Air Malta’s replacement airline will start taking bookings on Monday 4 December, KM Malta Airlines said in a statement on Friday.

KM Malta Airlines, which will replace Air Malta from 31 March 2024, said in a statement on Friday that the Maltese Civil Aviation Directorate has granted it an Air Operator Certificate and an Air Operator Licence paving the way for a new national airline for the Maltese Islands.

“The vision, ambition and mandate of KM Malta Airlines is to protect and enhance the connectivity of the Maltese Islands to Europe and beyond, to support the Islands’ continued economic development and to grow into a successful and sustainable airline,” the company said.

The company said that it will adopt “a key European destination focus, linking Malta with the main capital cities in Western Europe, with the primary European airport hubs, and connecting with partner airlines.”

After being granted an operating licence, the company announced that it has launched its Summer 2024 Schedule and will open for bookings on Monday 4 December 2023.

The Summer 2024 schedule of KM Malta Airlines will operate from 31 March 2024 and will end on 26 October 2024, the company said.

During this summer program the airline will operate an intense flying schedule serving 17 airports across 15 cities operating a total of 8,546 flights and offering 1,430,000 seats.

The airline will perform 284 weekly flights reaching an average aircraft utilisation of 12 hours and 8 minutes per unit day.

The airline said that there will be 82 weekly flights between Malta and Italy, 48 weekly flights between Malta and France, 44 weekly flights between Malta and the United Kingdom, and 40 weekly flights between Malta and Germany.

The airline has also announced that, according to plan, it has launched its recruitment program and will be seeking to recruit around 375 employees with the first call being made for Captains and First Officers.

The new airline will operate a young single-type aircraft fleet of 8 Airbus 320NEOs, in a two-class configuration with a flexible Business Class cabin averaging 168 total saleable seats with up to 36 Business Class seats.

These modern fuel-efficient aircraft offer superior operating economics and better environmental performance with reduced CO2 emissions per passenger and lower noise pollution.

The airline said that it is eagerly anticipating welcoming its first passengers onboard its aircraft.