Sky Airline]] of Chile. From 2011 to 2014 Air Malta wet-leased another A320 to [[Sky Airline]].

In 2012 Air Malta underwent a re-branding process, which caused some controversy as the titles on aircraft and signage only say Malta, omitting the word ''Air''. The airline insisted this was not a name change, and the full name of the airline remains Air Malta. Additionally, the titles on the engines still say ''airmalta.com''. The first plane to show off the new colours was the Airbus A320-200 ''9H-AEN'' at the Malta International Airshow 2012. On the second and last day of the show the A320 and a Spitfire performed a flypast as the closing act.

As a commemoration of the airline's 40 years of operation, the airline painted one of its aircraft, ''9H-AEI'', an A320-200, in retro colours, depicting the livery used on the Boeing 720Bs. The 9H-AEI aircraft debuted on April 16, 2014.

In June 2017, the newly appointed Minister for Tourism announced the restructuring of Air Malta.<ref>[https://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20170609/local/watch-no-strategic-partner-before-air-malta-is-restructured-konrad.650316 Watch: No strategic partner before Air Malta is restructured - Konrad Mizzi]</ref> This was also confirmed by the newly appointed chairman.<ref>[https://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20170802/local/air-malta-shareholding-only-after-restructuring-mangion.654726 Air Malta shareholding only after restructuring - Mangion]</ref> Air Malta then opened a number of new routes, including Tunis, Malaga (reduced to seasonal in 2019), Comiso (terminated after summer 2018), Kyiv, Lisbon, Casablanca, Southend (terminated in 2019) and Cagliari (subsequently reduced to June–September only).<ref>[https://www.airmalta.com/information/about/news-overview/news-detail/038-2017 Air Malta connects Malta with North Africa again, new scheduled Services to Tunis start 26th of June]</ref> Manchester and Frankfurt were restarted after being briefly terminated.<ref>[http://www.independent.com.mt/articles/2017-07-21/local-news/Air-Malta-announces-Frankfurt-flight-schedule-as-from-end-October-6736176875 Air Malta announces Frankfurt flight schedule as from end October]</ref>

In March 2019, the airline announced that it had made a profit of €1.2 million in the fiscal year of 2018. This profit was the first the airline has made in 18 years.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://timesofmalta.com/articles/view/air-malta-registers-profit-but-not-out-of-the-woods-yet.705319|title = Air Malta registers profit, but 'not out of the woods yet'}}</ref>

===Closure and replacement===
[[File:Air Malta, 9H-NEC, Airbus A320-251N (49585974967).jpg|thumb|A former Air Malta [[Airbus A320neo]], which subsequently has been taken over by its successor, [[KM Malta Airlines]].]]
In August 2022, the Maltese government announced it would dissolve Air Malta should the European Union deny further financial state aid to the airline. It would then relocate its assets to a succeeding carrier.<ref>[https://www.aerotelegraph.com/air-malta-droht-die-aufloesung aerotelegraph.com] (German) 19 August 2022</ref> Shortly after, the decision regarding the airline's future had been delayed to the end of 2022; however, the route network and frequencies saw extensive cuts by October 2022, including the termination of several destinations.<ref>[https://aviation.direct/air-malta-kuerzt-winterflugplan-2022-23-stark aviation.direct] (German) 26 September 2022</ref>

On 18 April 2023, Chairman David Curmi announced that the [[European Commission]] declined to give permission to the Maltese government to inject 290 million euros of state aid into the airline.<ref>[https://www.maltatoday.com.mt/news/national/122400/air_malta_chief_confirms_airline_will_be_replaced_by_end_of_year#.ZD7UG_xBzGI maltatoday.com.mt] (English) 18 April 2023</ref> In 2023, Air Malta incorporated its aircraft with a new livery with red and dark red on the back of the plane. This livery would be subsequently used by the new airline. Also, a competitive process was to be launched for the new airline to acquire the tender for the Air Malta branding which is owned by a government owned company, IP Holdings, which was set up by former minister [[Konrad Mizzi]] to transfer assets to show that the company earned a profit in 2018.{{citation needed|date=March 2024}}

