Final preparations are underway for Air Malta and Qantas to start operating the code-share agreement signed in March of this year. This agreement will come into force today.

Through this agreement Malta and Australia will be linked via London’s Heathrow Airport Terminal 4. Ticket sales on these flights have already commenced.

The code-share agreement has paved the way for Air Malta to place its two-letter (KM) code on Qantas’s daily London flights to/from Sydney and to/from Melbourne. The Qantas services will connect with Air Malta flights between Malta and London Heathrow.

Commenting on this development, Air Malta’s Chief Officer Strategic Planning Dominic Attard commented, “We have worked hard with our colleagues at Qantas to put a competitive offer in the Maltese and Australian markets. The two carriers had to synergise their distribution technology systems and processes to provide a seamless travel offer. We believe the Maltese community in Australia is being provided with an excellent offer to visit their ancestral home and to combine their Malta visit with London and other splendid cities in Europe. Our offer is also unbeatable as, unlike other airlines, it is based on daily services between Malta and the two major Australian cities of Sydney and Melbourne.

“We are now working on making further improvements to the offer. I expect there will be more news within the next month or so,” added Mr Attard.

Qantas Head of Sales and Marketing Rob Gurney said the airline was pleased to enter into a partnership with Air Malta.

“Through migration and business, Australia and Malta have a relationship that dates back many years,” he said. “Qantas’ reputation as a world leader in long-haul travel, particularly between Europe and Australia, also dates back many years.

“When they fly with Qantas, Air Malta customers will enjoy our award-winning product, friendly and attentive service and, once they have arrived, access to Australia’s largest domestic route network.”

Through check-in facilities will be available, meaning that passengers will be given their boarding cards for the through-journey when they check-in from Malta, Sydney or Melbourne. Naturally their luggage will likewise be check-in all the way from Sydney or Melbourne to Malta and vice versa.

For the first month of operations, the code-share flights will operate as follows:

• KM102 Malta – London Heathrow will connect with flight QF2/KM1002 London-Sydney and then with flight QF415 / KM 1415 Sydney-Melbourne.

• QF438 / KM 1438 Melbourne-Sydney will connect with flight QF1/KM1001 Sydney-London and then KM 101 London-Malta.

As from 1 December Air Malta passengers will have the added opportunity to fly direct and back from Melbourne via Singapore.

The flights will operate as follows:

• KM102 Malta – London Heathrow will connect with QF2/KM1002 London Heathrow – Sydney

• QF1/KM1001 Sydney – London Heathrow will connect with KM101 London Heathrow – Malta

• QF9/KM 1009 Melbourne – London will connect with KM101 London Heathrow – Malta

• KM102 Malta – London Heathrow will connect with QF10/KM 1010 London – Melbourne.