OVER 1.5 MILLION PASSENGERS TRAVELLED BETWEEN MALTA AND GOZO IN EARLY 2026

Sea transport between Malta and Gozo recorded steady passenger movement in the first quarter of 2026, while showing a decline in trips and vehicle traffic compared to the previous year.

Between January and March 2026, a total of 9,579 trips were carried out across services connecting the islands, carrying 1,511,708 passengers. March was the busiest month, accounting for 3,678 trips, or 38.4 per cent of the quarterly total.

On the main route between Gozo Channel Line, which operates between Mġarr and Ċirkewwa, 1,321,358 passengers travelled during the quarter, marking a 0.5 per cent increase compared to the same period in 2025. However, the number of vehicles transported fell by 5.8 per cent, totalling 445,351.

The number of trips on this route also decreased by 5.7 per cent, reaching 7,743 crossings. March remained the busiest month for both passengers and trips, with over 517,000 passengers recorded.

Travel patterns showed that passenger and vehicle traffic from Mġarr was highest on Sundays, while Ċirkewwa saw peak activity on Fridays and Saturdays.

Meanwhile, the fast ferry service between Mġarr and Valletta carried 190,350 passengers over 1,836 trips. This represented a decrease of 11.4 per cent in passengers and 20.6 per cent in trips compared to the first quarter of 2025.

Despite some declines in certain areas, overall passenger demand across Malta’s sea routes remained strong, particularly during weekends and peak travel days.

#MaltaDaily