Monument to Algeria’s independence and revolution.

Air Malta has announced it will restart its flights to Algiers on March 19 following the encouraging results of last summer’s venture to the Algerian capital.

Flights will follow a twice-weekly schedule, on Mondays and Thursdays, throughout summer.

Algeria is the largest country in Africa and will soon have a Maltese consulate general which will offer efficient visa facilities.

The national carrier has also announced it will soon start flying to Istanbul’s Sabiha Gökçen Airport after moving from Istanbul’s other airport, Atatürk.

Named after the world’s first female combat pilot Sabiha Gökçen, it is the world’s fastest-growing airport serving more than 19 million passengers annually.

Sabiha Gökçen airport is situated on the eastern side of the Bosphorus strait.

It is 40 minutes away from the city centre by taxi and is served also by a variety of efficient transport modes including dedicated Express airport buses and public transport.

A shuttle bus to the metro station nearby provides access to metro lines and the Marmaray tunnel that connects the two sides of the city underneath the Bosphorus.

Air Malta’s first flight to Sabiha Gökçen Airport will be on March 31 and will follow last summer’s schedule of three weekly flights every Monday, Wednesday and Thursday.

Connections are available to other airports beyond, primarily within Turkey.

Air Malta is still offering a 50 per cent discount on flights to/from Malta-Istanbul. The sale closes on Friday. Tickets, which start from €59 one-way, inclusive of taxes and charges, are valid for travel until March 31.

Istanbul’s attractions include towering minarets, underground Byzantine cisterns and steamy bathhouses.