Former Air Malta plc CEO Ernst Funk has joined law firm Fenech Farrugia Fiott Legal as aviation specialist and an advisor for international business development.

Mr Funk has an extensive background in commercial aviation. After 40 years with the Swiss national airline Swissair, where he successfully held top management positions including executive vice-president (cargo), EVP intercontinental markets, EVP global sales and senior VP strategic alliances, he was at the helm of Air Malta from October 2002 to March 2006.

Mr Funk has an in-depth knowledge of the business and the private aviation industry. At the end of 2007, he accepted the challenge to be the executive chairman of Privat Air in Geneva, a leading international business aviation group.

Privat Air successfully operates exclusive intercontinental executive class flights on a contract basis with Lufthansa German Airlines, Swiss and KLM, among various other business aviation activities.

He defined a new corporate strategy for Privat Air, followed by an extensive restructuring process, and successfully sold the company on behalf of the owners at the end of 2009 in a management buy-out.

He also held important board memberships in airlines like Cargolux, South African Airways, and the former Balair, apart from serving on the executive board of Swiss Tourism.

Mr Funk sees considerable business opportunities for Malta related to the new aviation legislation, which go well beyond the registration of aircraft.

Welcoming him on board, FFF Legal joint managing partner Tonio Fenech said: "FFF Legal has identified the aircraft finance field as a growth area. Thanks to his input, our team will be able to focus on developing this area and contribute to the development of this sector of the economy meaningfully."