Sharp drop in Maltese travellers in peak months

Malta International Airport has attributed the lack of improvement in international passenger movements in 2005 over 2004 to a sharp drop in Maltese passengers, particularly in the peak summer months, and to the fact that the My Travel cruise liner did not operate in 2005 as expected.

The airport's Annual Statistical Review for 2005, which was released on Wednesday, offering information on aviation trends and operations at MIA last year, showed that international passenger movements had remained at the same levels as 2004 despite an expected growth.

The total number of passengers amounted to 2,753,572 last year, insignificantly up from 2,750,978 in 2004.

The UK was the highest as regards passenger movement, with figures totalling 1,079,523.

The sharp drop in Maltese passengers, particularly in the peak summer months, consequently affected Air Malta load factors, MIA explained.

The My Travel cruise liner, which was considered to be another determining factor, operated on the Cruise and Fly Programme in 2004 but not last year.

Asked whether the "drastic drop" in Maltese passengers, who normally travel in the peak months, was connected to the further increase in departure tax that was introduced from August, an MIA spokesman would not comment, but referred to National Statistics Office figures.

These showed that the number of Maltese travellers dropped by 0.5 per cent in the January-July period compared to 2004 but by 19.4 per cent in the August-December period.

Despite the three "handicaps" outlined by the company, the statistical review showed a break-even situation and that, without them, an increase of 4.3 per cent in passenger movements would have been registered.

What counteracted the decline in Maltese travellers was keeping up the momentum in attracting new traffic and additional routes.

"MIA pursued its endeavours to attract new airlines to operate to Malta and encouraged established clients to operate additional routes, which served as compensation for the disadvantages," the company said.

For example, British Airways started operating on the Manchester route, British Jet launched its operation, and airlines such as Emirates, Maersk, Finnair and Air Germania increased flight operations and registered increases.