KM Malta Airlines

{{See also|Air Malta#Closure and replacement}}

Air Malta, the predecessor of KM Malta Airlines, struggled financially since its creation in 1973 ultimately leading to its demise.{{cite news |last1=Calleja |first1=Marianna |date=3 October 2023 |title=Finance Minister: Air Malta demise is a result of bad management by all governments |url=https://www.maltatoday.com.mt/news/national/125269/finance_minister_air_malta_demise_a_result_of_bad_management_by_all_governments |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240104201802/https://www.maltatoday.com.mt/news/national/125269/finance_minister_air_malta_demise_a_result_of_bad_management_by_all_governments |archive-date=4 January 2024 |work=MaltaToday}} Before its closure, Air Malta was reportedly facing a loss of €30 million.{{cite news |last1=Sansone |first1=Kurt |date=30 September 2023 |title=End of the road for Air Malta as new national carrier beckons after Brussels refuses bailout option |url=https://www.maltatoday.com.mt/news/national/125195/end_of_the_road_for_air_malta_as_new_national_carrier_beckons_after_brussels_refuses_bailout_option |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240104193220/https://www.maltatoday.com.mt/news/national/125195/end_of_the_road_for_air_malta_as_new_national_carrier_beckons_after_brussels_refuses_bailout_option |archive-date=4 January 2024 |work=MaltaToday}} European Union regulations preclude companies from receiving state aid more than once within 10-year periods.{{Cite web |title=Air Malta plan foiled by State Aid rules |url=https://www.maltatoday.com.mt/news/national/118285/air_malta_plan_foiled_by_state_aid_rules |access-date=2024-04-02 |website=MaltaToday.com.mt |language=en}} The chronically loss-making company had last received a state aid injection in 2012 and was again requesting aid in 2021 following the effects of the coronavirus pandemic.{{Cite web |last=CPI |title=Air Malta's 130 million euros of restructuring aid approved |url=https://www.pymnts.com/cpi_posts/air-malta-s-130-million-euros-of-restructuring-aid-approved/ |access-date=2024-04-02 |website=PYMNTS.com |date=27 June 2012 |language=en}}{{Cite web |date=2023-04-22 |title=Bernard Grech: EU is 'not believing' government on Air Malta |url=https://timesofmalta.com/article/bernard-grech-eu-not-believing-government-air-malta.1027039 |access-date=2024-04-02 |website=Times of Malta |language=en-gb}}

In August 2022, the government announced it would dissolve Air Malta should the European Union deny further financial state aid to the airline. It would then move its assets to a succeeding carrier.{{cite news |last1=Nowack |first1=Timo |date=19 August 2022 |title=Air Malta droht die Auflösung |trans-title=Air Malta threatened with dissolution |url=https://www.aerotelegraph.com/air-malta-droht-die-aufloesung |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231104180528/https://www.aerotelegraph.com/air-malta-droht-die-aufloesung |archive-date=4 November 2023 |work=aeroTELEGRAPH |language=German}} Shortly after, the decision regarding the airline's future was delayed to the end of 2022; however, the route network and frequencies saw extensive cuts by October 2022, including the termination of several destinations.{{cite news |last1=Mizzi |first1=Amely |date=25 September 2022 |title=Air Malta kürzt Winterflugplan 2022/23 stark |trans-title=Air Malta cuts winter flight schedule 2022/23 significantly |url=https://aviation.direct/air-malta-kuerzt-winterflugplan-2022-23-stark |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231104174106/https://aviation.direct/air-malta-kuerzt-winterflugplan-2022-23-stark |archive-date=4 November 2023 |work=Aviation.Direct |language=German}}

The European Union announced in April 2023 that it would not allow the Maltese government to inject 290 million euros of state aid into the airline.{{cite news |last1=Meilak |first1=Nicole |date=18 April 2023 |title=Air Malta chief confirms airline will be replaced by end of year |url=https://www.maltatoday.com.mt/news/national/122400/air_malta_chief_confirms_airline_will_be_replaced_by_end_of_year#.ZD7UG_xBzGI |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230502212526/https://www.maltatoday.com.mt/news/national/122400/air_malta_chief_confirms_airline_will_be_replaced_by_end_of_year#.ZD7UG_xBzGI |archive-date=2 May 2023 |work=MaltaToday}} In October, the government announced that Air Malta would cease operations at the end of March 2024 to be replaced by a new company, KM Malta Airlines, thereby side-stepping EU regulations on state aid.{{Cite web |title=New national airline fails to inherit 'Air Malta' name despite government pledge |url=https://theshiftnews.com/2024/04/01/new-national-airline-fails-to-inherit-air-malta-name-despite-government-pledge/ |access-date=2024-04-02 |language=en}}