On 2 October 2023, the Maltese government announced the closure of Air Malta for 30 March 2024.<ref>The Air Malta Story ''[[Airliner World]]'' July 2024 page 66-71</ref> It was replaced by [[KM Malta Airlines]] the following day.<ref name=businesstraveller.com/><ref>Maltese makeover ''Airliner World'' Octobe4 2024 pages 88-93</ref>

==Corporate affairs==
The head office of the company was at the Skyparks Business Centre, located on the property of [[Malta International Airport]] in [[Luqa]].<ref>"[http://www.airmalta.com/information/about/contact-us Contact Us] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130502093707/http://www.airmalta.com/information/about/contact-us |date=2 May 2013 }}." Air Malta. Retrieved on 21 September 2014. "Head Office Air Malta plc Level 2, Skyparks Business Centre Malta International Airport Luqa, Malta. LQA 4000"</ref> In the 1960s and 1970s the head office of its predecessor Malta Airlines was in [[Sliema]].<ref>''[[Flight International]]''. 2 April 1964. [http://www.flightglobal.com/pdfarchive/view/1964/1964%20-%200914.html 519] ([https://web.archive.org/web/20151124190608/https://www.flightglobal.com/FlightPDFArchive/1964/1964%20-%200914.PDF Archive]). "''Head Office:'' Airways House, High Street, Sliema, Malta GC."</ref><ref>''[[Flight International]]''. 6 May 1971. p. [http://www.flightglobal.com/pdfarchive/view/1971/1971%20-%200721.html?search=Malaysia%20Singapore%20Airlines 636] ([https://web.archive.org/web/20151125195059/https://www.flightglobal.com/FlightPDFArchive/1971/1971%20-%200721.PDF Archive]). "Head office: Airways House, 6-10 High Street, Sliema, Malta."</ref>

==Codeshare agreements==
Air Malta maintained [[Codeshare agreement]]s with the following airlines:<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.airmalta.com/information/about/partners-air-malta |title=Airmalta Partners |website=airmalta.com |access-date=21 April 2020}}</ref>

{{div col|colwidth=20em}}
* [[Aeroflot]]
* [[airBaltic]]<ref>{{cite news|last1=Liu|first1=Jim|title=airmalta / airBaltic begins codeshare service in S18|url=https://www.routesonline.com/news/38/airlineroute/278238/airmalta-airbaltic-begins-codeshare-service-in-s18/|access-date=20 April 2018|work=Routesonline|date=20 April 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Liu |first1=Jim |title=airBaltic / airmalta expands codeshare network from April 2019 |url=https://www.routesonline.com/news/38/airlineroute/284026/airbaltic-airmalta-expands-codeshare-network-from-april-2019/ |access-date=24 April 2019 |work=Routesonline |date=24 April 2019}}</ref>
* [[Air France]]
* [[Air Serbia]]
* [[Austrian Airlines]]
* [[Brussels Airlines]]
* [[Czech Airlines]]
* [[Emirates (airline)|Emirates]]
* [[Etihad Airways]]
* [[ITA Airways]]<ref>{{Cite web|last=Kaminski-Morrow|first=David|title=New Italian carrier ITA to codeshare with Air Malta|url=https://www.flightglobal.com/airlines/new-italian-carrier-ita-to-codeshare-with-air-malta/146138.article|access-date=2021-10-28|website=Flight Global|language=en}}</ref>
* [[KLM]]
* [[Lufthansa]]
* [[Qatar Airways]]
* [[Swiss International Air Lines]]
* [[Turkish Airlines]]
{{div col end}}

==Fleet==
===Final fleet===
{{As of|2024|03}} and prior to the closure of operations, Air Malta operated the following aircraft:<ref name=f1>{{cite web|url= http://www.transport.gov.mt/aviation/list-of-registered-aircraft |title=List of Registered Aircraft |website=transport.gov.mt |access-date=30 October 2022}}</ref>

{| class="wikitable" style="border-collapse:collapse;margin:auto;text-align:center"
|+ '''Air Malta fleet'''
|- 
! rowspan="2" | Aircraft
! rowspan="2" style="width:60px;" | Number
! rowspan="2" style="width:40px;" | Orders
! colspan="3" class="unsortable" | Passengers
! rowspan="2" |Notes
|- 
! style="width:25px;" | J
! style="width:25px;" | Y
! style="width:25px;" | Total
|-
|[[Airbus A320-200]]
|1
|&mdash;
|12
|150
|162
| rowspan="2" |All transferred to [[KM Malta Airlines]]
|-
|[[Airbus A320neo]]
|6
|&mdash;
|12
|162
|174
|-
!Total
!7
!&mdash;
!
!
!
!
|}

