Startup Challenge Airlines Moves Historic Flemish Tapestries On First Flight

Challenge Airlines MT carried precious ancient cargo on its inaugural flight.


Photo: Challenge Group

Challenge Airlines MT, a Maltese subsidiary of Challenge Group, launched its first flight last week carrying precious cargo. The inaugural flight carried multiple ancient tapestries to Malta that had undergone restoration efforts in Belgium. The tapestries are over 350 years old and were previously transported from Liege, Belgium, to St John's Co-Cathedral, Valletta, Malta, over 320 years ago. Challenge Airlines MT is now the second party to transport these historic artifacts between the two locations, cementing itself into Maltese history.

Read more:  Israelis And Palestinians To Fly Together To The FIFA World Cup

Delivery efforts

The young startup airline recently received its Air Operators Certificate (AOC) from Transport Malta on November 1st. The airline has a small fleet of two Boeing 767 aircraft. Two weeks after receiving its AOC, the airline launched its inaugural flight carrying the precious cargo on November 15th. This flight was historic for the airline as it would be its first of many, and was historic for Malta to receive the tapestries from Belgium again. Challenge Airlines MT has undoubtedly made the best use of its inaugural flight, as it will cement the airline in the public eye as a true Maltese airline.

The operation was a joint effort between the private sector and public officials that could not have been made possible without one another's cooperation. As these treasures are delicate and valuable, the operation needed to be undertaken with extreme care and precision to ensure nothing happened to the precious cargo. Challenge Group utilized all of its resources required to ensure the operation was executed in extreme detail. The operation was successful, and the shipment arrived undamaged.

Enthusiasm and relief

All involved parties shared a sense of enthusiasm and relief for the operation's completion. The undertaking was both exciting and stressful for those involved. The CEO of Challenge Group, Yossi Shoukroun, shared the airline's enthusiasm for the project, commenting,

"320 years ago, these valuable Flemish Tapestries made their way by ship from Belgium to Malta. Today, we are honored and delighted to have been chosen to return them again to their home in St John's Co-Cathedral, Valletta."

The Minister for the National Heritage of the Arts and Local Government, Owen Bonnici, shared that the tapestries are a treasure of local history and culture. Bonnici said,

"These tapestries have been a property of the Co-Cathedral for 350 years. The finished restoration of these tapestries is certainly a step forward for the wider appreciation as well as a unique experience for those who will see them in the coming years."

The Minister for Foreign and European Affairs and Trade, Ian Borg, commented on the incredible efforts made by those involved. Borg shared,

"It is a pleasure for us to see that, with a strong intervention from our Embassy in Belgium, through Clint Tanti and the rest of the employees, we were able to bring these tapestries to Malta without any costs for the Maltese Government. Above all, these can now be enjoyed by the public and the tourists who choose to visit the St. John's Co-Cathedral in Valletta."