On Thursday, October 28, 2021, Air Malta announced that it had entered into a comprehensive codeshare agreement with Italy's ITA Airways. Regarded as being the now-defunct Alitalia, ITA Airways has inherited the honor of becoming Italy's national flag carrier airline. The new commercial partnership between Air Malta and ITA will come into force on Sunday, October 31, 2021, and apply to all flights between the island nation and Italy.ITA Airways will apply its AZ code to all flights operated between Malta International Airport (MLA) and Rome's Leonardo da Vinci–Fiumicino Airport (FCO). At the same time, Air Malta will add its KM codeshare to ITA Airways flights between Malta, Rome, and Milan and all connecting Italian domestic flights ITA Airways operates from Rome Leonardo da Vinci–Fiumicino Airport (FCO) and Milan Linate Airport (LIN)

Air Malta and ITA Airways customers can now travel using a single ticket

Air Malta says that customers of both airlines can now seamlessly travel using a single ticket and collect their checked baggage at their final destination.

When commenting about the new codeshare agreement in a company statement, Air Malta Chief Commercial Officer Roy Kinnear said:

"We are very excited with this new codeshare agreement that connects us to a wide selection of airports in Italy and beyond. Italy is one of Air Malta's most important markets, and this agreement will enhance our reach in the Italian market. We intend to continue working and increase our cooperation with ITA Airways to bring more benefits to our customers."

For its part talking about the codeshare in the Air Malta statement ITA Airways Chief of Network, Fleet, and Alliances, Andrea Benassi said:

"We are very pleased with this codeshare agreement with Air Malta. ITA Airways is seeking valuable partnerships to support this important startup period and this agreement goes in the right direction. ITA Airways aims at becoming an efficient and innovative air carrier that will be a reference point in providing Italy with quality connectivity with international destinations, thus boosting tourism and foreign trade. This cooperation agreement provides our passengers with the best travel experience when flying to an increasingly larger number of destinations and significantly enlarges our presence in Malta, a key market which presents great growth opportunities for the company."

About Air Malta

From its base at what was once RAF Luqa, Air Malta flies to several destinations in Europe and North Africa. According to the aviation data and statistics website, ch-aviation Air Malta's current fleet comprises the following aircraft:

  • 3 x Airbus A320-200
  • 4 x Airbus A320neo
Air Malta flies to Rome and Catania in Italy. Image: GC maps

About ITA Airways

Italia Trasporto Aereo (ITA) is owned by the Italian Ministry of Economy and Finance to exercise business in the air transport sector. Active since 2020, ITA Airways is what it left of debt-ridden Alitalia. Currently, ITA Airways flies to 44 destinations and is looking to expand to 74 destinations by 2025. According to aviation data and statistics website ch-aviation ITA Airways has a fleet of 52 aircraft made up of the following planes:

  • 18 x Airbus A319-100
  • 27 x Airbus A320-200
  • 7 x A330-200
ITA Skyteam
ITA is a member of the Skyteam Alliance. Photo: Skyteam

Seeing how both Italy and Malta are popular destinations for each other's citizens, it makes sense that Air Malta and ITA Airways have signed a codeshare agreement.

What do you think about the new codeshare? Please tell us your thoughts in the comments.