Air Malta today inaugurated its twice weekly scheduled service between Catania and Vienna Airport during a press conference at Catania airport.
An Air Malta statement read that "this route is very important for Air Malta as it signifies its return for intra-European flights and is an important step towards the growth strategy of becoming the airline of the Mediterranean Islands."
Speaking at the conference Tourism Minister Konrad Mizzi said, "We are thrilled to be launching today Air Malta's intra-European flights between Catania and Vienna. The launch of this new service, which has been absent for a number of years, forms part of the Government of Malta's growth strategy for the airline and supports our commitment to establish this company as the Airline of the Mediterranean Islands. Sicily and specifically Catania are perfect to launch Air Malta's growth strategy."
Air Malta Chairman - Dr Charles Mangion added, "Sicily is a very important market for us ever since we started flying to Catania on the 1 April 1981. Today we have a double daily flight in winter with more frequencies in summer, connecting the Air Malta network to Catania. Over the years we have increasingly invested in this market and these flights continue to show our commitment to the Sicilian market and thus help in developing further tourism and business opportunities on the island."
Paul Sies, Air Malta's Chief Commercial Officer commented; "Air Malta has increased its passenger figures by 7.3%, the past year we have changed our commercial strategy successfully and recent months have shown over 20% growth year over year. This has encouraged Air Malta to grow the fleet, the additional Airbus A320 aircraft that will join our fleet this March, we are aiming to increase our capacity by over 20% this year. Part of this additional capacity will be dedicated to Sicily and we are confident that these developments will considerably increase the number of passengers this year."
The President of the management company of Catania Airport (Società Aeroporto Catania - SAC) Daniela Baglieri and SAC CEO Nico Torrisi, commented, "For SAC and for all the territory of Eastern Sicily, the choice of Air Malta to cover the route Catania-Vienna with a biweekly flight is particularly significant. Not only because it connects Sicily to Austria with a steady connection and with the comforts of a great airline, but also because this announcement comes just one month after the start of flights between Malta and Comiso. Air Malta and the Maltese Government are affirming their commitment in a concrete way and are open for dialogue and partnership with Sicily through the two airports of the South Eastern Sicily."
An Air Malta statement read that the introduction of this route "is an excellent opportunity for Air Malta to explore further market opportunities and start positioning the airline as the leading carrier connecting several Mediterranean islands to important regions in Europe and across the Mediterranean. Air Malta's strategic position in the centre of the Mediterranean offers Sicilians more connections to mainland Europe through Air Malta's international flight network through Malta.
The flight schedule until 23 March 2018 will operate as follows:
Tuesday
KM514 Dep. Catania 07.15 Arr. Vienna 09.30
KM515 Dep. Vienna 10.35 Arr. Catania 12.45
Friday
KM514 Dep. Catania 07.15 Arr. Vienna 09.30
KM513 Dep. Vienna 18.15 Arr. Catania 20.25