Malta International Airport, all information

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Discover all information about Malta airport: features, location, flights, transfers, taxis, everything you need to know for an easy arrival on the archipelago.

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Malta International Airport (Luqa)

Malta has only one airport, which is also the international airport of the archipelago. Contrary to popular belief, it is not located in the capital, Valletta. Valletta is a fortified city, surrounded by walls, and only extends barely 500 meters in length; it is therefore impossible to land an airplane there. The Malta airport is actually located in the town of Luqa, in the center of the island, far from the highly urbanized coast.

It is common for major international airports located in a city on the outskirts of their capital to retain the denomination of the capital to facilitate destination recognition by travelers. This is also the case for Malta: Malta airport is sometimes referred to as Valletta airport, although this is a misuse of language.

Location of Malta Airport

Malta International Airport is located in the town of Luqa, situated inland, to the south of the island and away from the most densely populated areas such as St Paul’s Bay, Birkirkara, Sliema, and St Julian’s. The capital, Valletta, is about 8 kilometers from the airport.

Finding a Flight to Malta

Finding a flight to Malta is very simple, as many airlines are connected to capitals and major cities in Europe, the Middle East, and around the Mediterranean basin.

KM Malta Airlines (formerly Air Malta), the Maltese national airline, alone serves 17 destinations. Vueling, EasyJet, Ryanair, ITA Airways, and Air France also offer many weekly airline routes to the archipelago.

Frequently, you will find the Valletta Airport mentioned when searching for flights. This refers to the national airport of Luqa, there’s no risk of mistake, as there is only one international airport in Malta.

To find the best flights to Malta, the simplest way is to use a flight comparison tool (Skyscanner or Kayak) to compare all the travel options. We recommend using Skyscanner, especially if you are flexible with your travel dates. The comparison tool offers the possibility to compare all flights to Malta over an entire month.

Transfers from Malta Airport

Given Malta’s small size, it is very easy to reach any hotel, apartment, or accommodation in less than an hour from or to the airport.

Buses and Public Transport from Malta Airport

Malta Airport Bus Stop Sign
Malta Airport Bus Station with a distributor
Two bus ticket machines at Malta Airport

The most economical option to get to or leave Malta Airport is to use public transport. Malta does not have a metro or tram network, so buses are the only option.

There are two types of buses serving the airport: the express buses TD1 and TD2, which only connect the centers of Bugibba and Saint Julian’s, with a ticket priced at €3, and the standard buses X1, X2, X3, and X4, which make more stops, with a ticket priced at €1.5 (€2 during the summer).

All information on stops, fares, and schedules is available on the official Malta Public Transport website: Malta Public Transport.

Bus stops are located just in front of the airport. It is possible to buy cards and tickets directly at the airport, at the Agenda Bookshop in the departure hall and at the WHS Express shop in the arrival hall, or directly from the driver.

Note that bus fares increase after 11 pm. Maltese buses are not always punctual, often being 5 to 20 minutes late. Moreover, buses do not always stop; if you are waiting for a bus, make sure to signal with your hand.

Taxis and Drivers at Malta Airport

5 white taxis parked in front of Malta Airport

Getting to or from the airport by taxi is very easy and remains the safest option to not miss your flight. It is advised against using standard Maltese taxis (White Taxis) which do not have a very good reputation on the island.

Prefer booking a private hire vehicle (PHV) like Bolt, eCabs, or Uber, rather than white taxis.

Whether it’s Uber, Bolt, or eCabs, the fare is determined in advance by the app. It is also possible to get a driver available in less than 10 minutes with these three apps.

Airport Shuttles

There is a shuttle or mini-bus service that carries out transfers between the airport and the main hotels on the island. You can find all the information on Malta Transfer.

The cost of a transfer by SHARED SHUTTLE BUS is around €5, but you will often have to wait for all passengers who have booked the transport to gather (waiting time can thus vary from 5 to 30 minutes). If you have booked a hotel in Malta, check if the hotel offers the transfer in its reservation, as this is often the case.

Car Rental at Malta Airport

Row of car rental stands at Malta Airport

Renting a car is an interesting option for easily visiting the island. However, be cautious as Malta is a former British colony, so driving is on the left. It is evident that driving in Malta can also be challenging. Therefore, extra caution is advised if renting a car.

Car rental agencies are present outside the airport, in a separate building. The main car rental counters will be there: Avis, Hertz, Europcar, First, Green Motion.

The simplest for car rental at Malta Airport is to book in advance on Rentalcars and to anticipate a reservation before your arrival.

Transfers for Language Stay Students

English School Stands in Malta Airport

Every year, more than 52 000 students undertake a language stay in Malta to learn English. As soon as a student books a course and accommodation formula with a school, the transfer from the airport to the residence/apartment is included for free (return is sometimes included too). The transfer must be planned directly with your local contact or with the school.

Features of Malta Airport

Infrastructure and Air Traffic

The Malta Airport is an international airport that receives nearly 6 million travelers per year. It is modest in size compared to the main European airports. Malta Airport is not comparable in size and air traffic with airports such as Orly, Charles de Gaulle, Amsterdam, or Frankfurt.

Malta Airport has only two runways and the terminal building has only one terminal.

The passenger reception area is not very large and can be crossed in less than 5 minutes. All check-in counters are grouped in the same area (standard flights and low-cost flights).

18 dining establishments are present in or near the airport (Costa Coffee, Cleland and Souchet, KFC, Fat Harry’s, McDonald’s, Burger King, etc.) as well as 27 retail outlets, spread between the check-in area and the Duty Free area before the boarding lounge.

Airlines present at Malta

KM Malta, the national airline of Malta, uses the airport as its main airport hub. In total, 25 airlines operate regular flights, arriving and departing from Malta Airport. Travelers from traditional and low-cost airlines transit and mingle within the same terminal.

The main European capitals as well as major cities are connected all year round to Malta Airport. Some routes connected to Malta are seasonal; they are active only during the summer season (April to October).

List of Airlines present at Malta

  • AEGEAN
  • AirBaltic
  • Air France
  • Air Serbia
  • Atlantic Airways
  • British Airways
  • easyJet
  • Emirates
  • Eurowings
  • Hi Fly
  • ITA Airways
  • Jet2
  • KM Malta Airlines
  • Lufthansa
  • Luxair
  • Norwegian
  • Ryanair
  • Swiss
  • TUI
  • Transavia
  • Tunisair
  • Turkish Airlines
  • Universal Air
  • Vueling
  • Wizz Air

Essential Information on Malta Airport

Location

Malta International Airport, Luqa, LQA 4000, Malta

Opening Hours

Airport open 24/7

Shops open from 05:30 AM to 09:00 PM

Restaurants open from 10:00 AM to 11:00 PM on weekdays, 10:00 AM to 12:00 AM on weekends

Transport

Bus: Ħal Luqa (Airport) stop

Map

Frequently Asked Questions about Malta International Airport (FAQ)

Where is Malta Airport located?

Malta Airport is located in the town of Luqa on the southern part of the main island of Malta.

How many terminals does Malta International Airport have?

Malta is a small international airport with a single airport terminal.

How many runways does Malta Airport have?

Malta Airport has two runways.

Is there an airport on the island of Gozo?

The Republic of Malta is an archipelago of eight islands, four of which are actually inhabited (Malta, Gozo, Comino, and Manoel). There is only one airport in the “country” of Malta; most travelers heading to the annex islands must therefore use the ferry or maritime shuttles. Gozo and Comino each have a heliport. The occasional traffic of these two heliports is monitored by the control tower of Malta Airport.