Malta International Airport supports a robust national economy, with up to 36 airlines operating

Malta International Airport is the gateway to an independent island nation of 450,000 people in the Mediterranean Sea, between Sicily and Tunisia and Libya in North Africa. A member of the European Union, Malta is at the same time one of the smallest (316 sq km) and most densely populated countries in the world. It is sufficiently significant on the world stage, though, to have hosted the Commonwealth Heads of Government meeting at the end of Nov-2015, in a world class venue (created from a 16th century hospital).

Sustained by both industry and tourism, it has lain seemingly forever at a strategic crossroads. Nevertheless, its airline industry has never succeeded in establishing Luqa Airport (as it is still known locally) as a hub, while Air Malta has had to reorganise several times in the face of extreme pressure from LCCs. All of this impacts on the fortunes of the airport.

This report looks at present and future growth trends at Malta International Airport (MIA), how it matches up to peer airports across a range of metrics, at operational data, construction activities, ownership and profitability, and how it is helping a strong economy for a small island nation.