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BUSINESS TODAY 06 June 2019

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06.06.19 8 OPINION Clive Aquilina Spagnol Clive Aquilina Spagnol is a qualified air transport expert working in the State of Qatar A Gulf Oryx, destination Malta 2 6 years ago an airline smaller than a typical regional carrier serving a handful of neighbour- ing destinations was set up in a tiny coastal Gulf State. Four years down the line, the airline was re established with a very modest business plan and out- look. To put this year in the wider con- text, by this time Europe had 3 of the largest 10 airlines worldwide, and Mal- ta's national airline was over 20 years old serving three continents, including the Middle East. Today this Gulf oper- ator has grown to serve more than 160 destinations, and as of Tuesday it in- cludes Malta. Whereas the Gulf as a region pre- sents a mix of low cost and full service carriers, current industry reference is usually presumed to the largest three, that are, Emirates, Qatar Airways and Etihad (mentioned chronologically according to date of inception). Worth recalling that the Gulf gave the airline industry a multinational carrier way before the largest three of recent years made it to the ranks; Gulf Air. However, whilst it is still in oper- ation, it never challenged the airline industry in the way the biggest three of that region did. Malta has been enjoying direct con- nections to the Gulf for more than 20 years, but as of this Tuesday Malta is now served by another Gulf super- connector: Qatar Airways. The worldwide airline cohort is pri- marily dominated by the largest 15 of the industry composed of the largest three from USA, the largest Europe- an three, the largest three from Chi- na, one EurAsian, two Asian and the three majors from the Gulf, including Qatar Airways. What is of interest is that the Gulf titans catapulted themselves to this league in the short span of two to three decades, with Qatar Airways register- ing the fastest growth amongst its re- gional peers. Stemming out from a very small State in the Arabian peninsula, the airline not only put the State of Qatar on the map, but disrupted successful- ly air traffic flows between West and East. This disruption meant more choice, lower fares and a high quality, multi-award winning product for pas- sengers. The identification of Malta by the airline to be part of its comprehensive network is a privilege for the islands. Chronologically, this will mark the 10th anniversary from the year (2009) when Malta and the State of Qatar has signed an international agreement so that their designated airlines therein would be able to operate scheduled commercial services between the two countries. Since then, Air Malta and Qatar Airways were free to put these rights into commercial use, but which for commercial reasons none of the two deemed it opportune. It is thus a bonus for Malta to have Qatar Airways taking the commercial risk to commence operations. It is also important for Malta as a tourist and business destination to be served by an airline which caters for high yield traffic. Almost seven million passengers pass through MIA annually, served in the majority by either low cost car- riers or airlines which over the years transited predominantly to low cost. Ryanair is an example of the former, commanding the largest market share at MIA; Air Malta is an example of the latter, trailing with the second largest market share at the same airport. The statistics derived from the last sen- tence alone illustrate the prevailing traffic category at MIA, and in con- trast the value the Qatari national air- line can bring with it. When I successfully competed to join the airline in 2015 as the first Mal- tese in senior management to work at the airline headquarters in Doha, I was proudly surprised to learn that the airline had an interest in operating to Malta. The airline then announced destination Malta in 2018 during the ITB in Berlin, perhaps the most im- portant travel and tourism fair in the world, and by December 2018 when the official airline press release was out, needless to say my surprise turned into pride. This Tuesday a di- rect flight to my homeland became a reality. As an aviation professional work- ing in Qatar, I am grateful to Qatar, Qatar Airways and the State aviation authorities for the opportunities they have given me in my aviation career. Malta has been enjoying direct connections to the Gulf for more than 20 years, but as of this Tuesday Malta is now served by another Gulf superconnector: Qatar Airways

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