Airline: Air Malta
Flight: KM103
Type: Airbus A320neo
Registration: 9H-NEO
Flight of origin: London Heathrow, UK
Terminal: 4
Destination: Malta
Date: 28th May 2019
Flight time: 2 hours & 45 mins
Type of Travel: Non-Schengen flight within the European Union
What's up guys, I'm back again for another flight report wish a very special flight to try out. I'm at London Heathrow, UK it's been a year I was last here however this time I'm heading back to Malta on Air Malta's brand new aircraft you've seen on my past blogs the Airbus A320neo. At the time I've made this blog, Air Malta has one Airbus A320neo with two more are currently on order expecting to arrive in the end of June 2019.
Before I carry on the report & if you're a Brexit supporter, UK is still in the European Union by the time this flight was taken. If you're a UK citizen, you still have free movement & no passport stamp when arriving & leaving the Schengen Area that includes Malta regardless you're new passport doesn't have EU marking.
By the time I've finished spotting at the observation deck, it's time to start boarding the brand new Airbus A320neo which this aircraft is under a year old. The boarding process was quicker than I wasn't expected because as the summer season is started I would have expect to be full but instead it wasn't that full.
My seat was in 11A which is the emergency exit row as I wanted for a reason why I'll explain about the cabin layout. The cabin is nice & modern with new Air Malta seating with red leaver seat as well as inflight monitor on top and you have USB ports under your seat for charging phones & tablets. However for me, I've experience some problems with this flight. And that is the inflight entertainment is turned off throughout the flight so cabin crew safety is done manual, the seats is very uncomfortable at start but you do get the hang of it later, and finally the USB ports doesn't work in all of the seats. I suggest to book the emergency exit row because it's so comfortable if you are a big guy like myself because like all emergency exit rows, you get extra leg room.
The safety card is from a re-used Air Malta aircraft with the type from Airbus A320ceo other than having Neo. It's not a big deal because the emergency evacuation on an Airbus A320neo is pretty much the same as the Ceo versions.
After takeoff at runway 27L on a very quiet aircraft, the cabin crew started their in flight service. On the menu I wanted a sandwich but the crew said most of them out out of stock so I've used what's available & go for a snack,.
The meal deal snack is Pita chips with 2 sauce of humus and qalayet with Maltese crisps of Twisties and a drink of Diet Kennie It's OK for a little snack but not for €10 I was very disappointed about no sandwiches. You can pay in any currency or pay by credit & debit card.
At the time I made this report, Air Malta has nine Airbus A320 family aircraft with one A319 left due to be withdrawn & eight A320 which includes the Neo.
During the dark hours at 40,000 feet I just entertain myself on playing video games on my Nintendo Switch.
On our arrival into Malta runway 13, we've arrived 20 minutes early after midnight on 29th May. I have to say the aircraft is very quiet throughout the flight for taxing, takeoff and landing. The engine start is a bit quiet still have PTU barking I really enjoyed this flight as of right now I have not been on Boeing 737 MAX. It's close on the Airbus A320neo and Airbus A350 flights I've traveled is amazingly quiet. The seats it's not very good in my opinion because it looks like it's from an Easyjet seats but for a short flight, it's not that bad.
My overall rating from Aircraft Aviation in Europe:
- Cabin: 9/10
- Hygienic: 10/10
- Food: 7/10 - due to lack of sandwiches of my choice
- Cabin Crew: 10/10
- Service: 7/10 - also includes USB ports not working & offline flight entertainment
Overall: 8.4/10
Thank you Air Malta for this interesting flight.
