Malta’s aircraft registry may be home to over 900 aircrafts, but its global footprint is shaped by a much smaller group of powerful operators.
New research penned by Central Bank Economist and Technical Attaché for Maritime and Aviation Affairs at Malta’s Permanent Representation to the European Union Kurt Sant shows that just 10 companies account for the vast majority of flight activity under the Maltese flag, collectively defining the country’s position in global aviation.
In 2024, Maltese-registered aircraft completed 804,000 flights worldwide – and half of them were operated by Ryanair Group through Malta Air and Lauda Europe.
This is the story of the firms driving the registry’s explosive growth and shaping Malta’s aviation identity.
The discussion paper reveals that Ryanair’s two Malta-based airlines – Malta Air and Lauda Europe – together operated roughly 50 per cent of all flights performed by aircraft on the registry in 2024.
This means roughly one in every two flights worldwide using a Maltese tail number belonged to the Ryanair Group.
- Malta Air held the largest fleet on the registry: 174 aircraft.
- Lauda Europe contributed an additional 26 aircraft.
Beyond the registry itself, the scale is even more striking: Over a third of Ryanair’s entire fleet now operates under the 9H (Malta) prefix.
The Top 10 Operators on Malta’s Aircraft Registry
According to the report, these are the largest operators by the number of aircraft registered in Malta:
- Malta Air (Ryanair Group) – 174 aircraft
- VistaJet Limited – 98 aircraft
- Wizz Air Malta – 96 aircraft
- Avion Express Malta – 40 aircraft
- SmartLynx Airlines Malta – 34 aircraft
- Lauda Europe (Ryanair Group) – 26 aircraft
- AirX Charter – 19 aircraft
- Eurowings Europe – 24 aircraft
- HiFly Malta – 16 aircraft
- Flexjet Malta – 15 aircraft
Together, these operators span scheduled airline services, ACMI leasing, cargo operations, and ultra-premium private aviation.
But how much of the registry’s flight activity do they actually represent – and what exactly do they do?
- Malta Air (Ryanair Group)
Malta Air operates the largest share of Malta’s civil passenger flights, linking hundreds of European cities. The airline uses Malta as a jurisdiction for fleet management, regulatory efficiency, and operational flexibility. It accounted for the bulk of Ryanair’s 50 per cent share of all Maltese-flagged flights.
- VistaJet
VistaJet, headquartered in Malta, runs one of the world’s largest business jet fleets. Its 98 Malta-registered aircraft fly globally, covering Europe, North America, Asia, and the Middle East. The report highlights that VistaJet’s aircraft show heavy long-range private jet activity across continents.
- Wizz Air Malta
Wizz Air has shifted a significant portion of its European operations to Malta, registering nearly half of its total fleet under Wizz Air Malta. Its aircraft performed extensive intra-European operations and growing connections to the Middle East and India.
- Avion Express Malta
Avion Express Malta’s fleet reflects the rising demand for ACMI (Aircraft, Crew, Maintenance, Insurance) capacity. Its aircraft flew for carriers in Europe, Mexico, and North Africa in 2024, adapting quickly to seasonal demand.
- SmartLynx Airlines Malta
SmartLynx aircraft moved across Nigeria, Turkey, and India throughout the year, demonstrating the company’s flexible wet-lease operations and the global demand for substitute capacity on short- and medium-haul fleets.
- Lauda Europe (Ryanair Group)
Lauda Europe’s A320 fleet operates across Europe on behalf of Ryanair, supplementing Malta Air’s operations. The report confirms that Lauda’s fleet forms part of Ryanair’s 50% contribution to all Maltese-flagged flights.
- AirX Charter
AirX specialises in large business jets, including aircraft retrofitted from full-size Airbus and Boeing airliners. Its long-range operations connected Europe with North America, India, and China.
- Eurowings Europe
Eurowings Europe, operating out of Düsseldorf and Vienna, now has over a quarter of its fleet registered in Malta. Flights covered destinations across Europe, with some Mediterranean and North African routes.
- HiFly Malta
HiFly operates Airbus widebodies for global airlines and governments. In 2024, its Malta-registered aircraft conducted flights for Kenya Airways, Air Algérie, and Royal Air Maroc, serving Africa, the Middle East, Europe and North America.
- Flexjet Malta
Flexjet’s boutique fleet of premium business jets operated heavily in Europe and North America, mirroring VistaJet’s market but with a more selective customer base.
Excluding private individuals, Malta's registry lists 118 operators across scheduled airlines, business aviation, ACMI, cargo, and specialised services.
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