MaltaMedia.com

When declaring the SkyParks Business Centre officially open, Malta International Airport plc Chairman, Mr Michael Hoeferer announced that the remarkable tenants’ line-up already in place makes SkyParks the leading business address on the island with an impressive committed occupancy rate of 80% on its inauguration.

Mr Hoeferer referred to the various milestones in the history of the airport, with 2012 being the 20th anniversary of the Air Terminal inauguration and the 10th anniversary of the privatisation of the Company. He spoke about the extension project of 2008 and the inauguration of SkyParks as another step in the development of the Company’s diversification strategy.

“Airports all over the world are realising their potential in becoming a hub of end-user activity rather than just a point of transition. Hence the major decision to invest in a Business Centre. We are proud of this building not only because it is aesthetically pleasing and eco-friendly in its operation, but most of all because we have managed to attract important partners to set up here and at the same time have a service offer which complements the existing myriad of services available within the Terminal perimeter,” added the Chairman.

In conclusion, Mr Hoeferer said that the Company has made remarkable achievements. “This is the fruit of a philosophy and synergy of shareholders and management combined, which creates an entity which is big enough to make a difference but small enough to care about their investment, and above all, about Malta and the tourism industry as a whole.”

When addressing the distinguished guests at the Official Opening, Malta Airport CEO, Mr Markus Klaushofer said that when the Company decided to start looking into the feasibility of such a project, it was after a commercially viable operation which would add value to the Company, the airport and to the local community and a building which is state of the art in its appearance as well as in its operation from an environmental and resources perspective.

When referring to the building itself, Mr Klaushofer said that this was an investment with a total capital expenditure of 17 million euro, with overall development spanning over 22,000 square metres. “From an energy efficiency perspective, this is the first Grade A office building in Malta, obtaining the highly acclaimed BREEAM certificate, which includes aspects related to energy and water use, the internal environment such as health and well-being, pollution, transport, materials, waste, ecology and management processes,” he added.

He also mentioned the number of tenants who had chosen SkyParks, first amongst which was Vodafone, who in the words of Mr Klaushofer, “took ‘a leap of faith’ and chose us at a very early stage of the building design.” The other tenants include Air Malta, Bank of Valletta, Forestals Group, Talbot & Bons, Maleth Aero, Hyperion Aviation, Hermes Aviation, MiChild, AgriHoldings, Headlines Newsagent and Momentum Consult.

The CEO thanked a number of key people who were crucial for the conclusion of such a massive project for the Company, especially the Company’s Technical Department which managed and supervised the construction, as well as the Marketing Team which managed to achieve what very few similar developments can boast of, i.e. a very high committed rented space in such a short time.

“Their energy and dedication in making things possible for our clients are a good omen for the success of the management of this building and a clear sign of the high level of service quality we are providing,” concluded Mr Klaushofer.

At the end of the ceremony, an art installation entitled ‘SkyScape’ was unveiled on the terrace of the building. This work of art is by local artists Kane Cali, Neil Pace O’Shea and Vanessa Borg. ‘SkyScape’, in a metaphoric sense, contains the soul of aviation and it is reminiscent of the sleek vessels that bring us to meet the sky. The installation is a glass structure built in layers, which when stacked on each other, reveal abstract forms related to various plane noses at the moment of takeoff. ‘SkyScape’ was chosen after a public call for artists, with more than 25 concepts submitted.