[WATCH] Celebrations marking centenary of Maltese aviation launched

Hundred years of aviation • Video: Ray Attard

Tourism minister Edward Zammit Lewis today marked the beginning of a number of events commemorating 100 years of aviation in Malta, which will be celebrated on the 13th of February.

Zammit Lewis said “This centenary will be an opportunity to commemorate all the accomplishments made in the aviation industry so far, but it will also be a way of looking forward to more developments and research in the industry.”

Zammit Lewis then began listing past accomplishments including the building of Malta’s first airport in 1958, Malta’s accession into the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) a year later, the launch of the national airline Air Malta in 1973, and the extension of the runway to accommodate larger aircrafts.

“There are now challenges we are determined to solve in keeping our airline going, which is so important from both employment and tourism perspectives.”

Zammit Lewis also announced a revision of the aircraft registration act, which  would help to attract aviation services, directly and indirectly creating more jobs. Zammit Lewis emphasized the importance of having a solid legal framework and incentives aimed at making Malta more attractive to those offering aircraft services. The aircraft registration act which was initiated in 2010 will be amended to reflect the rapid changes and growth that the industry has experienced over the past few years. Zammit Lewis said that he hoped that these amendments would come into force by the end of the year.

“With 98% of tourists reaching the island by air, there is a direct relation between air connections and the tourist industry,” said Zammit Lewis.

The minister announced a ceremony, taking place on 12th February, which aims to celebrate those who contributed to the industry. The ministry would be accepting nominations until the end of January, at which time an independent committee would decide on the winning nominations. Zammit Lewis encouraged workers of the industry to nominate fellow workers.

Other proposed events include holding a family-friendly open day in various aviation companies, a fly past with the participation of various airlines, and an art competition open to secondary and post-secondary students on the theme of aviation. The paintings created for the occasion would then be exhibited at the Tourism Ministry, and a winner will be chosen by a special committee.