Air Malta to expand aircraft fleet next year

 National airline Air Malta has announced plans to expand its current fleet of aircraft in Summer 2018 to offer more frequent flights.

The airline said the management recommendation to procure additional aircraft is part of its commitment to increase the frequency of its current flight destinations and to service new routes.

In a statement, Air Malta said the recommendation was “supported and acknowledged” during a meeting of the Board of Directors earlier this week.

The additional aircraft are expected to give the airline added flexibility to increase the frequency of flights on its more popular services while also allowing it to add new destinations, some of which may be currently unserved by other carriers.

The airline said the new destinations will be announced following further in-depth market studies that are currently being undertaken by Air Malta's commercial team in a number of working groups and discussions with key industrial stakeholders. The purchase is expected to boost Air Malta’s seat capacity and sustain growth in the number of passengers that it carries - currently standing at 1.6 million passengers annually.

The move is part of the airline’s strategy to consolidate its strong market position as the islands’ national carrier as it continues to invest to support the local economy while providing more travel opportunities for its home market, the company said. Last week Air Malta announced that it will be offering flights to Frankfurt again, a route it had previously closed. “This announcement also reflects the confidence in the potential of the airline, the local tourism industry stakeholders and the islands’ economy,” Air Malta said.