Early check-in advised at MIA

Malta International Airport will be launching the highly-anticipated Cruise and Fly programme on Thursday, 6 April. Cruise and Fly holidays allow passengers to fly from their choice of destination to Malta, where they are immediately transferred to their awaiting cruise ship at the Grand Harbour. Passengers are then transferred back to the airport to catch their homeward flight.

An average of 2,000 passengers are expected to depart and arrive for their Malta-to-Malta service, which means that around 4,000 people will be using the airport’s facilities within a 6-hour turnaround.

MIA has created a terminal traffic chart, available on www.maltairport.com/notifications/early-check-in-advised/, indicating the busiest times at the terminal over the summer season, with the aim of helping travellers plan their airport journey better.

While Thursdays will see a P&O service operated on Oceana, Sunday’s Tui Cruises services will be hosted on Mein Schiff. Over six months, some 100,000 passengers will be hosted within the Cruise and Fly programme alone.

Passengers are advised to check in early, at least two hours before their scheduled departure time during the following periods, as the terminal is expected to be busier than usual on Thursdays between 07.15 and 13:00, and Sundays between 05:30 and 13:00.

Immigration and customs officials, ground handlers, airlines, and the airport team are gearing up to handle the increase in passenger flow generated by this service, but travellers should be aware that the terminal building is likely to be busier when the Cruise and Fly programme will be in operation.

MIA also advised passengers to arrive at the terminal at least two hours before their scheduled departure as the airport’s Terminal Reconfiguration Project continues apace. This would allow ample time for check-in and security screening since longer queues may be possible.

Hoarding has been erected around a section of the check-in area, directing passengers to make use of alternative routes while works are ongoing.