For winter 2020/21 the airline will offer service to 21 destinations with 156 weekly flights. The airline has committed to operating at least 50 percent of their schedule, while continuing waive booking fees for customers wishing to change their plans for any reason.
On Thursday (October 29, 2020), Air Malta announced the launch of their ‘Business Guaranteed’ flight schedule securing stability for customer travel plans. The carrier will serve 21 destinations for winter 2020/21 with 156 weekly flights and has committed to operating at least 50 percent of their schedule, while offering guests the opportunity to change their plans without fees. Air Malta guarantees that they will operate at least 82 weekly flights to 15 destinations in their winter schedule. In Thursday’s announcement, Malta’s Minister for Economy, Investment and Small Business, Silvio Schembri, said,
“In view of the constant change in scenario, the Winter 20/21 Flight Schedule will be done differently this year to give peace of mind for the client that might remain stranded due to cancellation of flight. Through the Business Guaranteed [we] will ensure the operation of a network defined on the passengers and cargo movements in any case when legally possible. During the winter schedule there will be 156 flights a week, 50% of which are business guaranteed. This will guarantee access to major airport hubs irrespective of any cancellations. Air Malta is also working to ensure that through more operational efficiency it would be able to offer more competitive fares some starting from €29 this winter.”
Also commenting on the current air transport environment, Air Malta’s Chairman, Dr. Charles Mangion, added,
“The global Covid-19 pandemic has disrupted travel in unprecedented ways. Rightfully, airlines around the world reduced capacity to match the dramatic decrease in demand. This added another layer of complexity for Island states like Malta that depend on air travel for their economic and social well-being and connectivity to Europe and beyond for passengers and cargo flows. In spite of these constraints, this winter Air Malta will serve various destinations and will do our utmost to keep regular and reliable flight connections to major European cities for customers wishing to travel for tourism, business, or visiting friends and relatives reasons and to keep cargo flows to the country. Despite the reduced flights and frequencies over last year, we are reaffirming our commitment to the Maltese Islands by guaranteeing that we will keep them connected with at least a minimum schedule on set days.”
Air Malta’s Chief Commercial Officer, Paul Sies, further stated,
“Many airlines are cancelling their flights on short notice, creating even more disturbance to travellers. To mitigate this challenge, apart from our redacted flight schedule this season, we are announcing a minimum guaranteed schedule that we promise to operate no matter what, unless circumstances are beyond Air Malta’s control, such as weather or airport closures. We are making sure that business related destinations will have key days of operations and minimum frequencies assured. Leisure destinations flights will have their frequencies adjusted to allow short weekend and midweek trips. For peace of mind and restore consumer confidence, rebooking fees for flight tickets on our services issued will continue to be waived until further notice.”
For winter 2020/21, Air Malta will operate guaranteed routes to Amsterdam, Berlin, Brussels, Dusseldorf, Frankfurt, London-Heathrow, Milan-Linate, Munich, Moscow, Paris-CDG, Paris-Orly, Rome, Vienna and Zurich. Service to Moscow remains subject to “safe travel corridors” being declared by both governments. The carrier will also serve Hamburg, Lisbon, Lyon, Madrid, Palermo and Prague, those these routes are not guaranteed.
Air Malta has implemented numerous protocols to ensure the health and wellbeing of guests and crewmembers in accordance with guidance from the European Union Safety Agency (EASA) and the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC). The airline also joins calls from the International Air Transport Association (IATA) for the development and deployment of rapid and affordable COVID-19 testing for all passengers prior to departure, as an alternative to onerous quarantine measures.
Founded in 1974, Air Malta is the airline of the Maltese Islands and under normal market conditions usually serves 35 destinations across Europe and the Mediterranean. The carrier is undergoing a vital restructuring, in accordance with EU requirements on state aid, to secure a sustainable and profitable future. Air Malta’s mission is to become recognized as one of the world’s leading destination airlines.
Source: Air Malta