Air Malta Successor Secures AOC, Reveals Network Plans

KM Malta Airlines, the planned successor to Malta’s existing flag-carrier Air Malta, has outlined its network plans for the northern summer 2024 season after securing an air operator certificate from the Maltese Civil Aviation Directorate.

The government-owned startup will operate its inaugural commercial flight on March 31, 2024—the day after Air Malta ceases operations. The new airline says its summer schedule will comprise 8,546 flights and 1.43 million available seats to 17 airports.

“The vision, ambition and mandate of KM Malta Airlines is to protect and enhance the connectivity of the Maltese Islands to Europe and beyond, to support the Islands’ continued economic development and to grow into a successful and sustainable airline,” a statement from the airline says.

“KM Malta Airlines will adopt a key European destination focus, linking Malta with the main capital cities in Western Europe, with the primary European airport hubs and connecting with partner airlines.”

Flights from Malta International Airport (MLA) to the Italian city Catania will be up to 3X-daily, while London Heathrow, Munich and Rome Fiumicino will each be served twice a day. Paris Charles de Gaulle and Paris Orly will receive 10 and eight flights per week, respectively, and Zurich will also be served 8X-weekly.

Five destinations will be served daily—Amsterdam Airport Schiphol, Brussels Airport, London Gatwick, Milan Linate and Vienna—and Lyon will receive five roundtrips per week. Berlin and Dusseldorf, in Germany, Madrid and Prague will each have three frequencies per week.

The 17 destinations forming KM Malta Airlines’ launch network were each offered by Air Malta during summer 2023 with similar frequencies. The soon-to-be-replaced flag-carrier also served Geneva; Lisbon, Portugal; Madrid; Naples and Palermo, in Italy; and Tel Aviv during the peak season.

KM Malta Airlines intends to use a fleet of eight Airbus A320neos in a two-class configuration. Six of the eight aircraft are expected to be transferred from Air Malta’s existing fleet, which comprises six A320neos and four A320s. KM Malta Airlines has not confirmed the source of the additional two neo aircraft.

Plans for the startup were first announced in October, bringing Air Malta’s 50-year run to a close. The existing national airline has been loss-making for the past two decades, with cumulative losses of around €400 million ($433 million).

The business plan for the new airline was drawn up by United Arab Emirates-based aviation, travel and tourism consultancy Knighthood Global, led by chairman and former Etihad Airways CEO James Hogan. Speaking in October, he described the plans for the startup as a “realistic and exciting roadmap for the future of aviation in Malta.” KM Malta Airlines says it intends to hire about 375 staff and a recruitment campaign has now been launched.

In a statement, Air Malta confirms it will cease operations and has canceled all bookings for travel beyond March 30. However, flights will “continue to operate as planned” until then.