Challenge Air Group to launch Maltese unit with B767s

Malta's Challenge Airlines MT secures its AOC

Challenge Airlines MT (X6, Malta Int'l) has obtained its Maltese Air Operator's Certificate - #MT-72 - as it prepares to launch cargo operations with two B767-300(ERBDSF)s.

The airline expects to operate cargo-only flights out of its base at Liège to Sharjah, New York JFK, Tel Aviv Ben Gurion, and Mumbai Int'l in cooperation with sister carriers Challenge Airlines BE (X7, Liège) and Challenge Airlines IL (5C, Tel Aviv Ben Gurion).

Challenge Airlines MT took its first unconverted B767-300(ER), 9H-CAD (msn 30301), in mid-September 2022. The aircraft was used for the certification process and subsequently ferried to Leipzig/Halle on October 6, 2022, Flightradar24 ADS-B data shows. It remains under maintenance at the German hub for the time being. A second unit of the type, N899MF (msn 25588), is currently under conversion at Belgrade.

Challenge Group has four B767-300(ERBDSF)s due from Israel Aerospace Industries. The other two units will be deployed under the group's Israeli AOC, replacing the two B747...

Malta's Challenge Airlines MT adds first aircraft, a B767

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Israel to ban quadjet aircraft from Tel Aviv from late 1Q23

The Israel Airports Authority (IAA) has announced that as of March 31, 2023, it will no longer allow quadjet aircraft to conduct scheduled operations at Tel Aviv Ben Gurion.

The decision is motivated by environmental and noise concerns and pertains to both passenger and cargo aircraft. The ban will be in place for 24 hours every day of the week. The IAA explained that it decided to give the airlines more than six months of notice to prepare them for the change.

Once a sizeable operator of various B747 aircraft, El Al Israel Airlines retired its last B747-400, which was also its only quadjet type, in 2019. Challenge Airlines IL continues to operate one B747-400ERF, and one B747-400FSCD but is planning to move the two aircraft to sister carrier Challenge Airlines BE. There are no other Israeli operators of four-engined aircraft in Israel. However, foreign carriers AirACT (9T, Istanbul Atatürk) and Silk Way West Airlines (7L, Baku) will be affected by the change as both...