Thirty extra flights for canonisation week

Air Malta is planning to operate 30 extra flights to Rome in the first week of June when pilgrims are expected to flock to the Vatican for the canonisation of Dun Gorg Preca.

Air Malta chief executive officer Joe Cappello said yesterday that besides the three daily flights operated by the national airline to the Italian capital, no fewer than 30 additional flights had been planned for the week in question, including charter flights.

He said the carrier would mostly fly its Airbus A320s that can carry more passengers given that so many people would want to be in Rome on June 3.

There will be seven or eight day-trip flights for people who will want to return to Malta that same day.

"Many seats are still available and Air Malta will be able to cover the exceptional demand," Mr Cappello said.

The government said last week it was waiving the departure tax for pilgrims travelling to Rome for the canonisation ceremony.

The Finance Ministry had said the departure tax, which would be halved from Lm20 to Lm10 as of June 1 - a decision announced in this year's budget - would be waived between June 1 and 4 for Rome flights only.