Air Malta’s cargo facelift

LOSS-making Air Malta is pushing forward with plans to improve its cargo side.

The airline, which carries more than 7,500 tonnes of cargo each year, has upgraded customer services at its cargo department.

As a result of the changes Air Malta started providing a one-stop shop premises, simplified its operations and pricing structures and integrated its reservations and customer care units.

Cargo rates have also been revised and benchmarked with competition to reflect current market conditions whilst the working environment has also been upgraded to provide a friendlier set-up both for customers and staff members.

“Air Malta’s cargo services are essential to the success of Maltese businesses,” chief executive officer Peter Davies said. “Our strategic location at the centre of the Mediterranean between Europe, north Africa and the Middle East gives us a unique opportunity to transport freight either passing through or originating from Malta.”

The initiative is one of over 160 projects Air Malta has embarked on to restructure its business following a projected €30 million (US$41 million) loss from its operations.

Recently Air Malta has been granted traffic rights to operate flights to Benghazi (Libya), confirming flight slots for a daily flight to Tripoli (also Libya) and a twice-weekly flight to Benghazi.

The carrier’s Tripoli office and its general sales agent in Benghazi will resume operations. The airline is now awaiting operational clearance and the lifting of no-fly zone restrictions to resume operations.