Air Malta, Emirates sign code sharing agreement

Air Malta and Emirates yesterday signed a code share agreement on the Cyprus route, following six months of negotiations.

This is the sixth such agreement signed by the national carrier with quality airlines over the last 18 months.

Such agreements were a means to increase and improve Air Malta's destination network and connectivity to the rest of the world, which was critical for the country's economy and business, its chief officer strategic planning, Dominic Attard, said.

"Our community cannot trade or exist without a wide network of air travel options and Air Malta's strategy is focused in that direction," he said.

The code sharing arrangements in connection with Emirates flights between Malta and Larnaca came into force as of last Sunday, Mr Attard explained. Emirates, the operating airline, is flying passengers between the two destinations four times a week, as opposed to twice a week as Air Malta was offering, with flights connecting on to the Emirates' home base in Dubai.

Air Malta, as the marketing carrier, puts its code on the Emirates flight and sells and distributes the flight, Mr Attard said.

The signing of the agreement was considered to be "yet another milestone" for the national carrier, he said, adding that it was rapidly enhancing its range of code share partners on specific routes.

Teaming up with Emirates, which Mr Attard described as a successful and prestigious airline, would help the development of business between Malta and Cyprus, he said. Emirates' senior vice-president commercial operations Europe, Keith Longstaff, said the airline had been operating to Malta since 1998, which had proved to be a valuable and popular market.

"Our code share with Malta can only serve to increase both business and leisure travel to the island," he said, confident that the route would prove to be a success.

The agreement should help stimulate travel for both airlines and bring them mutual benefits in terms of an enhanced airline network, Mr Longstaff said.

Emirates is operating an Airbus 330-200 on the route, offering 12 seats in first class, 42 seats in business and 183 in economy. Flights EK/KM1107 depart from Larnaca on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays at 12.15 p.m., arriving in Malta at 2.10 p.m.. The return flight, EK/KM1108, departs from Malta at 3.40 p.m., arriving in Larnaca at 7.15 p.m.