===Former fleet===
Air Malta previously also operated the following aircraft types:{{Citation needed|date=October 2024}}

{| class="wikitable" style="border-collapse:collapse;margin:auto;text-align:center"
|+ '''Air Malta former fleet'''
|- 
!Aircraft
!Total
!Introduced
!Retired
!Notes
|-
|[[Airbus A310-300]]
|2
|1994
|1996
|Leased from [[Lufthansa]] and [[Sabena]]
|-
|[[Airbus A319-100]]
|7
|2001
|2019
|<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.ch-aviation.com/portal/news/82389-air-malta-retires-last-a319|title=Air Malta retires last A319|website=Ch-aviation|date=October 16, 2019}}</ref>
|-
|[[British Aerospace 146|Avro RJ70]]
|4
|1994
|1998
|<ref name="waf95" />
|-
|[[BAC One-Eleven 500]]
|1
|1975
|1975
|Leased from [[British Caledonian]]
|-
|[[Boeing 720B]]
|7
|1978
|1989
|<ref>{{cite magazine|magazine=[[Flight International]]|title=World Airline Directory|date=22 April 1978|url=https://www.flightglobal.com/pdfarchive/view/1978/1978%20-%200634.html|page=1130}}</ref>
|-
|[[Boeing 727-200]]
|{{Unknown}}
|{{Unknown}}
|{{Unknown}}
|[[1990 Faucett Perú Boeing 727 disappearance|One leased to Faucett Perú]]<ref>https://www.airliners.net, photos of Air Malta Boeing 727-200 aircraft</ref>
|-
|[[Boeing 737-200]]
|9
|1980
|2004
|<ref name="waf95">{{cite magazine|magazine=[[Flight International]]|title=World Airline Directory|date=29 March 1995|url=https://www.flightglobal.com/pdfarchive/view/1995/1995%20-%200851.html|page=50}}</ref>
|-
|[[Boeing 737-300]]
|12
|1993
|2008
|<ref name="waf95" />
|-
|[[Boeing 737-400]]
|4
|1998
|2000
|<ref name="waf99">{{cite magazine|magazine=[[Flight International]]|title=World Airline Directory|date=24 March 1999|url=https://www.flightglobal.com/pdfarchive/view/1999/1999%20-%200626.html|page=46}}</ref>
|-
|[[Boeing 737-500]]
|1
|2001
|2001
|rowspan=2|Leased from [[Maersk Air]]
|-
|[[Boeing 737-700]]
|2
|2000
|2000
|-
|[[British Aerospace 146-200]]
|1
|1993
|1993
|Leased from [[British Aerospace]]
|-
|[[British Aerospace ATP]]
|1
|1992
|1993
|Leased from [[SATA Air Açores]]
|-
|[[Convair 880]]
|1
|1977
|1979
|<ref>https://www.airliners.net, photo of Air Malta Convair 880 aircraft</ref>
|-
|[[McDonnell Douglas DC-9-32]]
|1
|1979
|1980
|Leased from [[Austrian Airlines]]
|-
|[[McDonnell Douglas MD-90-30]]
|1
|2008
|2008
|Leased from [[Hello (airline)|Hello]]<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.airliners.net/photo/Air-Malta-Hello/McDonnell-Douglas-MD-90-30/1341476?qsp=eJyrVkrOzytJrSgJqSxIVbJSSsxJKs1V0lEqSCxKzC1WsqqGiHimKFkZG1oYmdTWAgDBEhDX|title = Air Malta MD-90}}</ref>
|-
|}

==Incidents and accidents==
[[File:Birmingham 25 June 1990 Air Malta Boeing 727 OB-1303.jpg|thumb|OB-1303, the [[Faucett Perú]] Boeing 727 which [[1990 Faucett Perú Boeing 727 disappearance|disappeared in the Atlantic Ocean]] on 11 September 1990, while on a transferral flight following the end of a lease to Air Malta]]

