Holiday Malta Company, which trades as Belleair Holidays, is poised to be sold by Air Malta to Maltese ground handler and international cruise shore excursion provider SMS.
The deal is expected to be finalised in the next couple of weeks, subject to CAA approval, according to the Malta holiday specialist’s chief executive Martin Zahra.
Zahra confirmed all Holiday Malta staff and management would remain with the company under its new owners, and that it would remain a preferred partner of the airline.
The sale does mean, however, that Holiday Malta will now be able to sell a much broader range of products as well as Air Malta, according to Zahra.
He added that suppliers and agents need not be concerned about the change of ownership.
“They can expect more of the same if not better purely because of the solidity and size of our new shareholder SMS. They are big in travel and in cruise, plus they have diversity in insurance and retail. In terms of shareholders, we couldn’t have hoped for better. They are very very strong.”
SMS is acquiring 100% of Holiday Malta from Air Malta.