Malta International Airport plc - June Traffic Results

Malta International Airport plc published the June 2008 traffic results on 7 July. The statistics show an increase of 7.7% in departures during June to 150,170 passengers (June 2007: 139,433). Meanwhile aircraft arrivals decreased by 1.2% to 1,330.

During the first half of 2008, passenger departures rose by 14.60%, representing an increase of 88,142 passengers with aircraft arrivals up 5.26%.

Malta International Airport plc held a press conference on 8 July 2008 where the Company’s CEO Julian Jaeger discussed the first half-year performance.  Mr. Jaeger reviewed MIA’s growth projections for this year from 6.8% to 8% (approximately 3.2 million passengers) due to the increase in passenger movements.  He also stressed that although MIA expects growth to continue, the second half of the year will not be as strong as the first. Arrivals during the most crucial months of July and August are expected to match last year’s record levels. He also stated that MIA remains cautious with regards to the projected figures due to the effects that the current economic outlook has on this sector where oil and fuel costs are totaling 33% of the overall airline costs (2007: 25%).

The two airlines which experienced most growth during the first half of the year were Air Malta which retained 55.5% of the market share and Ryanair which now accounts for 13.6% of the market share (2007: 7.6%) on the introduction of new routes. Most markets reported growth, especially the French and Spanish markets with traffic increasing by 24% and 762% respectively from the same period last year.

Mr. Jaeger explained that whilst the average growth in EU airports up to April was 6.2%, the average growth reached by Malta International Airport plc was of 16%.