W ELC OM E
FROM THE CEO...
FRO M THE ED ITO R...
Merħba and welcome onboard this Air Malta flight.
“It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas”, and that’s because it is! November has disappeared faster than the last mince pie of the Christmas spread, as December rolls around, bringing with it a change of weather and much cheer!
As another year ends, we look back with great satisfaction on all the achievements that the Air Malta team managed to accomplish.
What do you love most about Christmas? The delicious aromas wafting from the kitchen with Imbuljuta tal-Qastan diligently at the helm (see our recipe on page 88), fairy lights becoming our main source of illumination, yuletide carols filling the air and that repeated rendition of “Santa Baby” in every shop as Bublé emerges from hibernation just in time for the festive season. I even secretly enjoy the annual wrestle with my stubborn Christmas tree, and the frustration of sitting on my living room floor surrounded by awkwardly-cut wrapping paper, sellotape stuck in my hair, and a light dusting of glitter on every conceivable surface as I attempt to ‘neatly’ wrap a present yet again. (With the added disapproving look from my dog).
It has been a good year for us during which we have announced our return to profitability after almost two decades, increased frequencies to popular destinations, opened new routes to Ibiza, Warsaw, Tbilisi and Cairo, redefined our Business Class with a new gourmet menu that celebrates our local heritage and traditions, and welcomed two brand new Airbus A320neo to our fleet. We are encouraged by what we achieved this year and I wish to thank you for supporting Air Malta and being part of our success story. The month of December is a very special time for the people of Malta and Gozo as we hold our Christmas Festivities at heart. So many activities and events are organised on a national level; activities that can be enjoyed by locals and tourists alike. Experience the traditional unique celebrations that the Maltese Islands are renowned for and savor typical local treats and dishes which are so popular during the festive season.
But essentially, it’s less about buying presents and more about being present. Malta is an impressive hotchpotch of nationalities, cultures and religions. What we do best is come together as a community, in hand, to wave goodbye to yet another year and ring in the new. There’s plenty of great reads in this issue, Dean Muscat takes a stroll through Valletta to explore its festive offerings, and our what’s happening page provides plenty of events to keep you occupied through to New Year’s Day.
For more information about Air Malta and our flight schedules please visit www.airmalta.com and www.facebook.com/ AirMalta and join our newsletter mailing list to receive great offers directly in your inbox. At Air Malta we are customer driven and are always keen to know what we could do better to improve your Air Malta flight experience. Visit www.airmalta.com/wearelistening to answer a few short questions about your flight with us and you can win one of 10 free return Air Malta flights we are offering every month. It really only takes 2 minutes!
Of course, Christmas wouldn’t be complete without donning our glitzy attire and indulging in a little giggle juice at the office party, leaving you with a phone filled with disconcerting selfies and your head feeling like it’s full of tinsel. Fear not, local blogger Martina Brtnicka (Maltatina) shares with us her top spots to blow the cobwebs away on a winter’s day.
Thank you for choosing Air Malta. As our welcomed guest, we hope to see you on-board another one of our flights soon.
Sit back, relax and enjoy the festive season!
On behalf of all of us at Air Malta I extend our best wishes for the holiday season to you and your loved ones.
Dayna
Clifford Chetcuti
EDITOR
AIR MALTA CEO
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