MaltaToday previous editions

18 Events maltatoday, WEDNESDAY, 11 DECEMBER 2013 Air Malta wet-leases Airbus aircraft to Sky Airline of Chile AN Air Malta's plane will be flying over South America this winter thanks to another wet-lease agreement signed with Chile's Sky Airline. Through a wet-lease agreement, an airline leases an aircraft and flight crew to another airline. Air Malta is providing an Airbus A320 aircraft to Sky Airline of Chile for a period of three months. This is the sixth wet lease agreement between both airlines since 2007. Through such agreements Air Malta generates additional revenue and leases out its excess capacity during winter. Previous Air Malta customers included Etihad Airways, Libyan Airlines, Adria Airways and Air New Zealand. Air Malta's Chief Commercial Officer Philip Saunders commented: "We are very proud to have been chosen once again by Sky Airlines of Chile. This is another confirmation of the excellent relationship we enjoy. It is also a sure sign of the airline's confidence in the professionalism of our crews and the quality of our aircraft." The aircraft will increase Sky Airline's capacity during the peak southern hemisphere summer and is expected to operate from San- tiago in Chile to airports in Peru, Brasil and Uruguay. The plane will again re-join Air Malta's fleet in early March, in time for the airline's busy summer season. As in previous years, the aircraft (registration 9H-AEF) will be operated by Air Malta cockpit crew and maintained by Air Malta's engi- GreenPak CEO elected EXPRA director GREENPAK'S Chief Executive Officer Ing. Mario Schembri has been elected as a Director on the Board of the Extended Producer Responsibility Alliance (EXPRA), the international umbrella organisation promoting not-for-profit national waste recovery systems. EXPRA works to ensure that the recovery and recycling of packaging waste is managed in the most economically viable and environmentally sustainable manner. The international organisation, established earlier this year and to which GreenPak Coop Society is a founding member, serves as the common policy platform for the collection, sorting and recycling of used packaging. EXPRA's members are waste recovery systems financed by industry as part of their extended responsibility towards society and the environment. The national waste recovery systems represented by EXPRA provide over 200 million people with packaging collection, sorting and recycling infrastructure and acts as the authoritative voice representing the interests of all its members. Ing. Mario Schembri said: "EXPRA represents 18 national organisations hailing from all over Europe and North America with some systems having over 20 years experience in the field. As the largest waste recovery scheme in Malta, GreenPak treasures this international alliance as this association is an invaluable source of knowledge and expertise which enables GreenPak to draw first-hand experiences from other countries." EXPRA member organisations assist industrial companies and commercial enterprises, which are required by legislation to take back used packaging and to comply with this obligation. They do so by rais- neers. A number of Maltese training In-flight Managers have also been sent over to Chile to give the necessary training to Sky Airline's cabin crew. The pilots deployed with this aircraft have been given specialised training to be able to operate the aircraft in South America and across the Andes mountains. These types of leases also create continued opportunities for Air Malta employees to work abroad and garner further experience in their professional careers. Sky is a Chilean airline providing passenger, mail and cargo air transportation services since 2001. Originally it started operating in the Caribbean but in June 2002, the airline moved to Chile flying from its base in Santiago to main cities in the region. Air Malta is also currently marketing another aircraft for dry lease after the current lease expires as at the end of March 2014 and in line with the current restructuring plan. Alberta Group appoints Joseph Baldacchino as CCO A professional with strong IT and business experience, Joseph Baldacchino is well recognized for his ability to lead and manage in complex business environments, having held various senior positions and worked extensively across multiple cultures and regions, including all over Europe, the Americas and Asia. As CCO, a newly created position within Alberta Group, in which he will lead and develop the company's commercial function and implement best commercial approaches across all business units, Baldacchino's main focus will be on planning, coordinating and implementing all commercial activities including brand management, sales, marketing and commercial strategy, with the aim of driving the Company to reach its revenue targets. He will also be responsible for creating and implementing a comprehensive go-to-market plan, encompassing strategic sales and marketing initiatives across key channel markets to identify and optimize a clear path to aggressive growth. Baldacchino has held various high profile client-facing roles with British American Tobacco both locally and overseas, including positions in IT, Marketing and Operations IT in the European Area, European Region and finally at Global level, whilst working at the Group's HQ in London. Previously holding the position of Business & Technology Director with BAT Malta, Mr. Baldacchino was instrumental in helping the Company exploit its full potential and enhance business activities locally. Subsequently, he successfully project managed a full SAP Enterprise Resource Planning deployment in the Greece, Cyprus and Malta Operating Companies. Before joining BAT, Baldacchino was engaged on a pan-European Customer Relationship Manager project with a leading automobile maker based in Milan, Italy. "Joe's expertise in building integrated, consumer-centric teams and brands, as well as his global experience, make him a winning addition to our business and a strong fit for our culture," said Alberta Group Directors. BOV Visa Platinum opens access to world of luxury BANK of Valletta VISA ing funds from industry and by organising the collection, sorting and recycling of used packaging, mostly from household waste. "In line with EXPRA's mission, GreenPak will continue promoting the Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) concept within Malta's industrial companies and commercial enterprises. We encourage the industry to comply not only because it is required by legislation, but rather because it is the right way of doing business," Ing. Schembri said. Platinum cardholders now have access to the Visa Luxury Hotel Collection. This collection opens up a whole new world of privileges to BOV customers who use their VISA Platinum card when booking their accommodation. The VISA Luxury Hotel Collection offers cardholders access to a host of perks including VIP guest status, room upgrade, complimentary continental breakfast and in-room internet at more than 900 luxury hotels around the world, when booking accommodation through the relative website at some of the world's most prestigious and intriguing hotels. Bank of Valletta continuously strives to offer an enhanced experience to its customers. The VISA Luxury Hotel Collection is being offered to BOV VISA Platinum cardholders in addition to the BOV Cards Loyalty Rewards Programme to which all BOV premium cardholders are automatically eligible. In addition, the BOV card suite offers its customers a whole range of benefits that includes travel, purchase protection, Priority Pass and global customer assistance. BOV VISA Platinum cardholders can avail themselves from the exclusive VISA Hotel Luxury Collection by simply booking their accommodation with their BOV VISA Platinum card through the VISA Luxury Hotel Collection website. Cardholders are receiving more detailed information by means of a personalised letter. For further information regarding your BOV Visa Platinum Card and the Visa Luxury Hotel Collection please visit www.visaluxuryhotelcollection.com or www.bov. com. You may also contact BOV Customer Service Centre on 2131 2020.

• Cover