Directors at Malta International Airport have approved a net interim dividend of 6c per share equivalent to €4,059,000 for payment on all shares settled as at the close of business on August 10.

The dividend was approved in the company’s interim financial statements for the six months which ended on June 30 and which were approved yesterday.

According to the statements, the group's turnover for the period was €20,555,892 - 2.1 percent higher than in the same period last year.

Revenue from regulated fees declined by €1.1 million due to reduced passenger numbers but there were increases in revenues of €700 thousand from retail commercial activity and from rental of property.

Staff costs increased marginally from €4,422,710 to €4,503,719 while other operating costs went up from €7,446,264 to €8,002,522 mainly due to unexpected increases in the volume of services given to people with reduced mobility.

The depreciation charge for the first six months increased from €2,310,116 to €2,697,281 reflecting the increase in the group's investments in the last six months, specifically in the construction of the new shops, the wroks carried out on the taxiways and the replacement of the plant and machinery at the air terminal.

The profit for the period is €3,053,718, eight percent less than in the previous six months.

This reflected the loss of revenue due to the downturn in passenger numbers and the increase in operating costs and depreciation charge partially mitigated by the increase in non-aviation revenues following significant investments made by the company in previous years.