MBR_Issue_28 -February 2017 (1)

Malta Business Review
NATIONAL AIRLINE
NATIONAL AIRLINE
Air Malta
confirms that
its fleet renewal
plan resulted in a
saving
of €8.2 million for
the year 2016
Air Malta has strongly and categorically
denied a report in the Times of Malta
today. The airline said the report was full
of incorrect and misleading information
intended to damage the reputation of the
national airline.
Air Malta vehemently denied the wet
leasing of aircraft on 14 occasions during
the Christmas period. In actual fact, this
only happened during the course of the
whole year. These wet leases cost a total
of €280,000.
“Air Malta strongly condemned such
sensational reports stating that additionally
these trip leases saved millions of euros in
denied boarding compensation payments
which the airline would have to pay to
passengers for delayed or cancelled flights.
Air Malta has maintained its commitment
not to cancel any flights due to any
operational or weather disruptions”, said
Joe Galea, Acting CEO Air Malta.
Aircraft utilisation is a key performance
indicator in the aviation industry and
Air Malta is making sure to maximise
its resources. It does not make sense to
leave such expensive assets idle in winter
for more than half of the time as was
customary.
The airline was in a situation where its fleet
caters generously for the summer period
but was losing all its profits in winter when
it does not need a large fleet.
Air Malta’s competitors excel in fleet
utilisation, with its main competitors flying
their aircrafts between 15 and 16 hours at
peak.
Air Malta’s is raising its peak flight
utilisation to 14 hours per day per aircraft,
while continuing to fly the same number
of passengers, and potentially even more.
The airline’s current model creates an
optimal fleet that covers most of the
year, with potential to add capacity as
necessary. This is saving money without
negatively impacting any other aspects of
the operation.
This is part and parcel of the drive
to continue reducing costs, become
more efficient and return the airline to
profitability and continuing to service
customers.
Air Malta expects to finish the financial year
2016 with a substantially improved result of
a loss of around Eur 4.5 million. MBR
Cont. from pg 56
Over several years, they have seen to the
refurbishment of Dar Għabex, members
have personally redecorated meeting
rooms and provided children’s play
equipment at Appoġġ in Gwardamangia.
The Club has also contributed to Dar
il-Kaptan, a flagship project of Rotary
Malta. Some years ago, the La Valette
Club provided the Ursoline Creche with
a swimming pool. In collaboration with
the Education department, it also set up
Nurture Groups, small special classes
providing a safe, structured environment
in which children are given opportunities
to re-visit early missed ‘nurturing’
experiences. The club also has an important
project in Tamil Nadu India where it has
helped furnish homes for orphaned boys
and girls and helped build and equip a
school. Year in year out, Rotary La Valette
produces a calendar, sponsored by various
businesses, the funds from which are
devolved to this India project. A research
project to create awareness on dyslexia
has also been set up in collaboration
with the University of Malta. Other more
culture oriented projects have seen the
Notarial Archives in Valletta being provided
with proper lighting, while Mattia Preti’s S.
Rosalia, at Sarria, has been restored by a
joint venture in which 20 Palermo clubs
and the 3 Malta Clubs have pooled funds.
This year, the Club is working on a project
to upgrade the facilities at Dar Tereza
Spinelli in Valletta, a shelter for homeless
women and children run by the Suret il-
Bniedem Foundation. The project includes
the installation of a goods lift, redecorating
the kitchen, living room and roof. The Club
is also participating in an international
project with the Dragos Rotary Club
of Istanbul, Turkey, to provide braille
typewriters to blind children in Instanbul.
The Club will also be forming a twinning
agreement with Rotary Club Bari Castello
in Italy to exchange ideas and work on a
joint project together.
Every 10 years District 2110 is headed by
a Maltese Governor. As from July 2017 to
June 2018, Mr. John de Giorgio, a member
of Rotary Malta will head the District.
Another important landmark in Malta’s
history this year!
While socio-humanitarian projects are
the work of Rotary clubs, friendship is
the lifeblood of the association that also
consists of Interact, the Rotary Association
for young teenagers, Rotaract for young
adults and the Inner Wheel which is
composed by wives and partners of
Rotarians.
For Rotarians, no task is too hard, no effort
too difficult when it is tackled in a spirit of
friendship and collaboration. MBR
Fr. Carmelo Aquilina (first from left) explaining
the work that Rotary La Valette are doing at
Dar Teresa Spinelli to Rotary District Governor,
Mr. Nunzio Scibilia (second from right). Also
included from left to right, Ms. Emma Portelli,
Administrator, Mr. Bryan Sullivan, La Valette
Secretary, Alfredo Nocera, District Secretary and
David Dingli La Valette President.
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