Air Malta and Lufthansa German Airlines yesterday inaugurated their new code-share flights at Malta International Airport (MIA). The Airbus A320-100 operated by Air Malta left the island at 9.30am for Munich with joint flight numbers KM 304 and LH 1687. More than 100 guests including the passengers on the flight celebrated this event at Gate 3 at MIA.
“Today is another milestone day for Air Malta. Following the signing of the Memorandum of Understanding in February this year we are now enhancing this cooperation to a code-share agreement,” stated Mr Joe Cappello, CEO of Air Malta, during a ribbon-cutting ceremony prior departure of the first code-shared flight.
“This agreement, which will give both airlines’ passengers full service treatment, seamless travel arrangements and connections to a global network, falls perfectly into Air Malta’s strategic plans to tap into new emerging markets such as the Far East, China and the Americas,” he said.
Joachim Steinbach, Lufthansa vice-president sales and services for South East Europe, Africa, the Middle East and Pakistan, expressed his confidence in the strategic cooperation of both airlines. With the inauguration of this first code-share flight, Air Malta is integrated into the international Lufthansa network. “We are very pleased about this cooperation and happy that we have found a strong and reliable partner in Air Malta,” he stated. “During the winter timetable 2006/07, Lufthansa offers 183 destinations in 78 countries,” he explained. “Additionally to the daily Lufthansa flight from Malta to Frankfurt, passengers travelling from Malta can now also make use of the Air Malta flight to Munich connecting to most of these worldwide Lufthansa destinations,” he added. All in all both airlines offer this winter over 20 weekly connections from Malta to Germany and further to worldwide destinations.
Starting this summer Air Malta started operating into Terminal 2 at Munich Airport, which is exclusively used by Lufthansa and its Star Alliance partners. “This service offers seamless travel and fast transfer to worldwide connecting flights. Terminal 2 is one of the most modern airports and has been awarded several times,” Mr Steinbach continued.
Speaking at the inauguration, Malta International Airport CEO Peter Bolech expressed his satisfaction on the commencement of this joint operation whereby two of the most important airlines operating from Malta International Airport cooperated together joining forces to facilitate travel for the Maltese on long-haul routes. He said: “Air Malta and Lufthansa are long established airlines in Malta that have already proved their potential to generate traffic in their long history of operating to and from Malta. Both airlines are affirmed legacy carriers with an established track record at Malta International Airport and their joint operation furthermore certainly augurs well for an increase in tourist arrivals,” said Mr Bolech.
Apart from joint flight numbers, timetables have been coordinated in order to secure seamless travel and comfortable connections between flights of both airlines. Passengers can earn and redeem miles on both frequent flyer programmes. Furthermore Business Class customers have access to the Lufthansa lounges as well as to Air Malta lounges. Passengers can also check-through their luggage until their final destinations on all Air Malta and Lufthansa flights.
Air Malta has operated to Germany since its launch in 1974. Currently the winter schedule of flights to Germany by Air Malta includes four weekly flights to Frankfurt and five weekly flights to Munich.
These flights are supplemented with a twice-weekly operation to Düsseldorf and twice-weekly operations to Berlin and Hamburg.
Lufthansa has been operating to Malta for more than 20 years. Today the German carrier offers a daily flight from Malta to Frankfurt and through its Star Alliance Network, more than 800 onward connections into 130 countries.