MIA welcomes three millionth passenger, as handling forecast increased to +4.5%

Malta International Airport has welcomed its three millionth passenger for 2011, arriving on a Lufthansa flight from Frankfurt.

19 October 2011, 12:00am

1 min read

45-year-old Elke Thiel from Germany, was welcomed at Malta Airport’s La Valette arrivals lounge, by MIA CEO Austin Calleja, Malta Tourism Authority Ceo, Josef Formosa Gauci, and Lufthansa’s Malta general manager Sylvain Heydlauf.

Austin Calleja said that this was the third time in its history that MIA reached the three millionth mark in a year, the first time occurring in December 2008 and the second time in November last year.

“We are reviewing the latest forecast for 2011, from the +3.2% announced in July to at least +4.5%.,” Calleja said.

MTA Ceo Josef Formosa Gauci, welcomed Ms Thiel – who is on her first trip to Malta and presented her with a gift and flowers to mark the occasion.

Lufthansa general manager Sylvain Heydlauf announced that the German national carrier is set to increase its presence in Malta, through the deployment of an Airbus A321, the largest aircraft of its continental fleet, and also by expanding its flight schedule by connecting Malta and Munich on weekends.

Heydlauf added that the Munich service will be operated throughout the winter as well.