Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1509248
11 NEWS maltatoday | SUNDAY • 8 OCTOBER 2023 landing, prepare for take-off €5,786, the new airline will be expected to make a profit of €2,866 every time an aircraft takes off. The turnaround will see the new Air Malta operating on 17 routes, which are deemed to be profitable, with one new route to be added three years down the line. The first flights of the new airline will commence on 31 March 2024 in a fresh start that comes with the minister's commitment that politicians will not be allowed to inter- fere in its workings. And it has to be that way because after three years the government is committed with the European Commission to seek a strategic partner or private investor for the new airline. Only time will tell whether Air Malta version two will sur- vive the tough market place and resist the indecent propos- als that may come its way from politicians and their cronies. KM Malta Airline plc 17: Initial number of routes 18: Number of routes after three years 8: Aircraft to be used 3: Aircraft to be fully owned by company 375: Workforce 2024: Year of airline's first flight on 31 March New airline will acquire the airport slots at London Heathrow and London Gatwick from the Maltese government • It will bid for the Air Malta brand • Partial privatisation to be explored Routes Six routes cancelled: Palermo, Naples, Nice, Geneva, Lisbon and Tel Aviv Increased frequencies on: Rome, Munich, Paris (CDG), Zurich and Vienna Routes: Amsterdam, Berlin, Brus- sels, Catania, Dusseldorf, London Gatwick, London Heathrow, Lyon, Madrid, Milan Linate, Munich, Paris CDG, Paris Orly, Prague, Rome, Vienna, Zurich. Copenhagen will be added as a new route in 2026/2027 Finance minister Clyde Caruana