During a press conference in October 2023, Robert Abela, the prime minister of Malta, stated that the newly recapitalized KM Malta Airlines would retain Air Malta’s current fleet of eight Airbus A320 aircraft, even though the European Union initially wanted a reduction. Its initial route map included flights to 17 airports in 15 key European cities from Malta: Amsterdam (AMS), Berlin (BER), Brussels (BRU), Catania (CTA), Dusseldorf (DUS), London (LGW & LHR), Lyon (LYS), Madrid (MAD), Milan (LIN), Munich (MUC), Paris (CDG & ORY), Prague (PRG), Rome (FCO), Vienna (VIE), and Zurich (ZRH).{{Cite web |title=KM Malta Airlines takes over as national airline and operates its first flights - The Malta Independent |url=https://www.independent.com.mt/articles/2024-03-31/local-news/KM-Malta-Airlines-takes-over-as-national-airline-and-operates-its-first-flights-6736259866 |access-date=2024-04-02 |website=www.independent.com.mt}} Air Malta operated to 37 destinations as recently as 2019.{{cite news |last1=Urpani |first1=David Grech |last2=Cilia |first2=Johnathan |title=Air Malta's Final Flight Will Be On 30th March 2024 As New, Downsized National Airline Announced |url=https://lovinmalta.com/news/local/air-maltas-final-flight-will-be-on-30th-march-2024-as-new-downsized-national-airline-announced/ |work=Lovin Malta |date=2 October 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231211192255/https://lovinmalta.com/news/local/air-maltas-final-flight-will-be-on-30th-march-2024-as-new-downsized-national-airline-announced/ |archive-date=11 December 2023}}

It was also announced that the new airline will employ approximately 390 employees and will eventually phase out the early retirement schemes of Air Malta within the next four years. Refunds were offered starting 1 November 2023 for those with booked Air Malta flights beyond 30 March. Booking for flights with the new airline after March 31 went on sale on 1 December 2023. Those who accumulated air miles could be paid starting February 2024.

While the airline plans to eventually fly under Air Malta branding, the government was unable to fulfill its pledge that it would be able to do so at launch with the procurement process yet to be launched when the airline began flying.{{Cite web |title=New national airline fails to inherit 'Air Malta' name despite government pledge |url=https://theshiftnews.com/2024/04/01/new-national-airline-fails-to-inherit-air-malta-name-despite-government-pledge/ |access-date=2024-04-02 |language=en}} The new airline would be able to rent the Air Malta branding from the governmentThrough the government-owned firm IP Holdings. after a competitive process so its aircraft could fly under the Air Malta brand and the aircraft livery would continue to incorporate the Maltese Cross.{{cite news |last1=Montebello |first1=Sean |title=Air Malta no longer accepts bookings it can't fulfill following The Shift's report |url=https://theshiftnews.com/2023/10/10/airmalta-no-longer-accepts-bookings-it-cant-fulfill-following-the-shifts-report/ |work=The Shift News |date=10 October 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231104191500/https://theshiftnews.com/2023/10/10/airmalta-no-longer-accepts-bookings-it-cant-fulfill-following-the-shifts-report/ |archive-date=4 November 2023}} Malta's finance minister, Clyde Caruana, announced that when the new airline is financially stable and making a profit, the government will begin the process of looking into partially privatizing the airline with the government remaining as majority shareholder.

