An Air Malta technical team is making a final review of fuel bunkering facilities in Libya with a view to buying fuel from its North African neighbour, which on average sells fuel cheaper than European airports.

The first thing to do... let’s get the airline fixed, let’s break even

Air Malta CEO Peter Davies on board Air Malta’s inaugural flight to Benghazi. Photo: Jason Borg

Airline CEO Peter Davies said the airline was very keen to take advantage of fuel savings from its flights to Libya but the airline needed to make some procedural verifications first.

“Obviously, fuel is critically important but we have to make sure the conditions upon which it is delivered are correct,” he said.

“I would like to think that we could start lifting fuel out of Tripoli or out of Libya as soon as possible.”

The issue of securing a fuel deal at competitive rates with Libya was raised last week by the Airline Pilots Association when it also complained that it was not being consulted on the ongoing restructuring of the beleaguered airline.

Mr Davies insisted that the pilots’ association, along with the other unions, was given regular updates on the financial situation and the changes being made.

“Certainly, at a forum two weeks ago... we gave (pilots) the information in terms of the fuel savings that we are making,” he said.

“Our commercial director, our finance director and our HR director made a presentation to the pilots. I think there were about 70 there.”

Mr Davies was speaking in Benghazi soon after Air Malta’s first flight in four years landed there yesterday morning. The airline will fly twice a week to Libya’s second city.

The airline is hoping to take advantage of the political ties established by the government with the new Libyan administration following the humanitarian assistance Malta gave Libya during last year’s conflict and a new fuel deal falls squarely within this strategy.

The first Air Malta flight touched down at Benghazi yesterday morning. Photo: Jason Borg

But the airline’s management also intends to look at the rest of Africa, not just Libya, for strategic expansion after steadying the company through the restructuring.

“I think we have to look at other parts of Africa to see what opportunities there are, so I am looking south and east in terms of our strategic direction.

“But the first thing to do... let’s get the airline fixed, let’s break even and, obviously, the Benghazi route is an important part of that development,” Mr Davies said.

The service to Benghazi comes after flights to the Libyan capital Tripoli were upgraded earlier this month to daily from three times a week. The move represents another step towards consolidating the airline’s position in Libya after the revolution and also a likely boost in revenue.

Most passengers to and from Libya tend to be business people travelling club class.

In the past six months, the airline carried just shy of 22,000 passengers on the Tripoli route and is projecting to carry another 30,000 over the summer, on top of another 8,000 it is planning to handle on the Benghazi route.

Mr Davies stressed that the Malta connection offered Libyans a gateway to Europe and flights were timed to facilitate such connections.

The flights, on Tuesdays and Thursdays, leave Malta at 4. 40 a.m., arrive at 6.05 a.m., leave Benghazi at 7.05 a.m. and arrive in Malta at 8.25 a.m.

But there are challenges to increased business. Benghazi airport director Jamal Agili pointed out that he would like to see visas processed quicker.

In fact, the Maltese consulate in Benghazi is flooded, issuing about 500 visas a week, as it is practically the only European representation issuing Schengen visas.

The next best alternative, Turkish airlines, offers the advantage of visa-free travel to Turkey but Libyan nationals would still need to obtain a Schengen visa to be able to travel to Europe.