An exclusive conversation with Katrina Abela of Vaia Legal, led by Ray de Bono, Editor-in-Chief of IMGlobalWealth.com
Malta’s role in international mobility is often discussed through the lens of residence planning, tax efficiency and investment migration. Yet another part of the story lies in the legal and regulatory frameworks that support the movement, registration and structuring of high-value mobile assets such as aircraft and yachts.
For firms operating at the intersection of private wealth, cross-border structuring and relocation, these domains are increasingly converging. Clients assessing a new jurisdiction are rarely focused solely on residency; they are equally concerned with where to register an aircraft (a field with which Malta has only recently become associated), register a yacht, obtain an air operator’s certificate, or establish a corporate structure capable of supporting international operations.
It is within this niche that Katrina Abela has built her practice. An aviation and maritime lawyer and licensed corporate service provider at Vaia Legal, she has developed a growing reputation in the specialised fields of aircraft and yacht transactions. A graduate of the University of Malta, Abela advises both private clients and corporate operators on matters ranging from sale and purchase transactions and ownership structures to customs importation, registration and Maltese Air Operator’s Certificate (AOC) applications. Within Malta’s aviation and maritime legal community, she is increasingly regarded as an emerging figure to watch.
In this conversation with Ray de Bono, Editor-in-Chief of IMGW.news, Abela discusses how she entered the sector, Malta’s practical appeal as a jurisdiction for aviation and maritime structuring, the realities of establishing aviation operations in Malta, and how geopolitical uncertainty is shaping the way internationally mobile clients approach residency, asset structuring and jurisdictional diversification.
“Malta’s appeal is also reinforced by the practical foundations behind its programmes: treaty networks, double taxation agreements, regulatory standing and access within Europe”
1. You began your legal career focusing on maritime and aviation law, two sectors centred on highly mobile and high-value assets. What attracted you to these fields, and how has that specialisation shaped the type of international clients Via Legal works with today
It was largely a matter of timing. I did not set out to specialise in maritime or aviation law. The path began during my internship, which led to a role in the yachting sector. At around the same time, Malta had introduced changes to its Aircraft Registration Act, and the firm I was working with happened to have a client operating in that space. That exposure pushed me to look more closely at aviation.
At the time, the sector was still relatively small, so much of it had to be learned from the ground up. In a sense, I fell into it, but I quickly discovered that I enjoyed it. From there, the focus of my work gradually evolved in that direction.
Over time, the specialisation naturally shaped the type of clients we began to attract. The practice initially centred on yachting and aviation matters, and later expanded to include an immigration arm, which complements the same client base. Most clients tend to be high-net-worth individuals looking either to structure or register an asset, or to relocate to Europe. Sometimes the person is moving; sometimes it is the asset. On the aviation side, we also advise airlines and operators, which brings a more corporate dimension to the work.
2. Malta has developed a reputation as a jurisdiction for aircraft and vessel registration within the European Union. From a legal standpoint, what aspects of Malta’s regulatory framework make it attractive for structuring ownership of aircraft and yachts?
From the maritime side, Malta has been doing this for many years. It has built a strong reputation and today the largest ship registry in Europe. That did not happen by chance. It reflects a sustained effort at policy level, across governments, to keep the sector competitive and properly supported.
The laws are kept up to date, and the system is geared towards serving the maritime industry. One obvious example is the use of specialised merchant shipping companies, which shows how tailored the framework is to these activities.
In aviation, Malta also performed well when it revised its Aircraft Registration Act and other ancillary pieces of legislation. There was a comparative analysis of the European landscape, and Malta emerged with a very competitive legal framework. But the strength of the jurisdiction does not rest on one piece of legislation alone. It is the wider ecosystem that matters: the Companies Act, tax rules, employment incentives for relocated personnel, and an administrative framework designed to support the industry.
Another major advantage is efficiency. Malta’s Civil Aviation Directorate is, in my experience, one of the most efficient and pragmatic regulators I have dealt with. The same applies to the ship registry. For example, the registry can operate outside standard office hours when needed, which matters greatly in an international industry working across time zones. English is also a practical advantage, and Malta’s participation in key international treaties helps make the jurisdiction workable for internationally structured clients.
2. When clients consider where to register or structure assets such as aircraft or vessels, they often compare Malta with competing jurisdictions. In your experience, what factors tend to influence that decision?
