The airline is not particularly large and its home country is even the smallest member state of the European Union. However, Air Malta is a particularly loyal customer of Vienna Airport, as the carrier is celebrating the 45th anniversary of the flight connection between Austria and Malta.

In April 1977, the then still young Air Malta, coming from Luqa, landed for the first time in Vienna-Schwechat with flight number KM132. The premiere flight was carried out with a Douglas DC-9, which was also the backbone of the fleet at Austrian Airlines for a long time. The state-owned airline currently offers up to seven non-stop flights between the two states.

Vienna Airport is not only connected to Malta International Airport by air, but also economically. The operating company of the only commercial airport on the territory of the Republic of Malta is a subsidiary of Flughafen Wien AG. Another "offshoot" is maintained in Kosice, Slovakia. It used to have a stake in Friedrichshafen Airport, but got out a few years ago and sold the stake to the other shareholders.

"Merħba Air Malta! Air Malta has been flying to Vienna for 45 years and has thus created an important connection, especially for outgoing tourism from Austria to Malta. For almost five years, as CEO of Malta Airport, I got to know the beauty of the Mediterranean island and can confirm from personal experience: this island is always worth a visit! Thanks to the direct connection, tourists from Malta also have the opportunity to experience Vienna and Austria. On behalf of Vienna Airport, I congratulate Air Malta on the 45th anniversary of the Vienna route and I look forward to many more years of good cooperation,” says Julian Jäger, CEO of Flughafen Wien AG.

Air Malta has been operating the connection from Vienna to Malta since April 1977. With a small interruption in the years 1981-1987, the national airline of Malta has now been flying to Vienna for 45 years. Today the airline serves the route up to seven times a week with an Airbus A320.

Malta became independent from the United Kingdom on September 21, 1964, but a local base of British European Airways was still active for a few years before Air Malta took off in 1974. Many pilots who previously flew for BEA then signed on with the state airline. Air Malta currently serves around 20 destinations, most of which are in Europe. Since its inception, the airline has flown over 59 million passengers to and from Malta