Avro Fleet Repossessed By Air Malta

Taken from airmalta.com

“Date: Monday, February 09, 2004
Ref: 010-2004

Sections of the local Press have quoted Italian newspaper reports wherein Mr. Fausto Capalbo, the President of AZZURRAair, stated that his Company recently terminated the lease of the AVRO RJ fleet because the aircraft are too small and because their maintenance cost is high. So far Air Malta has kept silent on this and similar issues to avoid causing damage to AZZURRAair and its employees and also in line with Seven Group’s, Air Malta’s and other parties’ obligations to maintain confidentiality. However, in the light of Mr. Capalbo’s alleged statement to the press, Air Malta is obliged to clarify the issue.

Contrary to what Mr Capalbo is alleged to have said, AZZURRAair did not send back the aircraft. It was the Air Malta Group that withdrew these aircraft and terminated the relevant lease agreements pursuant to default by AZZURRAir in terms of the relevant lease agreements. The size of the fleet and the cost of maintaining it had nothing to do with its being withdrawn.

As a consequence, the AVRO fleet has been repossessed by Air Malta and is currently parked in Exeter. Air Malta is actively seeking to remarket these aircraft.

In the present circumstances Air Malta is taking and will continue to take all measures necessary to safeguard its interests and enforce its rights under the law.”

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– Do we assume AZZURRAair is in trouble too now? Are they still operating the A320’s in the UK? I’m pretty sure they were advertising recently on aviationjobsearch.com for UK cabin crew to be trained in Italy for the summer season. Very strange!