Noel Grima

“The process is an affirmation of a positive attitude taken by the board and reflects the dynamic approach with which MIA conducts its business. MIA is satisfied with the success derived from the strategic policies drawn up two years ago. However, it is important to constantly refine the actual policies to ascertain these are in line with the current market exigencies and therefore ensure even better results for MIA in the future,” said a company statement.

At privatisation, MIA had set its benchmarks in six areas of its core business which the company believes have the potential to increase activity not only for MIA but also for the country’s economy.

The company could now report that the exercise of these policies has gained momentum and become a tangible reality.

Marketing the airport and the airlines

The company has tried to improve its relations with the airlines it serves and also to attract new airlines to use Malta.

MIA is concentrating its efforts on passenger hubbing directed towards making Malta a multi-modal transport hub in the Mediterranean.

It has attracted Snowflake, SAS’s low cost airline, which has been flying to Malta all through summer. Other airlines, such as SAS itself and Lufthansa, have increased the destinations served.

Airline marketing has produced the desired results. New airlines attracted to Malta have contributed 76,000 additional passengers between January and August.

MIA has seen a five per cent increase in passengers and 70 per cent of these have come through new routes and new airlines served by MIA.

As regards 2005, the company will be targeting five markets: Spain, Belgium, France, Switzerland and Ireland – countries where it believes there is demand.

Cruise & Fly concept is expected to yield a turnaround of 24,000 passengers at MIA by the end of October.

The cargo strategy

The strategy the company is implementing continues to achieve positive results.

Cargo activities are set to improve with the completion of a second cargo shed that will increase storage space by 50 per cent through an additional 1500 m2.

The introduction of a second airline handler towards the end of this year is also expected to attract additional business in this area and should consolidate the development of MIA into a regional cargo centre.

There was a 22 per cent growth in this sector in 2003 and a further 26 per cent growth this year.

MIA wants to transform Malta into a regional hub by attracting flight operators from Eastern Europe, the Middle East, the Far East and Africa.

The company is also looking into the possibilities of getting EU funding together with Air Malta, Medavia and the Freeport.

Non-aviation business

With Malta entering Shenghen in the coming years, the airport will have to be redesigned in order to cater for the Shenghen and non-Shenghen streams of passengers.

This restructuring will enable the airport to increase its retail area by 50 per cent.

The Mediterranean Business Park

As for the Mediterranean Business Park, MIA has already launched its plans both locally and abroad and these are generating considerable interest from foreign investors who have already initiated talks with MIA in this regard.

The company has already lodged its initial application with MEPA and it is now having discussions with potential investors.

An architectural company which specialises in developing real estate is also conducting a feasibility study for the whole project which will be submitted to the board before the October meeting.

Cruise and Fly

MIA has been instrumental in developing this important business segment.

Prior to its involvement in the sector, only two per cent of cruise liner passengers coming to Malta used Malta to get on or off their cruises.

The pre-EU years saw a growth in the number of cruise liners coming to Malta but this was unsustainable due to Malta’s entry in the EU which removed Malta’s attractiveness as a non-EU port of call.

Through MIA’s joint venture with VISET, the Cruise & Fly concept is being developed. This has already brought no less than 21,000 passengers through MyTravel to start or finish their cruises in Malta.

It has also been proved that 20 per cent of these passengers stay for more days in Malta before or after their cruise.

Negotiations are being held with another cruise liner operator to have a second Cruise & Fly operator next summer.

MIA and the tourism industry

MIA’s contribution towards the tourism industry in Malta is not merely the significant contribution it gives to MTA’s annual budget but equally the service of its marketing expertise and ceaseless efforts to promote Malta jointly with other strategic partners as a tourist destination.

While reconfirming these strategic goals, this meeting has affirmed the need to increase efforts in particular areas such as cargo marketing as well as venture into new markets so far not sufficiently tapped in order to maximise all existing potential.

The company shall also focus on airline markets which may not yet have been adequately exploited in its efforts to increase traffic to Malta and therefore boost the volatile tourism industry on which the country so much depends.

The board of directors’ meeting was concluded with the reconfirmation of the appointment of Peter Bolech as Chief Executive Officer and Austin Calleja as Chief Financial Officer for a further three-year term.

“MIA is optimistic that the challenges ahead will be faced with enthusiasm and dedication in order to reach the objectives that have been set. No doubt, MIA’s diligent workforce play an important role in this strategy and the company is investing further in its primary resource to ensure that all employees obtain the necessary expertise within a modern and secure environment,” the company said.