"A strong synergy" is how Reggio Calabria's mayor Giuseppe Scopelliti described relations between Air Malta and the southernmost region of Italy during a press conference in Reggio.

This summer, Air Malta has seen a rapid expansion to and from the Italian region and is now operating five weekly flights to Reggio up from the weekly flight introduced last year.

This coincides with Air Malta's first domestic operation within the Italian peninsula, between Reggio and Rome. The daily service operates between Monday and Friday.

Commenting on Air Malta's initiatives in the southern Italian region, Air Malta's manager for Italy Edwin Caruana revealed the airline's plans for this winter.

"Our belief in the potential of this market has encouraged us to increase our services on the Reggio Calabria-Rome route with effect from the 2006/7 winter schedule.

"Starting on October 26, Air Malta will be doubling its services to two daily flights between Monday and Friday."

During the press conference, held recently, Mr Caruana launched a special rate of €60, excluding taxes, for those booking a flight to Rome using this service until October 16. The offer covers the period between November 7 and May 31. Present for the press conference, which was attended by Maltese and Italian journalists, were also the president of the regional Chamber of Commerce, Pietro Dattola, the Presidente della Provincia di Reggio Calabria, Pietro Fuda, and Air Malta manager for Sicily Ronald Cassar Giacomotto.

Mr Fuda discussed various other projects in the pipeline between the two sides, including the possibility of Italians travelling to London, Paris and other European cities and North African countries after first flying to Malta.

Mr Scopelliti described Air Malta as an "important and stable partner".

Mr Fuda in fact said that thanks to the airline's services, Reggio's airport was experiencing daily traffic of about 2,000 passengers, where up to some time ago it was catering for only about 600 passengers a day.

Mr Fuda also announced that an Air Malta box will soon be installed at Reggio's airport.

Mr Caruana said: "Air Malta is continuously looking at the Italian market and the growth in services within the south of Italy has not only expanded in the region of Calabria but also in Catania where Air Malta has today established its direct service between Catania and London Gatwick."

Another first for Air Malta these last months was the weekly direct flight between Reggio Calabria and Barcelona.