ASTRAEUS, the new UK charter airline, has broadened its horizons with the launch of scheduled services to the popular holiday island of Malta. The operation will be initially twice weekly from Gatwick North, and weekly from Manchester. From 1 May the airline will step up the Gatwick operation to daily and increase Manchester to three weekly flights. East Midlands and Leeds Bradford will also come into the network on the same day with weekly services. The airline says it is actively working on additional UK regional departures points for its 2004 Malta programme. The new services are being marketed in conjunction with Malta Bargains, a leading UK tour operator to Malta, which last year carried over 30,000 people from the UK to the island. http://www.flyastraeus.com