Air Malta 'the driving force' behind rise in tourism

Photo: Gino Galea, Air Malta plc.

Air Malta said yesterday that it continues to be the driving force behind the rise in tourist arrivals registered this year, contributing 57 per cent of the 77,000 additional passengers who have flown to Malta in the first six months of the year.

National Statistics Office show that inbound tourists for the first half rose by 15 per cent to 577,313 over the same period last year.

Air Malta said that in June it continued to register the same double digit growth recorded over the last eight months. Traffic in June increased by 13 per cent.

"We are building on the positive results registered last winter when, for the first time in its history, Air Malta transported over half a million passengers. In the first half of the year, the airline has yet again consolidated its position as the preferred airline among visitors from all European countries of origin.

"Figures released this month by the Association of European Airlines also confirm that Air Malta was one of the few European airlines that registered double digit growth from January until June," Air Malta CEO Brock Friesen said.

Air Malta is actively pursuing other off-line markets. Existing code-sharing agreements with airlines such as Lufthansa, Air One and Turkish Airlines will be further consolidated with other airline partners in the next few months, leading Air Malta to further expand its network.

Comments

John cassar (on 20/8/08)

Congratulations Air Malta! From a humble beginning, the company through its phases has become a beacon for other national companies. On the occassions I have travelled from Australia, I have endeavoured to use Air Malta where possible. It would be great to see the Maltese Cross landing at Melbourne Airport One day! Anything is a possibility! Just keep on flying!

miriam kelly (on 20/8/08)

Air Malta should restart their flights from Scotland and even better use Edinburgh's Airport which after all is the Capital City . There are many maltese here with their families in Scotland who travel frequently to Malta and would travel even more if they did not always have to go down south to catch a flight which also means taking extra days off just to get to the airport and the same again on the return and also less stress

Gabi Tabone (on 20/8/08)

Perhaps it would be a very good idea to re introduce the Dubln route as well. It is very missed by the Maltese living here.

Steve Evans (on 20/8/08)

A good reason to keep the popular route to Scotland going !!

Hamish Dempster (on 20/8/08)

To be honest I would Travel with Air Malta any time and prefer to pay a little more and know i am in safe hands, after all just take a look at the safety record it has.
keep it up Air Malta