The first point is that Malta is not automatically the best jurisdiction for everyone. It is important to understand who the client is, what they are trying to achieve, what the asset is, and whether Malta is genuinely the right fit. One of the first questions we ask new clients is why they are considering Malta in the first place.
Where Malta is suitable, the main factors tend to be the strength of the legal framework, the efficiency of the authorities, and the quality of the service ecosystem around the client. If you are structuring an aircraft or vessel, you may need legal advisers, accountants, corporate service support and regulatory guidance. Malta offers that in a relatively compact and accessible environment.
“Katrina Abela’s assessment of Malta is neither simplistic nor uncritical. Her argument is not that Malta is the right answer for every client, but that it has built a legal and regulatory ecosystem that remains unusually effective in a number of specialist areas”
The practical efficiency can be striking. Expedited services and fast turnaround requirements are not uncommon, and although such timelines are rarely ideal, the authorities in Malta tend to adopt a pragmatic and cooperative approach, helping to facilitate processes where possible. This level of responsiveness remains relatively unusual in the rest of Europe, and clients are often struck by how quickly certain matters can be handled in Malta compared with other jurisdictions.
There is also the familiarity of a Companies Act rooted in principles that are broadly understood internationally, especially by clients coming from common-law influenced environments. All of this contributes to Malta’s appeal.
3. You have assisted companies seeking a Maltese Air Operator’s Certificate (AOC), acting as the link between applicants and local authorities. What does this process involve in practice, and what typically motivates operators to pursue certification in Malta?
This is actually one of my main areas of specialisation, and one of the parts of the practice I enjoy most. I have worked on more than 20 AOC set-ups in Malta, and it is a process that requires both technical discipline and careful client management.
The starting point is always to establish whether Malta is the correct jurisdiction for the proposed operation. Once that is confirmed, the next crucial point is that the client must understand that it is a Maltese operation and must comply with Maltese regulatory expectations. Some clients arrive with experience from other countries and assume they can replicate the same set-up, but each jurisdiction has its own requirements and regulatory culture.
The AOC process in Malta broadly follows a five-step structure and typically takes around six months. That timeline needs to be understood from the outset. There are review phases, document evaluation phases and certification steps, and the process is rigorous. At the same time, it must be tailored to the client’s particular project and business model, while remaining fully aligned with the regulator’s expectations.
These clients are corporate operators rather than individuals, because a proper Maltese set-up is required. There must be a principal place of business in Malta, and a minimum number of key postholders must be appointed. In Vaia Legal’s experience, many such clients come from mainland Europe, particularly Germany, France, Switzerland and the United Kingdom.
4. Vaia Legal also advises clients exploring relocation or residency options in Malta. From a legal perspective, what considerations do individuals or families usually weigh when assessing Malta as a potential base within Europe?
For Vaia Legal, adding licensed immigration and residence services was a natural progression. The firm had already been assisting clients in that space through other arrangements, because the questions kept coming from the same client base.
What clients tend to value most is stability. Malta benefits from a reputation for political and economic continuity, and in periods of wider uncertainty that matters. Clients also attach significance to Malta’s neutrality, which has become a more relevant consideration in today’s geopolitical climate.
Lifestyle is another major factor, particularly for families. They look at schools, quality of life, the convenience of daily living, and Malta’s connectivity within Europe. The fact that the island is well linked by air makes it easier for internationally mobile families and businesspeople to travel in and out efficiently.
From a residence perspective, Malta offers a range of routes, which means there is usually an option suited to different client profiles. On the citizenship side, the framework has changed significantly, but in Katrina Abela’s view that change has also made the process more meaningful, centring more clearly on a genuine link to the country and on how an individual may contribute to Malta in a substantive way.
5. Some Maltese residency routes involve property commitments through acquisition or long-term leasing. How does the property element typically fit into the broader legal planning process for clients considering relocation?
Vaia Legal generally sees two broad approaches. Some clients are genuinely looking for a home. In those cases, the property search is shaped by lifestyle considerations, family size, location, schooling and long-term comfort.
Others see property partly or primarily through an investment lens. For them, Malta’s property market can itself be a factor in choosing the jurisdiction. They may compare Malta with other countries and conclude that the investment case here is stronger, whether in terms of capital preservation, rental yield or broader market confidence.
In the case of renting, the property often begins as a practical requirement of the residence process. Even then, clients respond differently. Some want a stable, longer-term base that feels like home, while others are more flexible and do not mind changing properties every few years, provided they remain compliant with programme requirements. The property element can therefore be highly personal, largely strategic, or a mixture of both.
