Air Malta registered a 30 percent increase in passenger numbers in May compared to the same month in 2007, the biggest monthly increase since it was set up 35 years ago, Finance Minister Tonio Fenech said today.

He said that between April and this month the airline had an average increase of passenger numbers of 14 percent, translating into 60,000 extra passengers. This progress, he said, had been recorded despite the challenges the airline faced, including higher fuel prices.

Airline chairman Lawrence Zammit said the airline's fuel bill had increased by €30 million over the past three years.

Mr Fench, who was addressing the press at the first meeting of the new Air Malta board, reiterated that the government would be lifting the Departure Tax of €23 from November 1. He said the tax could not be removed earlier because of budgeting reasons and because of confusion that would have been created had it been lifted mid-way through the term of holiday packages.