On the day KM Malta Airlines launched, Illum reported that applicants for cabin crew positions were no longer required to be fluent in Maltese.{{Cite web |title=Il-linja nazzjonali tiskarta l-obbligu tal-Malti bħala lingwa |url=https://www.illum.com.mt/ahbarijiet/politika/70171/illinja_nazzjonali_tiskarta_lobbligu_talmalti_bala_lingwa_ |access-date=2024-04-01 |website=Illum.com.mt |language=en}} This sparked outrage from the Nationalist Party and other politicians.{{Cite web |date=2024-04-01 |title=PN slams new airline for reportedly dropping Maltese rule for cabin crew |url=https://timesofmalta.com/article/pn-km-malta-airlines-reportedly-dropping-maltese-rule-cabin-crew.1090245 |access-date=2024-04-01 |website=Times of Malta |language=en-gb}}{{Cite web |date=2024-04-01 |title=New airline drops Maltese language due to '80%' of passengers being foreign |url=https://timesofmalta.com/article/km-malta-airlines-drops-maltese-requirement-due-80-passengers-foreign.1090251 |access-date=2024-04-01 |website=Times of Malta |language=en-gb}}{{Cite web |last=Mifsud |first=Claire |date=1 April 2024 |title=KM Malta: Żewġ MPE Laburisti fost dawk li kkundannaw it-tneħħija tal-Malti |url=https://newsbook.com.mt/km-malta-zewg-mpe-laburisti-fost-dawk-li-kkundannaw-it-tnehhija-tal-malti/ |website=Newsbook}} Prime Minister Robert Abela was asked about this controversy during a press conference and stated that he expects cabin crew to speak Maltese and that it would be added as a prerequisite.{{Cite web |title=[Bil-Filmat] Abela jgħid li KM Malta għandu jkollha ekwipaġġ li jitkellem bil-Malti |url=https://www.illum.com.mt/ahbarijiet/politika/70177/abela_jgid_li_km_malta_gandu_jkollha_ekwipa_li_jitkellem_bilmalti |access-date=2024-04-02 |website=Illum.com.mt |language=en}}

{{As of|2024|11}}, KM Malta Airlines flies to the following destinations:{{cite news |last1=Dunn |first1=Graham |title=Government to launch successor carrier to Air Malta in March 2024 |url=https://www.flightglobal.com/government-to-launch-successor-carrier-to-air-malta-in-march-2024/155201.article |work=FlightGlobal |date=2 October 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231204174036/https://www.flightglobal.com/government-to-launch-successor-carrier-to-air-malta-in-march-2024/155201.article |archive-date=4 December 2023}}

KM Malta Airlines currently has codeshare agreements with the following airlines:

• airBaltic{{Cite web |title=Codeshare & interline partners {{!}} airBaltic |url=https://www.airbaltic.com/en/partner-airlines |access-date=2024-04-28 |website=www.airbaltic.com |language=en}}{{primary source inline|date=April 2024}}
• Air France{{cite web|url=https://www.aerotime.aero/articles/km-malta-airlines-and-air-france-sign-codeshare-deal|title=KM Malta Airlines and Air France sign codeshare deal|publisher=AeroTime|date=28 February 2024|accessdate=4 March 2024}}
• Austrian Airlines{{Cite web |last=Cousins |first=Felicity |date=January 31, 2023 |title=KM Malta Airlines to launch with Lufthansa Group codeshare |url=https://www.businesstravelnewseurope.com/Air-Travel/KM-Malta-Airlines-to-launch-with-Lufthansa-Group-codeshare |website=BTN Europe}}
• Brussels Airlines
• ITA Airways{{cite web|url=https://www.corrieredimalta.com/vita-a-malta/turismo/km-malta-airlines-e-ita-airways-siglano-accordo-di-codeshare/|title=KM Malta Airlines e ITA Airways siglano accordo di codeshare|publisher=Corriere di Malta|date=28 June 2024|accessdate=4 July 2024}}
• KLM{{Cite web|title=KM Malta Airlines announces KLM codeshare as it prepares to take off|url=https://timesofmalta.com/article/km-malta-airlines-announces-klm-codeshare-prepares-take-off.1090035|access-date=2024-03-28|website=Times of Malta|date=28 March 2024 |language=en}}
• Lufthansa
• Swiss International Air Lines
• Turkish Airlineshttps://www.aviationnews-online.com/article/turkish-airlines-and-km-malta-airlines-launch-codeshare-partnership

• Hahn Airhttps://www.hahnair.com/en/partner-carriers

{{As of|2024|07}}, KM Malta Airlines operates the following aircraft:{{cite web|url=https://kmmaltairlines.com/en/about-km-malta-airlines|title=About Us - Our Fleet|publisher=KM Malta Airlines}}

• List of airlines of Malta

{{Reflist}}

{{commons category}}

• [https://www.kmmaltairlines.com Official website]

{{Portalbar|Malta|Companies|Aviation}}

{{Airlines of Malta}}

{{IATA members|europe}}

Category:Airlines of Malta

Category:Airlines established in 2023

Category:Government-owned airlines

Category:Maltese brands