September passenger movements down

Passenger movements last month dropped by 1.2 per cent when compared to the same period last year, Malta International Airport said yesterday.

With a total of 337,730 movements handled, MIA reported a shortfall of 4,042 passenger movements on scheduled and non-scheduled flights.

Aircraft movements also decreased, by 3.8 per cent to a total of 2,740.

Seat capacity decreased too, by 1.1 per cent or 4,677, and so did the seat load factor, albeit marginally by 0.1 per cent to an average of 76.7 per cent.

There was a decline in the number of passengers from the UK, Italy and France.

The German market maintained the same levels and the Spanish market continued to grow, with the number of passengers being almost double that of the same month last year.

Cargo and mail handled at MIA in September amounted to 1,421 tonnes, a 7.2 per cent drop over last year.