Air Malta scores points with Messina FC

Air Malta has entered into a one-year agreement with Italian Serie A football club Messina under which it will fly the Messina FC players and officials throughout Italy when the team plays away matches.

Air Malta's logo will be prominently placed on all the club's football kits.

The agreement was signed last week in Messina by Air Malta's chairman Lawrence Zammit and Vincenzo Franza, vice-president of Messina FC.

Mr Zammit said the commercial agreement was a first for a Maltese organisation.

"The good results achieved with the launch of the Catania-Gatwick route which Air Malta started servicing almost two years ago has given us the drive to strengthen the airline's presence in the region," he said.

"Similar Air Malta services from the region are in the pipeline. This agreement shows that Air Malta is willing to diversify its activities and is actively working to increase revenue from alternative sources. It is also a clear commitment to Malta and the island's promotion overseas as the agreement's main objective is to advertise Malta and Air Malta throughout Italy."

Air Malta's various flight connections with Sicily, which now number 11 flights every week, have played an important role in increasing business, cultural and tourism relations between the two islands, according to the chairman.

"The Maltese airline has operated to Sicily since 1981 and has always seen the Sicilian market as a natural extension of Malta's small market."

Mr Franza said Messina FC were honoured to be associated with an international reputable airline and thanked Air Malta for its efforts.