Air Malta had no fatal accidents throughout its five decades of operation. Incidents involving Air Malta aircraft include:
*On 31 October 1981, after a [[Boeing 737|Boeing 737-200]] landed in [[Cairo]], [[Egypt]], two bombs exploded, injuring four people. A third bomb that failed to detonate was found later.<ref>{{ASN accident|id=19811013-0|type=Bombing}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Micallef |first1=Mark |title=Air Malta 'almost had a Lockerbie-style disaster' |url=https://www.timesofmalta.com/article/Air-Malta-almost-had-a-Lockerbie-style-disaster-.544133 |work=[[Times of Malta]] |date=16 November 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241203164338/https://www.timesofmalta.com/article/Air-Malta-almost-had-a-Lockerbie-style-disaster-.544133 |archive-date=3 December 2024}}</ref>
*On 21 December 1988, Air Malta Flight 180 played an unintentional role when an unaccompanied baggage containing a timed explosive was checked onto the flight out of [[Luqa Airport]] to [[Frankfurt Airport]], where it was loaded as interline baggage to the first leg of [[Pan Am Flight 103]] from Frankfurt to London-Heathrow Airport. The bomb in the unaccompanied baggage then exploded on Pan Am 103's transatlantic leg while it was flying over [[Lockerbie]], Scotland, killing a total of 270 people.{{citation needed|date=March 2024}}
*On 9 June 1997, Air Malta Flight 830, a [[Boeing 737|Boeing 737-200]], was hijacked by two [[Turkey|Turks]] on a flight from Malta to [[Istanbul]], Turkey. They demanded the release of [[Mehmet Ali Ağca]]. The hijack ended in [[Cologne]], Germany, with no casualties amongst the 74 passengers and 6 crew.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B1AZsxxe-CA |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211211/B1AZsxxe-CA| archive-date=2021-12-11 |url-status=live|title=TVM News report regarding hijackings in Malta}}{{cbignore}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://avstop.com/news/830.html|title=Air Malta Flight 830 Report|access-date=19 June 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171028193943/http://avstop.com/news/830.html|archive-date=28 October 2017|url-status=dead}}</ref>
*On 19 January 2004, Air Malta Flight 642, an [[Airbus A320 family|Airbus A320]], hit a pylon at Malta International Airport while taxiing prior to takeoff. There were no injuries among the crew and 27 passengers on board, while damage to the aicraft's wing amounted to around $2 million.<ref>{{cite news |title=Air Malta plane hits pylon |url=https://timesofmalta.com/article/air-malta-plane-hits-pylon.131928 |work=[[Times of Malta]] |date=20 January 2004 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241229100656/https://timesofmalta.com/article/air-malta-plane-hits-pylon.131928 |archive-date=29 December 2024}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Bonello |first1=Jesmond |title=Indiscipline thought to have played a part in Air Malta jet accident |url=https://timesofmalta.com/article/indiscipline-thought-to-have-played-a-part-in-air-malta-jet-accident.130915 |work=[[Times of Malta]] |date=2 February 2004 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241229100742/https://timesofmalta.com/article/indiscipline-thought-to-have-played-a-part-in-air-malta-jet-accident.130915 |archive-date=29 December 2024}}</ref>

In addition, on 11 September 1990 a Faucett Perú Boeing 727 which had been leased to Air Malta [[1990 Faucett Perú Boeing 727 disappearance|disappeared in the Atlantic Ocean]] while it was being ferried back to Peru from Malta upon the end of its lease, with 16 presumed fatalities.

==See also==
*[[List of defunct airlines of Malta]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}
<!--

need footnotes

# Bradshaws Air Guide Aug/Sept 1953
# Bradshaws Air Guide March 1959
 -->

==External links==
{{Commons category-inline}}
*[http://www.airmalta.com/ Official website]

{{Portal bar|Malta|Companies|Aviation}}
{{Airlines of Malta}}
{{IATA members|europe}}
{{Association of European Airlines}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Defunct airlines of Malta]]
[[Category:Airlines established in 1973]]
[[Category:Airlines disestablished in 2024]]
[[Category:Government-owned airlines]]
[[Category:Maltese brands]]
[[Category:Air Malta| ]]
[[Category:1973 establishments in Malta]]
[[Category:2024 disestablishments in Malta]]
[[Category:Luqa]]