Air Malta selects an all-Airbus fleet
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Air Malta selects an all-Airbus fleet
After a long-running collaboration with Boeing Co., Air Malta, the Maltese flag-carrier has chosen an all-Airbus fleet. The replacement of the current fleet will start in 2003 and should be complete by 2008, with aircraft from the A320 family.
Air Malta currently operates a mix of B737 and A320 aircraft. More details at:
http://www.airmalta.com/newfleet.htm
Air Malta currently operates a mix of B737 and A320 aircraft. More details at:
http://www.airmalta.com/newfleet.htm
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Heard on Friday about Air Maltas fleet decison, quite surprising really as I thought Air Malta would maintain there long relationship with Boeing and go for the 737NG. Although I have heard that Airbus are taking the Azzurrair fleet of RJ70/85's so this may have been decisive in Air Maltas decison as I have heard they are keen to dispose of them.
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Actualy I was told that the Avro RJs were bought by HSBC bank and not by Airbus. It seems that their lease to Azzurra will not be interrupted, for now at least.
The choice of Airbus is hardly a surprise, especially when one considers the positive experience Air Malta has had with the A320 family for the last 12 years.
As divulged by the company following its long winded decision, the A320 simply has better economics, cargo capacity and flexibility, and as the Chairman said, is simply a "better product" .
The choice of Airbus is hardly a surprise, especially when one considers the positive experience Air Malta has had with the A320 family for the last 12 years.
As divulged by the company following its long winded decision, the A320 simply has better economics, cargo capacity and flexibility, and as the Chairman said, is simply a "better product" .
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No chance of Airbus also taking the Mi8Ps that are branded as Air Malta on the hop to Gozo and replacing them with something less, er, exciting I guess?
(These are somewhat tatty Mi8Ps labelled almost entirely in Russian and crewed by non-English speaking Bulgarians
(These are somewhat tatty Mi8Ps labelled almost entirely in Russian and crewed by non-English speaking Bulgarians
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Christep: Right you are re. Russian equipment, although I wouldn't put it in such bad light. However worse than being replaced, the only thing that is up for consideration is Malta Air Charter Helicopter service's very own continuation and existence.
The service has lost money from day one, even though the lease rates are much cheaper than other rotor equipment. Very unfortunately, the enviormentalist lobby have got their way, and made the government backtrack on its plan to make a small 600m airstrip in Gozo, (there already exists a 250m paved strip on site) which would finally allow commercially viable fixed-wing operations for the 15 minute flight.
Since traffic is seasonal, and the Hips are quite large for most of the year, the company is hugely inflexible to demand and supply. Unless it ends up as yet another subsidised service, its days are numbered, unless common sense prevails and and airstrip is built.
The service has lost money from day one, even though the lease rates are much cheaper than other rotor equipment. Very unfortunately, the enviormentalist lobby have got their way, and made the government backtrack on its plan to make a small 600m airstrip in Gozo, (there already exists a 250m paved strip on site) which would finally allow commercially viable fixed-wing operations for the 15 minute flight.
Since traffic is seasonal, and the Hips are quite large for most of the year, the company is hugely inflexible to demand and supply. Unless it ends up as yet another subsidised service, its days are numbered, unless common sense prevails and and airstrip is built.
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Sorry all I heard was the RJs where being disposed off, but it seems logical that assumed that meant to Airbus. Im still not clear whether this means the ex Air Malta RJ70's or also includes the Azzurrair RJ85's which where ordered for there operations. I agree about the Airbus, I have have flown on them many times, on the LHR-MLA route and found them an excellant aircraft, wide cabin, and faster than the 737-3Y5 in my opinion. Is there any idea whether Air Malta will include in-flight entertainment in there aircraft, like some of the charter airlines which fly to Malta. The 3 hor flight can be quite boring at times!
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They will certainly be ready-wired (standard on all Airbus aircraft today), but since this popular piece of 1970s equipment has not been boasted about in the airline's press-conferences, and newspaper reports, it seems unlikely that the decision to finally introduce inflight entertainment has been taken. At least the decision can easily and quickly be over ridden, one day.
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Thanks for the info, shame about the inflight entertainment. There seems to be a lot of speculation about Air Maltas plans, rumours of a new colour scheme, and when the retirement starts of the current fleet will occur, heard this was going to be Febuary with the depature of 9H-ABE/F. I believe also Air Malta is going to appoint a new Chairman, read this was possibly going to be the ex Swissair Chairman.
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