Malta International Airport said today it had completed reconstruction of taxiways Alpha and Bravo which form a holding loop at the threshold of Runway 31. This runway heads north west, the predominant wind direction, and is thus MIA’s main take-off and landing runway carrying approximately 60% of all movements annually.

The runway does not have a parallel taxiway and this requires aircraft to back track Runway 31 prior to take-off. The Alpha Bravo taxiway loop is consequently important as it provides air traffic controllers with the means to interface aircraft movements more efficiently by utilising short duration opportunities to taxi and hold aircraft close to the runway threshold between landings on the respective runway, MIA said.

This has a dramatic effect on reducing aircraft taxi times and hence aircraft fuel consumption on the ground. Its layout and location also provides a route for heavy aircraft turnouts prior to takeoff which would otherwise be impossible on a 60m runway without significant wear or damage to the pavement surface.

The taxiway re-construction was partially financed by European Union funds provided under the TEN-T Programme.