Malta International Airport has said that it is gearing itself up for the August travel rush, which is expected to peak on the 15th of August, marking the Santa Maria public holiday on the Maltese Islands.

Given that up to 2,000 travellers are expected to pass through the terminal within one hour at peak times, particularly on Thursday, the airport is advising travellers to arrive at the airport at least two hours before their scheduled time of departure.

The airport added that over 185,000 passengers will be passing through by the end of this week, during what is expected to be the airport’s busiest seven-day stretch to date.

182 aircraft take-offs and landings are forecast on for Thursday and passenger movements are expected to exceed the 30,000 mark.

Four self-check-in kiosks in the Departures Hall are allowing for a fast-track check-in process for passengers travelling with Lufthansa, Aegean Airlines, SAS Airlines, Turkish Airlines, British Airways and Qatar Airways, who can then proceed to drop off any luggage they may have at their airline’s priority counter.

The Duty-Free outlet at the airport has also introduced an online reserve and collect service, with passengers able to pick-up their pre-ordered items from the outlet’s cash-points on the way to their gate.

MIA explained that it has teamed up with its partners and stakeholders to treat guests of all ages to a host of summer treats. Light refreshments, including traditional pastizzi, ice cream and lemonade, will be distributed in the Departures Hall on a daily basis, together with special surprises for the 40,000 younger passengers who are expected to travel through the terminal this month.

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