Air Malta expands code share agreement with Brussels Airlines

Air Malta will be expanding its agreement with Brussels Airlines this summer, offering clients the opportunity to travel to routes it does not service through a connecting flight from the European capital.

The deal, in airline terms known as a code share agreement, is expected to be officially announced soon. The enhanced agreement between the two airlines will offer "seamless connectivity" for Air Malta clients to destinations not serviced by the airline.

Moreover, Air Malta will be using its codes on flights operated by Brussels Airlines to Copenhagen and Toulouse. Air Malta stopped the Copenhagen connection several years ago and flies twice a week to the French city.

Air Malta had started the code share agreement with Brussels Airlines in November 2004. From a flight four times a week, the airline increased the frequency to a daily flight, giving customers of both airlines a wider range of connection possibilities.

Geert Sciot, Brussels Airlines' vice president external communications, said the extended code share agreement was the next natural step after a five-year collaboration between the airlines.

He said Brussels Airlines was the airline that connected the European capital with EU member states such as Malta.

Through this extended agreement, Brussels Airlines was no longer bound to sell just a certain number of seats. As a result of investment in putting their systems online, both airlines could now sell an unlimited number of seats per flight since they could see what has been sold in real time.

Moreover, Club Class passengers can use the Brussels Airlines special lounge and a fast lane. The expanded code share agreement will also see Air Malta selling Brussels Airlines direct flights from Catania to Brussels and vice versa, operated by the Belgian airline. Mr Sciot said this meant a lot to his airline as Air Malta was better established in Catania.

Air Malta's chief officer commercial Brock Friessen said the airline intended to increase the frequency of flights to Brussels over the next year to maybe two or three flights a day on peak days.

Mr Sciot said the most important aspect of this agreement was the level of service to customers and the possibility of increased connections.

He said Brussels Airlines would soon become part of the Lufthansa family, which already had a good cooperation agreement with Air Malta. Moreover, the airline would be using the base of Lufthansa Technik in Malta for maintenance on its aircraft.

"We used their service in the past and were very satisfied," he said. On Air Malta, Mr Sciot said it was a very good airline with one of the most modern fleets and with a punctual and impeccable service: "The Maltese should be very proud of their national airline."