Malta Air’s first Boeing 737-8200 was delivered on Tuesday painted with the national flag, as the airline announced nine new direct routes.
The jet was welcomed by Transport Minister Ian Borg, Malta Air chief executive David O’Brien and Malta’s Civil Aviation Directorate, flown by Captain Charles Pace.
Upon its arrival, O’Brien announced the new routes starting from this Winter to Eindhoven, Bucharest, Kiev, Lourdes, Milan Malpensa, Paphos, Tallin, Warsaw and Zagreb.
The new routes are for Malta Air to grow its current six aircraft bases in the next few years to 57 direct routes that its parent company, Ryanair, is already serving.
“Malta Air is proud to fly the Maltese Flag on our new “Gamechanger” aircraft,” O’Brien said.
“Our team of over 3,500 Aviation professionals at Malta Air will continue to work hard to secure as many of the Ryanair Group’s 210 ‘Gamechanger’ aircraft order as possible for Malta Air.”
The 737-8200 is one of Boeing’s newer variants entering into service, only delivered to Ryanair in June, and now Malta air.
VietJet, an international carrier in Vietnam, is also set to take 100 of the aircraft in the coming years.
The low-cost Irish carrier, Ryanair, will operate up to 210 of them by the end of 2029, becoming the core aircraft of its fleet as it phases out its 737-800 jets.
Malta Air operates Airbus’ A310, A319, A320-200/neo, and Boeing’s 737 variants and the 737 MAX.
Minister Borg said the new aircraft will “build on a strong aviation platform” the nation has led in “environmental excellence.”
“Direct air connections are vital to Malta and I am delighted that these new aircraft can deliver more connections and visitors to Malta, but at the same time reduce fuel, CO2 and noise emissions,” he said.
The 737-8200, which was tailor-made for the airline, reduces noise emissions by 40 per cent, and reduces carbon emissions and fuel consumption by around 16 per cent.
The aircraft was launched in 2014, as a higher-density version of the MAX 8, fitting 200 passengers – 22 more – and reducing operating costs by 5 per cent.
Ryanair made its first order for the 197-seat MAX 8200 jet in late 2014. The agreement included 100 firm orders and 100 options.
Ryanair later made another firm order for 10 jets in 2017, and a further 25 in 2018.
After various delays, it performed its inaugural flight in 2019 but was approved by the Federal Aviation Administration this March, delivering to Ryanair to officially enter service.
