450m runway to be built in Xewkija as government reveals Gozo airfield plans

Gozo Minister Clint Camilleri has revealed government’s plans for an extension to the Xewkija helipad with a 450m runway for small aircraft.

Speaking in a press conference, Camilleri said that a public consultation regarding the plans for the Gozo airfield has been launched.

Camilleri said that no agricultural land will be used to extend the runway. He pledged that the project will be limited to areas already in the development zone, in zones directly tied to the heliport. Camilleri said that the land marked is even less than what is allowed according to local plans.

He added that the project will improve connectivity to Gozo, along with the new vessel to the Gozo channel fleet and the fast ferry service between Malta and Gozo.

The runway will be long enough to accommodate an aircraft which can carry 11 passengers, he said.

Government seeks to operate the airfield through public-private partnerships, Camilleri said, adding that the airport will not operate international flights. The investment will, however, attract new business to Gozo, he said. Businesses will include among others flying schools, pilot training academies and those who want to test out industrial drones in the area, Camilleri said.

Gozo Research and Development Authority CEO Mario Borg said that the public consultation process will be hosted by the authority itself.

Information about the project and impact assessments carried out are publicly available on the website www.grda.mt

The public consultation will conclude on 27 May. Submissions by the public can be sent to consultations.grda@grda.mt

Two public consultation meetings will be held on 19 May in English and on 20 May in Maltese, between 5 and 7pm at the Gozo Innovation Hub in Xewkija.

The public is invited to book a place for these events by sending an email to consultations.grda@grda.mt

Malta previously had a helicopter link between the two islands provided by an Air Malta subsidiary, Malta Air Charter. This was discontinued due to profit loss.