LOCAL TRAVEL SURGES AS MALTESE MAKE UP 25% OF DECEMBER AIRPORT TRAFFIC

Local travellers are expected to account for around a quarter of all passenger traffic passing through Malta International Airport this December, as outbound travel among residents rises sharply during the festive period.

While locals make up an average of one in six travellers throughout the year, this figure is projected to increase to one in four in December, driven by school holidays, family visits abroad, and growing interest in winter destinations. The airport’s current winter schedule has improved connectivity to colder European destinations, making seasonal travel more accessible for Maltese residents.

Christmas Day itself is expected to be the quietest day of the year at Malta International Airport, with just 50 take-offs and landings scheduled. This annual lull reflects the tendency of travellers to reach their destinations ahead of Christmas celebrations.

Travel activity is set to increase significantly shortly afterwards, with 27 December forecast to be the busiest day of the month. Around 206 flights are expected to operate on the day, carrying an estimated 30,000 passengers to and from Malta. This level of activity is projected to exceed the airport’s daily average during the summer months, underlining strong outbound demand from locals during the festive season.

The rise in local travel has been supported by increased flight frequencies to destinations such as Scandinavia, Scotland, Northern Italy, and Poland. The strengthened Polish schedule has also contributed to Poland returning to third place among Malta’s top markets in November, behind the United Kingdom and Italy.

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