Air Malta said this evening that its summer schedule already reflects a 20 per cent reduction in capacity referred to in the European Commission's decision published on February 21.
The airline said that in its summer schedule, starting March 25, it was due to operate around 150 weekly flights to and from 30 destinations.
Consistently loss-making routes were removed from the schedule but both Heathrow and Gatwick routes were retained as the airline considered them vital and they contribute significantly to the Air Malta network.
Air Malta said that in line with the restructuring plan presented last year to the Commission, its summer schedule reflected the 20 per cent capacity reduction and no further reduction in flights or slots was envisaged.
The airline said that the reduction came about through the subleasing of two of its 12 aircraft as part of its restructuring efforts.
Chief Executive Peter Davies said:
“There is a misconception due to the timing of the publication of the Commission decision last February. In fact this refers to a rescue and restructuring process which commenced in November 2010, when Air Malta received the first
government support. Restructuring of the Company’s operations started immediately thereafter."
He said that by the time that the European Commission’s decision was published last February, more than a year had elapsed and the management had already implemented several aspects of the restructuring.
"The situation at the airline required that we start implementing the restructuring plan immediately without any loss of time.
"We are not reducing our capacity further and we are certainly not releasing any more slots. We have already done that. Last summer we reduced capacity on London Heathrow by one flight rotation on the unpopular Saturday evening flight.
"We again reiterate that our airport slots at primary airports including Heathrow and Gatwick are not for sale”, Mr Davies emphasised.
The airline said that last summer Air Malta managed to increase its seat load factor by 10 per cent, considerably improving the use of its capacity.
This result offset the overall reduction in capacity allowing Air Malta to carry 1.75 million passengers – almost the same number of passengers, with a reduced flight schedule and reduced costs. It intended to replicate the positive results this summer and better utilise its capacity.
“The airline’s implementation plan is on track. Throughout this restructuring process we are consistently aiming at turning Air Malta into a viable and profitable business. Only this will guarantee the future of the airline, allowing it to continue working with the local tourism operators”, Mr Davies said.
This summer Air Malta will operate direct flights to Amsterdam, Athens, Berlin, Brussels, Budapest, Catania, Dusseldorf, Frankfurt, Geneva, Hamburg, Istanbul, London Gatwick and Heathrow, Lyon, Manchester, Marseille, Milan, Moscow Domodedovo and Sheremetyevo, Munich, Naples, Paris Charles De Gaulle and Orly, Prague, Rome, Sofia, St Petersburg, Tripoli, Vienna and Zurich.