MIA chairman Michael Hoferer explained that the company’s directors had set these targets following a two-day meeting to re-examine the strategic goals that the company had set since its privatisation in 2002. The goals were set to redefine its policies to reflect the current realities in the aviation industry.
Mr Hoferer said the six goals were: airport and airline marketing, concentrating on passenger hubbing, developing the cargo strategy, giving more importance to the cruise and fly concept, developing the Mediterranean Business Park and assisting in the promotion of Malta as a tourist destination.
He explained that the MIA was planning to dramatically improve its relationship with a number of airlines, as well as trying to encourage more airlines to use Malta. He said that since the company had begun improving its relations with airlines, there had been a five per cent increase in incoming transport. Nearly three-quarters of this increase was new airlines, he said, adding that this proves that the measures the company was using to attract more airlines were working.
He said this measure contributed to an increase of 76,000 additional passengers between January and August this year.
Mr Hoferer added that the company had identified five markets which it would be targeting in the coming months. These are Spain, Belgium, France, Switzerland and Ireland. He said there was a demand from these countries, adding that negotiations have already begun with a number of airlines.
On the second goal – concentrating on passenger hubbing – Mr Hoferer said the company was concentrating its efforts to make Malta a multi-modal transport hub in the Mediterranean.
Speaking about the third goal – developing the cargo strategy – Mr Hoferer said the company has already started negotiations with several companies and this was already showing results. He said that since January 2003, a few months after implementing this new measure, cargo volume had increased by 22 per cent, and 26 per cent in the first six months this year, when compared to the same periods last year.
On the issue of cargo, the MIA chairman said the company was trying to connect Europe with the Middle East and the Far East, as well as with Africa. The company was looking at European Union funding, he said, to develop the right cargo infrastructure to serve as a hub. While in the past, 15,000 tonnes of cargo was seen as a reasonable amount, the company was seeing the potential for an additional 18,000 tonnes.
On the cruise and fly concept, Mr Hoferer said that the introduction of this new concept is expected to yield a turnaround of 24,000 passengers at MIA by the end of October. He said that 20 per cent of these are expected to remain in Malta either before or after their cruise.
He said the company had joined forces with VISET, the company responsible for the Valletta Waterfront project at Grand Harbour, in order to attract more cruise liners. So far, he said, 98 per cent of business at Grand Harbour were vessels on port of call.
Regarding the Mediterranean Business Park project, Mr Hoferer said the MIA has already launched its plans, both locally and abroad, and these have generated a considerable amount of interest from foreign investors who have already begun talks with the company.
He said the company was also planning to increase space dedicated to retailing and restaurants from the present 1,350 square metres to 2,000 square metres.
The company’s success during the past months was due to the motivation and determination of employees, said Mr Hoferer. Following a staff development seminar, customers had reported a dramatic increase in the courtesy and helpfulness of the staff.
Mr Hoferer also announced that MIA chief executive Peter Bolech and chief financial officer Austin Calleja had had their contracts extended by a further three years.