Air Malta saw a 27 per cent increase in passengers on its Malta-based routes in July compared to the same month last year.

The national airline said on Wednesday that it carried  228,982 passengers to
and from Malta.

It added that 8,000 passengers were also carried on its Catania-Vienna, Catania – London Southend and Cagliari – London Southend routes.

Paul Sies, Air Malta’s chief commercial officer said the airline's growth strategy,
that saw it expand to 21 new markets, was bearing fruit.

"Forward bookings continue to remain strong for summer but we need to
continue selling the additional capacity we floated on the market,” he said. 

Air Malta chairman Charles Mangion said this was the third successive month of substantial passenger numbers growth. "Apart from increasing our revenues
we need to maintain focus on our costs such as fuel prices which have continued to increase this year.”

Konrad Mizzi, Minister for Tourism, said that in the past seven months Air Malta carried 200,000 more passengers on its Malta-based routes and an additional 25,000 passengers on its intra-European services between Sicily, Sardinia and London Southend.

"The objective of growing the airline is being achieved and as the main
shareholder we are encouraged with these results. Together with all
tourism stakeholders we are working hard to continue achieving success
in the tourism industry for the benefit of the whole Maltese economy," he said in a statement.