Around 70,000 Mediterranean flights serviced annually through Malta Air Traffic Services Ltd

Malta Air Traffic Services (MATS) is contributing to Malta’s economy as it works to facilitate aviation business across the island by providing a safe and efficient service to aircraft landing and departing from Malta International Airport, Transport Minister Aaron Farrugia said.

He spoke during a high-level event commemorating the 20th anniversary since Malta’s Government assigned the air navigation service provision to Malta Air Traffic Services Ltd.

Minister Farrugia added that MATS assists the Armed Forces of Malta and NGOs in search-and-rescue operations and honours its international obligations in providing air traffic services for aircraft overflying the Mediterranean.

Statistics indicate that before the pandemic hit, MATS provided air traffic services to over 70,000 overflights and 50,000 movements from Malta International Airport.  

In 2021, MATS made a recovery of approximately 70 per cent of 2019 traffic levels.

The anniversary event, titled Managing the Future of our Skies, brought together aviation stakeholders to discuss the aviation spectrum, taking in consideration significant events that are leading to major changes, such as the war in Ukraine, rise in fuel cost, unmanned aircraft operations development, cyber security, and a myriad of other projects that are demanding more from the air navigation sector, and lesser cost without compromising safety and security.

“In this sector, our priority is resilience and innovation for the coming months and years. The industry needs innovators who accept new challenges and embrace change. In the coming years, we will see more innovative urban mobility solutions in the skies, and we are preparing for the challenges and how to benefit from these opportunities.

“After two years of the pandemic, the world has been thrown into another difficult situation, and we therefore need to stick together and work even harder to see us through the storm and fly to calm weather, continuing to achieve even more results in this sector for the benefit of our economy,” concluded Minister Farrugia.