While I must commend the Malta International Airport management for the sterling work they have done to offer an airport to be proud of, I would like to stress two shortcomings within their perceived vision, which I believe to be fundamentally lacking.

Firstly, for an airport now handling hundreds of passengers at any given time of the day I believe that the total number of public seats available to both passengers and visitors is way below the expected, in terms of comfort and flow of people.

There cannot be more than 50 seats in total for both the Arrivals and Departures lounges, which leaves little option for the excess number of people. These include standing, causing possible congestions in prime areas or seating at one of the overpriced cafeterias, where you then become a paying customer just to enjoy the added luxury of finding an available seat while waiting for your gate to open or your guest to arrive.

Secondly, I believe the viewing gallery is inadequate and a step backwards from the old airport terminal. To have a decent view of any plane, nowadays, you have to position yourself either within the obstructive and intrusive part of another cafeteria or within the confines of a children’s play area. In either case, you are made to feel quite unwelcome and at odds with the concept of viewing, which is anything but that!

I understand the need to make the most of the MIA in terms of revenue, by marketing whatever available space exists to the big guns, but it should also concede the public’s right to comfort and convenience in an airport symbolising the entire country.