Following a worldwide recruitment campaign, Air Malta has appointed Mark Micallef Eynaud Chief Officer for Flight Operations.
Mr Micallef Eynaud will be entrusted with maintaining and improving Air Malta’s flight operations, improving the airline’s on time performance to achieve best in class, developing and implementing strategies to reduce fuel costs, maximising crew utilisation and supporting the overall transformation of the airline.
He will be reporting to Peter Davies, Air Malta’s Chief Executive, and will be an important member of the senior management team. Mr Micallef Eynaud will be joining Air Malta on 3 May.
Mr Micallef Eynaud has 25 years experience with Cathay Pacific Airways (Hong Kong), a leading international airline. Prior to joining Cathay Pacific Airways he was a commissioned officer in the Royal Air Force in which he served as an officer, fighter pilot and instructor. He has varied military and civil aviation experience and associated management roles in organisations that are industry leaders in terms of standards, expectations and results.
He has also served on boards of various organisations, including being a current member of the Air Malta Board – a position he will relinquish at the next board meeting.
Mr Micallef Eynaud was born in St Julian’s and was educated at St Edward’s College and the Lyceum Sixth Form prior to joining the Royal Air Force as an officer cadet.
Commenting on this appointment Mr Davies said, “Mark brings a wealth of global experience with him. He has worked for Cathay Pacific for many years in senior roles, so he knows Flight Operations very well. Being a pilot he will also be able to work closely with our pilot community to support the increased efficiency objectives and to ensure our cockpit crew support the new Air Malta service levels and in-flight product. We are, after all, a service company, and the pilots have as much a role to play as the check-in staff or the cabin crew or the baggage handlers in making our customers experience a memorable one.”
Mr Micallef Eynaud added, “I am delighted to be joining Air Malta at this very challenging time. Air Malta is one of the most important organisations in the country and it is a great honour for me to be given the opportunity to contribute to its turnaround. I like the feel of the changes that are being made and I look forward to being part of that. It’s a big challenge I know, as I have seen at board level.
However, it really is an exciting time and I am confident that, with the backing of all stakeholders, we can manage to return our national airline to profitability. I believe I have the man-management skills, enthusiasm and credibility required to give a new focus to the Flight Operations Department within Air Malta. I also believe that my officer training and experience with the Royal Air Force has given me the leadership qualities necessary to move the department forward in an inclusive manner.”
This appointment is yet another step forward in the regeneration of Air Malta, the airline said, explaining how it was “bringing together an exciting combination of local and foreign talent that are strengthening the airline and have already made significant strides in the turnaround process – all to the benefit of its customers, employees, shareholders and all the local tourism industry”.