Emirates, Malta Tourism Authority partner to bolster inbound tourism

Emirates airline has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Malta Tourism Authority to bolster inbound tourism through collaborative marketing efforts.

The MoU was signed by Thierry Aucoc, Emirates’ Senior Vice President, Commercial Operations (West) Europe and Americas, and Carlo Micallef, Chief Executive Officer of Malta Tourism Authority, during ITB Berlin, Germany’s premier travel trade exhibition.

Under this strategic alliance, Emirates will leverage its expansive global network to promote Malta as a premier leisure destination. Key initiatives will include organising media familiarisation trips from key target markets to showcase Malta’s unique appeal as a Mediterranean gateway.

The two entities will further explore joint advertising campaigns and collaborations with tour operators and travel agents to develop compelling promotional packages.

Adnan Kazim, Emirates’ Deputy President and Chief Commercial Officer said, “Malta has been a key destination in our European network for over two decades, and we’ve witnessed its growing popularity as a sought-after leisure gateway over the years. This agreement reaffirms our commitment to supporting Malta’s tourism industry by leveraging our global reach to further boost inbound travel.”

Malta’s Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Tourism Hon. Ian Borg said that this agreement will continue strengthening the long-standing collaboration between Malta and Emirates, while reaching out to more travellers.

To date, the airline has transported over 1.2 million passengers between Dubai and Malta.

Emirates is set to further strengthen its presence across Asia with the launch of daily non-stop flights between Dubai and Shenzhen from July, 1 2025.

The airline will also introduce four weekly services to Da Nang on 2nd June and three weekly flights to Siem Reap from 3rd June with both cities connecting via Bangkok.

The addition of Shenzhen, Da Nang and Siem Reap, puts Emirates ahead of the curve with the largest and most diversified route network among any non-Asian airline in East Asia, offering 269 flights per week from Dubai to 24 points.

This latest expansion also marks Emirates’ fourth gateway into the Chinese mainland, third destination in Vietnam and second point in Cambodia. Three new destinations join flydubai’s network: flydubai, the Dubai-based carrier, has announced today the launch of three new destinations in Iran, growing its expanding network. This includes the start of flights to Bushehr and Tabriz from 13th March and Qeshm from 14th March.

Meanwhile Sanad, wholly owned by Abu Dhabi’s sovereign investor Mubadala Investment Company, has entered into a new five-year partnership with Lion Air, Indonesia’s largest privately-owned airline.

Through this agreement, Sanad will provide comprehensive maintenance, repair, and overhaul (MRO) services for V2500 engines, which power Lion Air’s Airbus A320 fleet, including aircraft operated by Batik Air and Super Air Jet.

The agreement was signed by Mansoor Janahi, Managing Director and Group CEO of Sanad, and Dennis Kirana, Vice CEO Batam Aero Technics, in the presence of Abdulla Salem Obaid Salem AlDhaheri, UAE Ambassador to Indonesia and ASEAN.

Central to this partnership is the V2500 engine, manufactured by International Aero Engine, which has been a cornerstone of aviation since entering the market in 1989. Today, it powers more than 2,600 aircraft and serves more than 170 operators globally, accumulating an impressive 275 million flight hours, a testament to its efficiency, reliability, and durability.

WAM