NEWS | Wednesday, 30 April 2008

Air Malta’s record year

Speech delivered by Air Malta Chairman Lawrence Zammit at the opening of the AMITEX Fair at the Malta Fairs and Convention Centre (MFCC), at Ta’ Qali last Thursday

Indeed, not only aircraft fly, but time does too. It has been an eventful year and the coming one, which happens to be Air Malta’s 35th anniversary, promises to be even more challenging.
2007/8 has seen low cost carriers initiate a substantial operation into Malta. This trend will continue further in the coming year with more airlines flying more routes. Indications are already clear on the international aviation scene that the peak of operation has been reached, and in a traditionally cyclical industry, everyone is now bracing up for the downturn – that will prove each airline’s versatility, resilience, competitiveness and commitment to the markets it operates in.
For Air Malta, 2007/8 has been a trying year. The fact that Air Malta still falls short from breaking even does not mean that nothing has changed. Indeed Air Malta’s restructuring programme has gathered momentum. The Airline has gained a higher state of fitness and readiness never attained before.
Preliminary figures for 2007/8 indicate that Air Malta has achieved an appreciable reduction in unit cost against the previous year’s level of 4.7 per cent. Provisional traffic statistics show that Air Malta increased the overall number of passengers carried by seven per cent to an all time record of 2,150,000. It registered growth on passengers carried in and out of Malta, as well as its other areas of activity, our UK Base operations and our intra-European services. These indications speak out loud and clear for Air Malta’s progress and competitiveness in the market. Yet more needs to be done to achieve profitability.
Our clients have a vast array of choices with regard to operated scheduled destinations, times and frequency of service, ancillary travel product offer as well as a diversity of mode of booking and purchasing our travel services. A one-size-fits-all is not the modus operandi of a full service carrier. We give choice and flexibility. Above all we give the comfort of a personal and personalised service to our clients. Fundamentally we seek to create products and services that recognise the diversity of our clients’ needs rather than forcefully mould our clients into a rigidly designed product.
Air Malta, as a full service carrier does not simply offer free in-flight meals and in-flight reading material (newspapers and a full colour in-flight magazine) but also seat assignment, orderly boarding, a generous free checked and poolable baggage allowance, through check-in and baggage interlining if the client chooses to fly beyond. Air Malta has registered marked success in its code-shared service with Lufthansa, which came on line after a full and thorough audit by Lufthansa of Air Malta’s operational procedures and customer service. This has enabled passengers to freely and seamlessly connect between Air Malta’s and Lufthansa’s German, and North American network. Indeed Air Malta’s service standards which are internationally recognised, and the connectivity offered by Air Malta’s choice of airports and flight timings are added value for our travel connoisseurs.
We will offer more ancillary travel products through our ever more popular website. E-ticketing in combination with the IBE on Air Malta’s website have enabled travellers to seek Air Malta’s services including accommodation, car hire and travel insurance from the comfort of their home or office.
Shortly Air Malta clients will be able to use web check-in on most of our network. Air Malta is committed to continue its investment in customer service.
I can vouch without any reservation that without all this Air Malta would not have had a fighting chance to compete and survive in today’s unforgiving market environment. Profitability will come through perseverance and more hard work.
This time last year I placed much emphasis on air transport connectivity, which a full service carrier like Air Malta gives. At the expense of repeating myself, I underscore how crucial air transport connectivity is for the economic development of Malta and for the Maltese traveller.
This is what AMITEX is all about. As the single travel exhibition in Malta, it is the Mecca for the Maltese travelling public. Indeed MFCC, our new exhibition partners, must be congratulated for putting together this year’s event. Our experience and resources have been put together to guarantee this year’s success.