With Air Malta taking delivery of its fifth new Airubs A320neo, the airline also unveiled a new livery.
The new aircraft was delivered to Air Malta on 24 March 2023. According to the airline, the new aircraft – 9H-NEE – has been delivered with a new modern livery designed in collaboration with Airbus SA. This more cost-effective livery picks up from the colours and elements of the Maltese flag making it instantly recognisable as the national airline of the Maltese Islands.
The new aircraft, which will bear registration 9H-NEE, will replace the A320ceo 9H-AEQ which will exit the Air Malta fleet. It will feature CFM International LEAP-1A engines, accommodating 180 passengers in a two-cabin configuration.
In terms of passenger experience, the aircraft is equipped with a Blueview digital system (by BlueBox), this in-flight entertainment experience offers passengers videos, audio, moving maps, games, and much more.
A rolling renewal
The addition of the new Airbus A320neo is another step in the airline’s fleet renewal project.
The airline currently operates a fleet of seven Airbus, four A320neo and three A320ceo aircraft. Air Malta started the renewal of its fleet in 2018, moving from old A320ceo to the greener A320neo and plans that its entire fleet will consist of a single-type aircraft the A320neo.
“Cost Effective Livery”
Comparing the liverys, Air Malta has dropped a lot of the colours that were in the previous design, which was rather eye-catching.
Instead, it seems to have focused on the block colours of red, along with, dropping the tag line, and expanding its name on the fuselage in a smaller billboard design. While the old design was certainly eye-catching, assuming how aircraft are painted, this would have required careful stencilling and paint layers – and that time in the paint shop adds up quickly.
It is still very much a Maltese cross – just costed down on an Excel Spreadsheet, rather than going for a full show-off design.
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