Air Malta to fly to Palermo this summer

Air Malta will start scheduled services between Malta and Palermo as from 4th July. These flights will operate in addition to the 13 weekly flights between Malta and Catania/Sicily and reinforce the airline’s leading position between Italy and Malta. Air Malta gives the best choice for travellers from both Italy and Malta with 34 weekly flights and the highest number of frequencies per destination compared to any other carrier.

“This is more good news for our customers,” said Ursula Silling, Air Malta’s Chief Commercial Officer. “We are thrilled to launch new flights to/from Palermo’s Falcone-Borsellino airport and thus offer 15 weekly flights between Sicily and Malta. With over 2,700 years of history, the Sicilian capital has a lot to offer”, continued Ms Silling.

The Maltese National Airline will operate two weekly flights to/from Palermo every Monday and Thursday and will retain the route throughout winter.

“Our new flights will offer connectivity between Malta and the western part of Sicily. Palermo is the island’s cultural, political and touristic capital and we expect to carry around 20,000 passengers in the first year of operation. As part of our constant schedule improvements we have also retimed some of our Catania flights to offer better connectivity with our services to major European cities. These initiatives are expected to facilitate business opportunities between the two islands,” added Ms Silling.

Palermo is Sicily’s largest city, a historic melting pot of Western and Arabic cultures and the perfect base from which to explore the region. It is renowned for its rich culture, architecture and gastronomy. Being one of the top tourist destinations in Italy, Palermo attracts tourists with its Romanesque, Gothic and Baroque buildings.

Its historic medieval old town is very popular with tourists including Cappella Palatina, a small chapel hidden within the Palazzo dei Normanni. This palace is renowned for its wealth of outstanding mosaics that bejewel the walls of its interior. Also popular are the city’s landmark square of Quattro Canti and the tiny chapel of San Cataldo, which has three miniature domes and Arabic inscriptions on its columns. This overlooks Palermo’s famous ‘Fountain of Shame’. Just outside of Palermo is the Cathedral of Monreale, one of Sicily’s most beautiful buildings, whose interior is lined with shimmering golden Byzantine mosaics while its cloister columns are twisted with vivid zig-zags of Moorish inlay.

Palermo’s strength is in its beauty and civilisation, which are reflected through the local markets and unique beaches with crystalline waters and sandy stretches.

For those who prefer the lure of shopping one should visit the haute couture streets of Via Maqueda, Via Ruggero Settimo and Via della Liberta. For those who prefer bargain hunting and traditional crafts, earthen ware, wrought iron and carved wood, shops in Via Bara, Via Orologia and Vittorio Emanuele are recommended.

Between purchases in either the back streets or the wide boulevards, there is plenty of opportunity to stop for a quick snack of fried aubergines or hefty pizza slices prepared by street vendors. For those who have more time to spare a stop at the more formal restaurants to savour Sicily’s excellent cuisine is a must.