5.8 million passengers expected to pass through MIA this year

Malta International Airport is expected to welcome a record 5.8 million passengers by end of this year. Last year, MIA saw more than 5.1 million passengers pass through its doors. Predictions show an expected growth in passenger traffic of between 14 to 16 per cent.

Details of the mid-yearly traffic results, together with forecasts for the end of this year and 2018, were given in a detailed presentation by MIA CEO Alan Borg.

He explained that figures were looking good for MIA and the gradual growth in passenger numbers was expected to continue. By June this year, the MIA had seen an increase of 7.5 per cent in passenger movement.

The airport had managed to reach the 500,000-passenger mark by April, whereas this target wasn’t normally reached until June or July.

The United Kingdom, Italy and Germany remain the top markets for MIA. The UK, in fact, still holds 26% of the market share in Malta. A third daily flight from Frankfurt helped the progress of passengers from Germany. Spain also registered a staggering increase of 64 per cent.

Gatwick (UK) and Fiumicino (Italy) airports top the list of most frequented airports by MIA passengers. Ryanair is the number one top airline for MIA with an increase of 37 per cent. Air Malta follows with a three per cent increase.

Low-cost carriers accounted for 22.5% of all planes going through the airport. When compared to airports similar in size to Malta’s, MIA was outpacing its counterparts significantly, Borg explained. In passenger numbers, MIA is still doing best among other small countries.

Airline expansion and stable jet fuel prices are keeping airport traffic in the EU on the increase. Brexit, however, is still a cause for uncertainty in the industry as a whole.

As from next winter, Air Malta will operate two new routes and will increase the frequency of flights. Lufthansa is expected to operate four times per week to Munich, and Ryanair will be adding three new routes. EasyJet will start operating a new route to London, while Vueling is expected to fly three times a week from Barcelona.

Capital investment in the Malta International Airport will go on in 2018. MIA management is aiming to set up eight additional check-in desks and to relocate the central screening area. By the end of the year, total investment will have reached €16 million. An investment of €3.7 million will be made in the airfield and some €8.5 million in the terminal projects.

Finally, Mr Borg also presented the company’s financial targets for the year. MIA predicts total revenue of over €79 million with net profit reaching €23 million.