6. In recent years, the international environment has been marked by geopolitical tensions and regulatory uncertainty. Have you observed any shifts in the way internationally mobile clients approach decisions about residency, asset structuring, or jurisdictional diversification?
Yes, definitely. The effect is not uniform across all jurisdictions, but Malta is seeing an influx in some areas, and this appears linked above all to stability and neutrality.
Malta is a member of the European Union, which gives it regulatory credibility and access to a broader legal and treaty framework, but it also has constitutional neutrality. For certain clients, that combination is especially appealing. They are looking not only for access and reputational quality, but also for a jurisdiction that appears politically and strategically stable in a volatile international environment.
On the residence and citizenship side, clients are leaning towards neutral countries more than before. Things are moving quickly internationally, and people are thinking more seriously about long-term contingency planning. That does not mean they are necessarily moving immediately, but it does mean they are structuring more carefully and trying to avoid unnecessary exposure.
Malta’s appeal is also reinforced by the practical foundations behind its programmes: treaty networks, double taxation agreements, regulatory standing and access within Europe. Clients look beyond the headline offer. They want to know how the wider system works.
7. Looking ahead, where do you see Malta’s strongest niche within the sectors you advise on, particularly aviation, maritime services, and international mobility? What developments could further strengthen Malta’s position in these areas?
In aviation and maritime, Malta’s position remains strong, but success should not lead to complacency. One of the risks for any jurisdiction is becoming a victim of its own success. Other countries are studying what Malta has done and looking for ways to compete. So the priority should be to remain proactive, keep refining the framework, and preserve competitiveness.
At the same time, Katrina Abela believes Malta has room to strengthen its position by attracting more high-net-worth individuals and more luxury-led activity to the island itself, rather than simply servicing structures on paper. A useful example is the superyacht sector. Malta has a major ship registry, but it does not capture the same level of high-end owner presence that one sees in parts of France or Italy.
That points to a broader issue. If Malta wants to deepen its appeal to affluent international clients, it may need to invest further in the surrounding ecosystem: hospitality, premium services, international lifestyle amenities and a more refined visitor and resident experience. This is not simply about branding. It is about whether the jurisdiction can support the expectations of the type of client it wants to attract.
Malta’s niche remains strong, but preserving and extending that strength will depend on continued competitiveness, administrative quality and a more deliberate effort to improve the broader environment around the legal and regulatory product.
Perspectives
Katrina Abela’s assessment of Malta is neither simplistic nor uncritical. Her argument is not that Malta is the right answer for every client, but that it has built a legal and regulatory ecosystem that remains unusually effective in a number of specialist areas. In aviation and maritime structuring, the combination of legal clarity, institutional pragmatism and speed still gives Malta a credible edge. In residency and international mobility, its appeal appears increasingly tied to a wider search for stability, neutrality and workable access to Europe.
The interview also highlights a broader point. Jurisdictions do not compete on law alone. They compete on administration, ecosystem quality and, increasingly, on whether they can offer a convincing place in which internationally mobile individuals may actually wish to spend time. On that front, Malta’s next phase may depend less on inventing new products than on strengthening the environment around the ones it already has.
𝑩𝒊𝒐𝒈𝒓𝒂𝒑𝒉𝒚
Katrina Abela is an aviation and maritime lawyer and a licensed corporate service provider at Vaia Legal, where she has built a growing reputation in the specialised fields of aircraft and yacht structuring. A graduate of the University of Malta in 2013, she focuses on maritime and aviation law, advising on yacht and aircraft sale and purchase transactions, ownership structures, customs importation, registration matters, Air Operator’s Certificate (AOC) applications and related regulatory work.
Over the years she has assisted several companies in obtaining a Maltese AOC, acting as a key link between applicants and local authorities while guiding clients through regulatory and structuring considerations. Her areas of expertise include commercial agreements, sale and purchase transactions for vessels and aircraft, regulation of aircraft customs and VAT status, importation and registration processes, AOC applications, and ownership structures.
She is a member of the Chamber of Advocates, the Malta Business Aviation Association, The Malta Chamber of Commerce, the Malta Maritime Law Association, and the Advocacy Committee of the European Business Aviation Association. Within Malta’s aviation and maritime legal community, she is widely regarded as an emerging figure to watch.
𝑲𝒆𝒚 𝑪𝒐𝒏𝒕𝒂𝒄𝒕𝒔:
Email: [email protected]
Follow Katrina on LinkedIn: Link
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