Malta International Airport will be launching the highly-anticipated Cruise-and-Fly programme on Thursday. 

Cruise and Fly holidays allow passengers to fly from their choice of destination to Malta, where they are immediately transferred to their awaiting cruise ship at the Grand Harbour. After their relaxing cruise holiday, passengers are then transferred back to the airport to catch their homeward flight.

An average of 2,000 passengers are expected to depart and arrive for their Malta-to-Malta service, which means that around 4,000 people will be using the airport’s facilities within a six-hour turnaround.

MIA has created a terminal traffic chart, available on www.maltairport.com/notifications/early-check-in-advised/, which indicates the busiest times at the terminal over the summer season, with the aim of helping travellers plan their airport journey better. 

While Thursdays will see a P&O service operated on Oceana, Sunday's Tui Cruises services will be hosted on Mein Schiff. Over a stretch of six months, Malta International Airport is expecting to host some 100,000 passengers within its Cruise and Fly programme alone.

Passengers are advised to check in early, at least two hours before their scheduled departure time during the following periods, as the terminal is expected to be busier than usual on Thursdays between 7.15am and 1pm and on Sundays between 5.30am and 1pm.

Meanwhile, as the airport's Terminal Reconfiguration Project continues apace, MIA advises passengers to arrive at the terminal at least two hours before their scheduled departure, to allow ample time for check-in and security screening since longer queues may be possible.