The Royal Air Force aerobatic team’s The Red Arrows - the main guests at the 21st edition of the airX Malta International Airshow this weekend, arrived in Malta this afternoon.

The team signed nine red shirts to be sold at the airshow for €50 and Air Malta will double the proceeds for charity.

The Red Arrows were last in Malta in 2008. They had to return last year but cancelled due to a technical fault.

Neil Fraser from the Red Arrows said: "we almost made it last year so we are more determined this year".

The Red Arrows will be putting up shows tomorrow and on Sunday at 4pm.

Tourism Minister Karmenu Vella said the airshow this year had visiting aircraft from five countries and Nato.

AirX, which is the title partner of this year's airshow, is a private air charter company that setup its head office in Malta earlier this year.

Speaking at a news conference marking the arrival of the Red Arrows, Group chairman John B. Matthews described the first six months of operations in Malta as “highly successful and very rewarding”.

The company currently employs about 70 people, including Maltese cabin crew and back office staff, and has plans to increase its workforce as it continues to grow. airX has already announced plans to increase the number of aircraft registered in Malta from 33 to 50 per cent.