Wednesday, 19th November 2008

UK passengers lead drop in airport movements

Passenger movements at the Malta International Airport last month fell by 6.1 per cent when compared to the same period last year.

The airport also witnessed a drop of 8.8 per cent in aircraft movements, resulting in a 6.1 per cent decline in seating available and a 0.1 per cent decrease in the seat load factor. Moreover, mail handled also registered a drop of 8.4 per cent.

MIA said it once again felt the loss of passengers from the UK, who went down by 17.8 per cent. There was also a downturn in the Italian and French markets, which resulted in a drop of 10.3 per cent and 1.8 per cent respectively.

The German market maintained its ground and the Spanish market more than doubled the passengers passing through when compared to October last year.

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Article © Allied Newspapers Ltd., printed on Saturday, November 21, 2009. This article is for personal use only, and should not be distributed.

Comments

Adrian Allain (on 19/11/08)

This is just the beginning. People are still taking holidays which they booked and paid for some months ago, but as more and more people throughout Europe are being thrown out of work, fewer will take last minute holidays and not take overseas holidays at all next year.
The exception might be pensioners but even for them the cut in interest rates on their savings and increased fares might be a deterrent. Air Malta's fares have more than doubled for next year.

Ch. Harris (on 19/11/08)

At this moment in time my way of thinking is that its pointless for the tourist board to speculate to accumulate tourists, we all now by now that the recession is going to hit us all and the last think on tourists mind is to spend outside their own countries, unfortunitly its going to get even worse before its going to get any better , due to the fact that people are being made redundant in couintries such as the UK, Germany

Jeff Rogers (on 19/11/08)

@I.Galea right again, they seek it here , they seek it there correct the recession is everywhere!

john watson (on 19/11/08)

One reason for the fall in passenger numbers from the U.K. has to be the dramatic drop in the number of conveniently timed flights from reasonably covenient airports in the midlands and north of England and Scotland.
Many U.K. citizens visiting Malta are elderly, and the prospect of killing time for up to twelve hours after checking out of hotels, and the thought of a further three to five hours travelling after arrival in the U.K. is too much for elderly people to cope with.

lgalea (on 19/11/08)

Anthony Silvio
Congratulations for admitting it Anthony. Many little elves do not.

Anthony Silvio (on 19/11/08)

Phil, your are right if we can afford a holiday next year you may find that most british tourist
will be heading to a country outside the Euro Zone.

Igalea, recession is everywhere!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Phil Press (on 19/11/08)

Three Cheers for the Euro. What a catrosphe!, €1.35 against stirling, when we joined, what is it now ?. No wonder nop one can afford to holiday in the E.U.

lgalea (on 19/11/08)

RECESSION is here

Steve Evans (on 19/11/08)

It will drop even further now that Air Malta have taken the ridiculous decision of stopping their Glasgow route.