Thousands of passengers flying home for the holidays through MIA

• Over 130,000 passengers to pass through MIA this festive season • Passenger movements expected to peak on the 22nd and 29th of December • Free airport activities and Christmas treats for passengers of all ages

Christmas is just around the corner, which means that many people are packing their bags and heading home for the holidays. This festive season is set to be a particularly busy one at Malta Airport, where the team is expecting to welcome over 130,000 passengers between the 22nd and the 31st of December.

This holiday season’s busiest days, which are expected to fall on Saturday the 22nd and Saturday the 29th of December, will see around 16,500 guests passing through the airport.

December tends to be a hectic month for the air travel industry. For this reason, passengers are advised to check in from home, and arrive at the airport at least two hours before their flight is due to depart in order to drop off their luggage and get through security screening as swiftly as possible. Passengers are also reminded to make sure any home-brought gifts are wrapped at their final destination, in order to adhere to the airport’s security regulations.

Early birds who get to the Departures Hall with time to spare will be able to treat themselves to some festive goodies, including imqaret and qagħaq tal-għasel, from the airport’s fairy cart. They can also sip on a cup of mulled wine while getting some last-minute Christ- mas shopping done.

The airport team isn’t just handing out free food and drinks this festive season though – make sure to look out for the airport’s red and blue gift boxes, which have been designed specifically to keep gifts safe until they arrive at their intended destination.

Christmas elves are ready and waiting at the kids’ area at Depar- tures, stocked with lots of games as well as a craft station to ensure that any wait-time flies by for young jetsetters travelling during the holidays.

Those who have opted for a staycation this year are still welcome to head to the airport this December, even if it’s just to admire the Christmas decorations set up all around the terminal or to see the spectacular crib, hand-crafted by a member of the airport team, Benny Camilleri, that’s on display on level 3.

Children of all ages can also join in the festivities at the food court, which will be bustling with activity between Friday 21st December and Wednesday 2nd January, when the Christmas Kids’ Club lands at Malta International Airport.