A record number of passengers for the month used the Malta International Airport in November, with 202,718 recorded passenger movements – a 12.5 per cent increase over the same period last year.

There was also an 11.8 per cent increase in seat capacity over November 2009.

MIA said there were 11.7 per cent more aircraft movements last month compared to last year. But while the maximum take-off weight grew by 9.7 per cent, reaching 155,680 tonnes, cargo and mail was 21.3 per cent lower than that recorded during the same month in 2009.

Meanwhile, the airport also registered growth from Spain, Italy and France by 53 per cent, 31 per cent and 23 per cent respectively. A more modest growth was registered from Germany at 2.7 per cent, while the UK was the only market to register a drop of one per cent.

MIA also said the first 11 months of the year showed an increase in passenger movements of 13 per cent, thanks mostly to an increase in seat capacity of 10.5 per cent.