Over one million passengers used the airport last month
More than a fifth of flights were between Malta and Italy
Over one million passengers passed through Malta International Airport (MIA) in July, while aircraft activity was up five per cent on the same month last year.
In a statement, the airport said planes remained almost 90% full while the airport was now directly connected to 109 destinations.
Italy regained the top spot in country connections, accounting for more than a fifth (22%) of flights, followed by the UK (21%), Germany, France and Poland (all 7%).
Southern Europe remained the leading regional destination over the first six months of the year, accounting for just over a third (35%) of all scheduled and charter flights.
While still the leading region, Southern Europe’s share of flights decreased slightly from the 37% seen last year, however, which MIA said, “signalled a subtle but notable diversification of traffic”.
Winter flights accounted for around 40% of traffic in the first six months of the year, which saw around 4.5 million passenger arrivals and departures.
Connections with Northern and Eastern Europe saw a “modest uptick”, with the former now accounting for just under a quarter (24%) of all flights and the latter growing by two percentage points to reach 12% of flights.
The opening of new routes to Helsinki and Copenhagen, operated by Norwegian and SAS, respectively, accounted for the increased traffic, “alongside ongoing efforts by LOT Polish Airlines, Ryanair and Wizz Air to strengthen links with the Polish market”.
Meanwhile, the addition of five new airlines – including LOT Polish, Qatar Airways and SAS Scandinavian Airlines – since January brought the total number of direct connections to 109 destinations, MIA said.
The airport noted passengers were once again able to carry electronic devices and liquids up to two litres without needing to remove them from luggage while passing through security, after the European Commission last month lifted a temporary airport restriction on liquid containers larger than 100ml.
The first phase of the airport's terminal expansion project has been completed, and its non-Schengen arrivals area was opened in June, doubling the number of immigration booths, it said.
This winter will see SAS extend its Copenhagen service into the off-peak months for the first time and Ryanair launch a new service to Sweden’s Gothenburg, the airport said.