Malta Ranks Among the Top Jurisdictions in the Cape Town Convention Compliance Index Q1 2025

Introduction

Malta continues to strengthen its global reputation as a trusted and compliant aviation jurisdiction, ranking first in Europe and second worldwide in the Cape Town Convention Compliance Index (CTC Index) for Q1 2025.

The Index, published quarterly by the Aviation Working Group (AWG), assesses the performance of contracting states under the Cape Town Convention on International Interests in Mobile Equipment and its Aircraft Protocol. It measures how effectively countries implement and uphold the Convention’s provisions on aircraft financing, ownership rights, and enforcement mechanisms.

This recognition confirms Malta’s commitment to providing a transparent, reliable, and creditor-friendly legal environment for the aviation industry — further consolidating its position as one of the leading aviation centres in Europe.

Malta’s Performance in the 2025 Index

In the latest publication, Malta achieved an overall score of 95 out of 100, reflecting exceptional performance in key compliance categories, including:

• Timely implementation of the Convention and its regulations;

• Strong creditor rights and legal certainty in repossession procedures;

• Efficient registration processes through the Civil Aviation Directorate (Transport Malta);

• Robust adherence to international standards and best practices.

Malta’s consistent top-tier ranking highlights its proactive approach to aligning national legislation with global aviation frameworks, providing financiers, lessors, and operators with confidence in the jurisdiction’s legal and regulatory systems.

Aviation Leadership Through Legal Certainty

The Cape Town Convention is a cornerstone of global aircraft finance, offering a harmonised international framework for protecting ownership and security interests in aircraft assets.

Malta’s success in this area reflects its well-structured legislative framework, its efficient judiciary, and the continuous collaboration between public authorities and the private sector. This synergy allows for a streamlined approach to aircraft registration, financing, and enforcement actions — all key pillars for a stable aviation finance ecosystem.

How Vaia Legal Can Support

At Vaia Legal, we are proud to contribute to Malta’s standing as a premier aviation hub by providing strategic legal advice and full-service support across the aircraft lifecycle — from acquisition and registration to financing, importation, and operational compliance.

Our areas of expertise include:

o   Customs importation and exportation

o   Commercial and private aircraft operations

o   Sale, purchase, and financed transactions

o   VAT structuring and regularization

o   AOC applications and regulatory approvals

o   Aircraft registration

We work closely with Maltese authorities, operators, and financiers to ensure each transaction benefits from Malta’s strong legal environment and its exceptional compliance standards recognised internationally.

Conclusion

Malta’s outstanding ranking in the Cape Town Convention Compliance Index reaffirms the island’s reputation as a secure and business-oriented jurisdiction for aviation finance and asset management.

Feel free to get in touch with our team at info@vaialegal.com to learn more about our aviation practice and how we can assist your business in navigating its legal and regulatory obligations.