Malta International Airport said today that 2015 was a record year, with a 7.7% increase in passenger handling to 4.6 million.

CEO Alan Borg said the company is expecting further growth 2.4 per cent this year to 4.73 million passengers.

He said the airport would be welcoming three new airlines Volotea, Iberia Express and Czech Airlines.

Iberia will fly between Malta and Madrid three times a week, also providing passengers easier access to South America.

Czech Airlines will fly to and from Prague twice a week in July and August and Volotea will launch services in March with three weekly flights to Catania.

Tourism Minister Edward Zammit Lewis said 2015 showed how MIA, Air Malta and the government had managed to counteract a drop in traffic from Russia and Libya, caused by political developments in those countries.

He referred to the German market saying the government would like to see better connectivity in order to better tap potential.

He also noted how the biggest growth in percentage terms was Turkey with 82% and Poland with 50%.

However the UK remained the top market at more than 28% or traffic to and from Malta, and increased by 4.7%.

Italy was second with a market share of 20%, an increase of 13% while Germany was third at 13% an increase of 3%.