Air Malta will report a loss for the financial year which ended in March, but hopes to break even in the current financial year, Tourism Minister Konrad Mizzi said this evening.

Speaking at a Gvern li Jisma activity, the minister said the government, under EU rules could no longer provide state aid to the airline, and the key to a successful future therefore lay in growth.

He reiterated plans for the airline to increase its aircraft utilisation rate and increase its fleet with another two A320 aircraft and eventually a smaller aircraft for Mediterranean services. The idea, he said, was to increase flight frequencies and operate more routes.

As announced, the airline, would return to St Petersburg, Casabalanca and Lisbon and also fly to Kiev. Other destinations were being considered, including North Africa and beyond.

The frequency of services to Sicily could also be stepped up, almost to a shuttle service since Sicilians could then take flights from Malta.

The airline, he said, was also planning changes to catering and cargo services.
Action was also being taken to ensure that valuable airline slots in Heathrow and Gatwick would continue to be held ‘by Maltese taxpayers’.

On aviation in general, Dr Mizzi said he was pleased that Lufthansa Teknik was considering the building of a new hangar to service A350 aircraft, making Malta the first service centre for this large aircraft. A decision by the Lufthansa board is expected in the coming days.

The minister also announced that a new contract would be signed for the Isle of MTV concert to be held in Malta for a further five years.

Other forms of activities to attract tourists were being considered and talks were being held with a major international player for a big activity addressed for children, in 2019.