Air Malta Launches ‘Business Guaranteed’ Flight Schedule – Securing Stability in Travel Plans

30 October 2020

Date: Thursday, 29th October 2020

Ref: 073-2020 EN

Air Malta Launches ‘Business Guaranteed’ Flight Schedule – Securing Stability in Travel Plans

Air Malta has today launched its Winter 20/21 flight schedule covering 21 destinations with 156 flights a week. The Airline gave a commitment that it will operate at least 50% of this schedule whilst continuing to waive rebooking fees if customers wish to change their booked flights for any reason.

To guarantee peace of mind and ensure reliability during these uncertain and testing times, Air Malta announced a ‘minimum guaranteed flight schedule’ to at least 15 destinations with 82 weekly flights.

“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 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”, explained Minister Schembri.

Minister Schembri launched also Air Malta’s Flexibility Guaranteed stamp through which the airline will give additional booking flexibility for clients to benefit from an improved customer experience through the upgrades implemented in the online portal. “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”, said Schembri.

Minister Schembri said that recent times have clearly shown, now more than ever, the importance for a small country like Malta to have its own national airline, which ultimately, despite the circumstances, ensured connectivity with the rest of the world.

“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”, said Air Malta’s Chairman Charles Mangion.

“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”, added Dr Mangion.

“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”, added Paul Sies, Air Malta’s Chief Commercial Officer.

“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”, added Mr Sies.

This winter Air Malta will operate to: Amsterdam*, Berlin*, Brussels*, Catania*, Dusseldorf*, Frankfurt*, Hamburg, Lisbon, London Heathrow*, Lyon, Madrid (new), Milan Linate*, Munich*, Moscow*, Palermo, Paris Charles De Gaulle*, Paris Orly*, Prague, Rome*, Vienna* and Zurich*. (* - guaranteed routes). Moscow is still subject to safe travel corridors being declared by both countries’ governments.

For more information about this Winter’s flight schedule and other news please visit www.airmalta.com.

Note to editors:
• Air Malta has continued working with various Authorities and industry partners and is taking all the necessary steps through its customers’ journey as recommended by the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) and the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) to minimise the spread of Covid-19. Visit www.airmalta.com/caring-for-your-health-and-safety for more info.

• The Airline has joined major European aviation operators in a commitment to the ‘Aviation Industry Charter for COVID-19’ put forward by EASA and ECDC. This charter is aimed at implementing consistent passenger safety procedures across the continent to facilitate the recovery of air transport services whilst maintaining safe and secure operations.

• Air Malta has joined International calls headed by the International Air Transport Association (IATA), the trade association of the world's airlines, that are calling for the development and deployment of rapid, accurate, affordable, easy-to-operate, scalable and systematic COVID-19 testing for all passengers before flight departure. This testing is an alternative to quarantine measures and is intended to re-establish global air connectivity.

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