The number of passengers that passed through Malta International Airport declined by 6.3 per cent in July over the same month in 2008, confirming the negative trend seen since the beginning of the year.

Figures released by MIA yesterday showed that in the first seven months of the year passenger movements decreased by 10 per cent when compared to the same period a year before.

MIA registered 347,223 passenger movements on scheduled and non-scheduled flights in July, a decline of 23,542 over the same month in 2008.

Passenger traffic from the UK and Germany decreased by 10 per cent and nine per cent respectively while the Italian market registered an upswing of 8.4 per cent.

The negative indicators did not stop with passenger movements. Aircraft movements and the volume of cargo and mail that passed through MIA also dropped in July.

Aircraft movements declined by 6.2 per cent whereas the tonnage of cargo declined by almost 11 per cent when compared to July 2008.

The UK, Italy, Germany, France and Spain remained the top five destinations for incoming and outgoing passenger traffic while Gatwick airport in London topped the airport list.

The busiest day in July was the 28th in terms of passengers with 14,047 movements while the highest number of aircraft movements totalled 108 on the 19th.