Airport maintains robust passenger figures

Air passenger movements in August nearly reached last year’s all-time record, according to airport statistics.

Last month, passenger movements amounted to 427,575 – just 349 fewer movements when compared to the same period last year, Malta International Airport said.

Seat capacity in August reached 499,086 – a drop of seven per cent, which is equivalent to 37,295 seats.

Aircraft movements also fell by 9.5 per cent over August last year, while the average seat load factor rose by 5.9 per cent to 85.7 per cent – an increase from the 79.8 percent registered in 2010.

The airport’s top market, the UK, registered an increase of one per cent in August, with Germany experiencing a considerable rise of 22.8 per cent and Spain growing at a slower rate of 2.7 per cent.

However, Italy and France registered a slip of 12.3 per cent and 6.7 per cent respectively.

Between January and August there was an increase of 8.5 per cent in passenger movements compared to the same period last year, totalling 2,399,413.