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Air Malta is the national airline of Malta, based in Luqa. It operates services to 36 destinations in Europe and North Africa. The airline's hub and base is at Malta International Airport, Malta. Air Malta is the most leading airline in Malta.
For many years the Maltese were used to travelling by sea or with foreign (mainly British) airlines but when Malta obtained its independence, the new government decided to create a national airline. The airline was established on March 21, 1973, when it was created by a resolution of the Malta House of Representatives, set up as a limited liability company and granted a certificate of rights to operate international services from Malta. At first, this airline was situated in Gudja.

Air Malta began service on April 1, 1974, with two wet leased Boeing 720Bs that initially served Rome, Tripoli, London, Manchester, Frankfurt and Paris from Malta's airport.

In 1983, 3 new Boeing 737s were delivered. In 1986, Air Malta ordered two new 737s, and in 1987 ordered its first Airbus A320. They then sold the two 720s on their fleet. In 1989, Air Malta exercised an option for one more A320, and in 1992, two more 737s were ordered. That year 4 Avro RJ 70s were ordered, to be put on routes Malta to Catania and Palermo and to new destinations such as Tunis and Monastir.

Airbus A320-200After the opening of the new Malta International Airport in 1992, Air Malta created CargoSystems, which includes the air transportation of cargo on Air Malta planes. In 1994, Air Malta inaugurated a cargo center at the airport.

Between 2002 and 2007, Air Malta embarked upon a fleet replacement programme, opting to change all aircraft to Airbus A319s and A320s, thus reducing the average age of the fleet to around 2.5 years.

Air Malta has concluded over 191 interline ticketing agreements with other IATA airlines. It also has a codeshare agreement with Qantas from Sydney-Singapore-London-Malta.

According to the Association of European Airlines quarterly review of May 2006 Air Malta is the airline that loses the least amount of passenger baggage. The amount of baggage lost in the first quarter of 2006 was 4.1 bags missing per 1000 passengers.

In September 2007, Air Malta has successfully concluded two agreements with Abu Dhabi-based Etihad Airways by which Air Malta: will be wet-leasing two Airbus aircraft to Etihad Airways for the winter period starting September 1st, 2007; and will be providing operational support on another Airbus A320, aircraft to be leased by Etihad Airways.

Air Malta is owned by the Maltese government (98%) and private investors (2%). Air Malta also has a 25% shareholding in Medavia. The airline employs 1,547 staff.