MIA ‘not highest-charging airport in Europe’

Malta International Airport has stated its airport charges “amount to an average of €19.89 per departing passenger” in response to claims by Ryanair deputy chief Michael Cawley today that it was charging €25 per passenger, ‘the highest in Europe’ Cawley said.

An MIA spokesperson said its airport charges cover landing fees, aircraft parking fees, passenger service charges and security fees. 

“It is important to state that these charges have remained unchanged for the past five years since March 2006,” an MIA spokesperson said.

“A simple comparative exercise shows that Malta International Airport is surely not levying the most expensive charges in Europe, with other airports levying higher fees, such as Antalya, Munich, Budapest, Birmingham, Orly and Lyon to mention but a few.

“There are others which have significantly higher charges than those in Malta, like Larnaca (+30%) and Athens (+25%). Contrary to the picture being depicted, Malta airport is definitively within the European average in so far as its airport charges are concerned.”

MIA said it is also important to highlight the fact that most of the revenue that Malta International Airport receives from these charges goes towards maintaining the operations and the infrastructure of the airport. “Malta airport spends millions of euros each year to maintain the airport’s safety and security standards to international levels as well as ensure that the quality of services given is second to none.”

MIA said that over the past eight years, MIA has invested a total of €52 million in capital projects. “We’re convinced that these shareholders’ funds, including the 6,600 local shareholders and the Maltese government that together own 49% of the company, are being invested in the islands’ tourism and transport industry for the benefit of the national economy and in the best interest of Malta.”