Director David Curmi welcomes KM Malta Airlines’ ‘successful’ launch

KM Malta Airlines Ltd Director David Curmi on Wednesday (today) expressed his delight at the airline’s “successful” start to operations last Sunday.

The launch of the new airline was first announced back in October 2023, with Government stating that it would be closing flag carrier Air Malta on 30th March 2024. The new airline is set to carry marginally more passengers and employ the same number of workers as Air Malta, while also keeping its strongest routes.

KM Malta Airlines’ first few days have been relatively mixed, as even though a number of individuals and organisations are looking forward to flying and collaborating with the airline, the new flag carrier has also been the topic of heated debate.

There were widespread reports that the airline had dropped Maltese proficiency as a requirement for members of its cabin crew, in a bid to increase the number of potential hires. However, this was heavily criticised, prompting Prime Minister Robert Abela to announce that KM Malta Airlines has been told to ensure cabin crew aboard flights can speak Maltese.

Additionally, during a flight from Berlin to Malta on the first day of its operations, a German man, who was under the influence of alcohol, urinated on the carpeted floor of one of the planes, leading to him being arrested upon the flight’s arrival in Malta and handed a three-month prison term, suspended for three years.

Despite these instances, Mr Curmi, who had previously served as Executive Chairman at Air Malta, said that he is “pleased” that KM Malta Airlines successfully launched operations on 31st March.

The new era for Malta’s national airline was marked with KM640, the inaugural flight to Catania, which took off early in the morning and was led by Captain Denise Casolani.

“On our first day, we [KM Malta Airlines] performed 42 flights to key airports in major European cities,” Mr Curmi revealed.

“There have been many stakeholders, entities, bodies, business partners, consultants, contractors, service providers, and individuals to whom we are extremely thankful and indebted for helping us realise a complex but seamless transition to the new airline within a very challenging timeframe,” he added.

He proceeded to express gratitude for the “support, professionalism, and commitment” that these parties have shown to the new airline. These include KM Malta Airlines’ employees, with whom he had the privilege of working closely, as well as the support teams such as operations, commercial, finance, people and culture, and corporate services.

“We were all spurred by a genuine and common desire to create a new, but lasting, national airline that would continue to connect the Maltese Islands with Europe and beyond for many years to come,” Mr Curmi affirmed.

He also thanked external consultants, international aviation consultancy firm Knighthood Global and consulting firm Deloitte UK, which provided the airline with their broad international expertise. Mr Curmi also showed recognition to the Maltese Civil Aviation Directorate for their “efficiency and professionalism,” the Malta International Airport and KM Malta Airlines’ codeshare partners.

“And to many individuals in Malta and overseas who voluntarily reached out to us offering genuine, invaluable, and useful direction and advice. A genuine thank you to all,” he added.