The airline of the Maltese Islands founded in 1973. Air Malta started operations, with 2 leased Boeing 720Bs that served Rome, Tripoli, London, Manchester, Frankfurt, and Paris from Malta. It later bought 3 more Boeing 720Bs and bought the original two.  In 1981, 3 Boeing 737–200 were wet leased, which were so successful that in 1983, 3 new fully owned Boeing 737-200 were delivered. In 1986, Air Malta bought 3 new Boeing 737-200, and in 1987 ordered its first Airbus A320 –