Malta International Airport has been having talks over the last months with the government to convert part of the existing Ministerial Lounge for use by business jet passengers.

The area would be used for commercial purposes, but mainly to provide a better service to business aviation users, including immigration formalities.

At present the lounge is used by individuals placed on the Protocol List, who would still have a private area should the change be approved.

“This upgrading of the Ministerial Lounge will help elevate the airport’s international standing and attract more investment and expenditure on the island, with ripple effects for the economy at large and the tourism sector in particular,” an MIA spokesman said. Users of business jets currently use the same facilities as passengers arriving on commercial planes.

Another issue that has been raised repeatedly by companies that service business jets is that the current access from business jet parking to the terminal crosses Runway 23-05, which is often closed while planes await clearance to take off or land. One service provider had complained that it took longer to cross the runway than to fly here from Rome.

The spokesman said that MIA was currently looking into the possibility of having dedicated parking areas for business jets which are closer to the terminal, to mitigate the problems being faced.