Air Malta’s new Airbus A320neo to join the airline’s fleet today - Branded with Nickelodeon characters

15 June 2018

Date: Friday, 15 June 2018

Ref: 067-2018 EN

Air Malta’s new Airbus A320neo to join the airline’s fleet today - Branded with Nickelodeon characters

Final preparations are underway for the delivery of a brand new 180-seater Airbus A320neo that will join Air Malta’s fleet today. The new aircraft has aptly been registered on the Maltese aircraft register as 9H-NEO. Air Malta is the 21st airline worldwide to be flying this new generation A320 with CFM engines.

Straight out of the production line, the new A320neo is currently in Shannon, Ireland, where it has been repainted with the airline’s intricate yet stunning livery. The painting process required strong expertise and experience in order to have the multi-layered designs applied to the fuselage by a skilled team of paint specialists and technicians using stencils, masks, different grades and layers of paint.

Apart from the airline’s colourful livery the aircraft has also been branded with cartoon characters to promote a Nickelodeon Treasure Hunt that will take place on the islands between the 13th to 18th April 2019. The partnership with media giant Viacom will see a week of Nickelodeon activities across island, including a character parade, as well as a child friendly treasure hunt and workshops.

Air Malta’s Chairman Dr Charles Mangion said, “Thanks to its new state of the art aerodynamics and new generation engines the NEO offers unbeatable efficiency and environmental performance. On a Malta-London Heathrow flight, the airline will save up to 1.3 tons of fuel per trip, 6,200 tons of CO2 per year and a 24% reduction of CO2 emission per seat. Designed with the latest cabin features offering more cabin space and comfort, the aircraft also produces a 50% less noise footprint than the A320ceo. The new aircraft will offer Air Malta guests added comfort and an enhanced customer experience. It is no wonder that the A320 is the bestselling single-generation aircraft.”

Minister of Tourism Dr Konrad Mizzi added, “The arrival of the NEO marks and important step in the airline’s history and development. Apart from enhanced fuel and environmental performance the aircraft fits perfectly with the airline’s current fleet of A320ceos delivering seamless operation integration and also costs savings in terms of training of engineers and pilots. This type of aircraft will pave the way for a more modern Air Malta aircraft fleet and assist the airline to become the ‘Airline of the Mediterranean’”.

The aircraft cabin interior offers 18 inch wide seats were passengers can thus enjoy more personal space in terms of comfort and leg room. The aircraft is also equipped with HD inflight entertainment screens.

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