Passenger movements at the Malta International Airport during the month of September decreased by 1.2% when compared to the same month in 2007. However, the figures for 2008 (from January to September) add up to a 7.8% increase in passenger movements.

Passenger movements at the Malta International Airport during the month of September decreased by 1.2% when compared to the same month in 2007, with a total of 337,730 passengers handled, meaning that the shortfall was of 4,042 passenger movements on the scheduled and non-scheduled flights.

Aircraft movements also decreased by 3.8% for a total of 2,740. Cargo and mail handled at MIA during the month of September was of 1,421 tonnes, a decrease of 7.2% over last year.

The loss in passengers from the UK market was again felt during the month of September with a decrease of 8,110 passenger movements (-6.4%). MIA also experienced a downturn in figures from the Italian and French markets, less 2.9% and 4.1% respectively.

The German market maintained the same levels whilst the Spanish market continued to grow with almost double the amount of passengers that passed through the airport in September 2007.

In spite of the negative September trend, the figures for 2008 (to date) still show an increase of 180,849 passenger movements (+7.8%) from January to September this year, and an increase of 217 aircraft movements (+1%) on scheduled and non-scheduled traffic.

Cargo and Mail activity increased by 3.4% during the period January-September 2008 for a total of 13,563 tonnes handled.

Passenger movements from the UK during these nine months decreased by 9,802 (-1.1%) whilst those from Germany increased by 18.3%. The other main markets – Italy, France and Spain have still registered an increase of 6.4%, 11.6% and 180% respectively.