Airport passenger traffic grows by 12%

This improved performance was a direct result of an 8.8% increase in seat capacity as aircraft movements reached a total of 5.7% more than last year. Even considering this overall increase in seat capacity, the number of seats being occupied also registered a 3% improvement during this period, reaching an overall average of 78.8%.

This increase in passengers and in movement has rendered over €11 million in turnover, an increase of 5.1% compared to the first quarter 2015. The profit increased by 7.6% reaching almost €1, 500, 000.

The summer schedule kicked of on the right foot with April registering a growth of 5.7% as MIA welcome three new carriers; Volotea operating from Catania, Czech Airlines from Prague and Iberia Express from Madrid. Ryanair also added a number of routes including two new destinations, namely Poznan in Poland and Baden-Baden in Germany.

As from July, Air Malta will also be introducing a bi-weekly flight to Palermo, as well Aegean and Finnair increasing the frequency of their flights to Athens and Helsinki respectively.

What is more, connections to Eastern Europe will continue to improve as Wizz Air and Turkish Airlines will increase seat capacity to this region.

This growth may however be partially offset because of a number of other airlines reducing routes or decreasing seat capacity.

Nevertheless, MIA is optimistic that the summer season will be closed off with an overall positive result.