Emirates setting up representative office in Malta

Buoyed by increasing passenger and cargo load factors on the Australia-Dubai-Malta route, Emirates airline is opening an office in Malta and increasing weekly flights.

Malta also expects the load factor to climb up after Emirates starts its flights to China in 2003 and the opening of the Maltese trade office in Dubai.

Paul Fleri Soler, district manager - Malta, Emirates airline, told Gulf News that the high load factor has encouraged Emirates to increase its weekly flights to four from three starting May, 2003.

"Emirates enjoys a very high load factor. When the airline started operations, it began with an A300 aircraft with a capacity of 216 seats. Now the airline operates an A330 with 243 seats.

The aircraft upgrade and the increase in flight frequency is evidence of strong traffic," he said. With Emirates planning to start flights to Shanghai in China in 2003, the load factor is set for further increase to Malta.

China has selected Malta as one of the preferred destinations and this is bound to increase business.

"After Emirates started flights to Osaka, Malta has been having a lot of Japanese tourists coming. Similarly, after Emirates started flights to Australia, the huge Maltese community in Australia uses Emirates to come home. The increased destinations on the Emirates network has brightened prospects for Malta," he said.

Moreover, the opening of Malta's Trade Office in Dubai will add a new dimension to economic and trade relations between Malta and the Gulf region which will certainly impact positively on the airline business.

"Obviously, Emirates being the only east-bound carrier out of Malta will benefit."

Starting in February, Emirates will have its own operating office in Malta with more personnel. Currently, Emirates operates as a GSA for passenger and cargo in Malta.

"From February, Emirates will have its own operating office in Malta but the cargo handling will be done through the GSA arrangement. We will recruit more staff as well."

While no exact figures were provided for passenger load, Emirates carries some 10 to 13 tonnes per flight of cargo, he said.

After sanctions were lifted against Libya, Emirates took a hit. "But we have made efforts to create a market out of Malta and have established ourselves through promotions."

Malta was used as a hub by Libya before sanctions were lifted in 2000. Emirates is the only airline flying from Dubai to Malta.

Air Malta which used to fly stopped operations some two years ago. Some 60 Maltese nationals work for Emirates in Dubai.