Airport expecting a slower 2012

The economic slowdown is likely to mean 100,000 fewer passengers using Malta International Airport in 2012 than last year, CEO Markus Klaushofer announced yesterday.

The forecast, which Mr Klaushofer admitted was at the mercy of future economic developments, translates into a 2.8 per cent reduction from 2011’s record-breaking numbers, although it is still higher than 2010’s figures.

It was Mr Klaushofer’s first official press outing as the airport’s CEO, and in a brisk presentation he outlined some of MIA’s key 2011 figures, spoke of plans for its upcoming 20th anniversary and announced that Air France would be starting flights to Toulouse this summer.

Air Malta unsurprisingly contributed the lion’s share of passengers, although its market share fell below 50 per cent of total passengers – 47.9 per cent – for the first time. Nevertheless, Mr Klaushofer noted that the national airline had done relatively well considering its ongoing restruct-uring process.

“Many airlines undergoing such processes experience sharper declines in passenger numbers,” he said.

A third of 2011 passengers came from the UK, with Italy contributing 17.6 per cent of all MIA passenger arrivals. Mr Klaushofer reiterated MIA’s eagerness to diversify arrivals and not put all its eggs in one basket.

This diversification strategy was reflected in the new routes announced by Ryanair some weeks ago, with Air France also due to start flying to Malta for the first time this summer. Mr Klaushofer also said negotiations were under way to increase traffic from eastern European markets such as Russia and Ukraine.

Malta’s airport will turn 20 on February 8 and Mr Klaushofer announced a series of events and special anniversary logo to mark the occasion.

Events will kick off on the eve of the anniversary, with former President Eddie Fenech Adami leading a tour of the airport. Dr Fenech Adami was Prime Minister when MIA welcomed its first passengers back in 1992.

Following an internal celebration on February 8, MIA will be organising a tree-planting activity in Gudja as well as an Open Day for staff and theirfamilies. “The Maltese public has a good relationship with its airport, which isn’t the case in several other countries. We want to improve on that and feel the need to contribute positively to Maltese society,” Mr Klaushofersaid. Mr Klaushofer added he expected the Skyparks Business Park to open this coming summer, describing progress there as “brilliant”.