Malta Airport is one of the best in Europe, with the Malta Independent commenting:

According to the Airport Council International’s results of its Airport Service Quality Survey 2009, which benchmarks the Global Airport Industry, Malta International Airport has been classified as Europe’s fourth best airport.

MIA is preceded by Keflavik, Zurich and Porto. Malta International Airport has also been classified as the third best in Europe for its shopping facilities – a result attributable to the recent improvements unveiled at MIA in 2009, most notably the expansion of the retail area with its innovative concept of a virtual walk-through shopping mall.

MIA also fared very well on other scores such as the availability of parking facilities and its related value for money where MIA placed fifth in Europe. Moreover, good results were notably achieved for the availability of banking facilities and Internet / Wi-Fi access where MIA also placed fourth in Europe. To read the article click here

For details of Malta flights and Malta holidays visit yourmalta.com

Malta holiday news for the people of the UK counties of Hampshire and Dorset - their local airport is about to have flights to Malta - and at prices which will tempt many to take a holiday or short break as the flights are being operated by Europe’s most successful low cost airline.

With low cost flights it will boost the island’s tourism industry as more people decide to try a Malta holiday for the first time - or remember their last trip and decide to visit again.

With prices low it will encourage not only traditional week and fortnight holidays, but also three and four day breaks for those who might normally visit the Spanish Costas.

Ryanair pioneered cheap Malta flights a few years ago after a long battle with the authorities who seemed apparently entrenched in their ways, and protective to existing carriers.

It was only after quite a battle to win the right to fly to the island that airfares came down in line with much of the rest of Europe, bringing more holidaymakers and relief to the Malta holidays trade.

As well as Bournemouth, the airline offers cheap Malta flights from Bristol, Edinburgh, Leeds and Luton - and from Ireland has a service from Dublin.

Further helping the island’s economy Ryanair aren’t just flying to and from the UK and Ireland. In mainland Europe they have cheap Malta flights to and from Spain - Barcelona and Madrid - Pisa and Venice in Italy, and Stockholm in Sweden.

These flights from Spain, Italy and Scandanavia has helped Malta become more cosmopolitan, which in turn means visitors are more likely to visit from diverse destinations across Europe and not just from the UK. Helpful indeed to the island’s economy as it’s no longer reliant on just one country’s tourists to choose it from a multitude of other locations, especially when that country has been in a recession for two years and is only just beginning to emerge from it.

Holidays in Malta can now appeal to a wide range of people both from the UK and Europe, and with the cost now on par with a week in Spain there’s every reason to hope that the island will see a good number of holidaymakers visit for 2010.

More Malta holiday details are at http://www.yourmalta.com

Tourists often post comments about their holidays on facebook

Mediterranean holiday areas are facing a pretty grim summer this year, as holidaymakers decide to stay closer to home or not to holiday at all in some cases as the recession takes hold, and any good news is warmly welcomed with the hope that their area isn’t going to be as badly affected as others.

And Malta has received a boost recently with the announcement that a no frills airline is going to start offering flights to Malta from the North-East of England from April throughout the key tourist months.

The new easyJet flights to Malta will operate twice a week, on a Monday and Friday. Commenting on the news a leading Malta holidays travel site said:

‘More flights to Malta from the UK is good enough news in itself, but the way the airline has positioned its flight days is good too, for both those who want a weekend holiday in Malta, and for those who want three or four days instead f the traditional week or fortnight’s holiday - the flights offer those living in the North-east of England a great opportunity to discover Malta if they haven’t visited before.’

For Newcastle airport a spokesman added that the budget airline’s ‘decision to add Malta to its list of low-cost destinations from Newcastle is great news for 2009. Choice, price and convenience are extremely important for our customers and this new scheduled service will offer holidaymakers the option of putting together their own package to this beautiful island, taking advantage of the excellent low-fares they have put on sale. Malta has always been a very popular destination with North East passengers and we are sure there will be strong demand for this new service.’

For those holidaymakers who do decide to make a trip to Malta, they will find Malta offers a great climate, and one of the highest levels of sunshine in Europe. It has become a popular spot with families. There are a number of resorts and beaches to suit just about anyone regardless of income levels. There are numerous bars, clubs and restaurants, where you can mingle with the locals and unwind. Malta makes a great weekend getaway, with lots to see and do before the three-hour trip back to the U.K.

People taking holidays in Malta seems to have been increasing in recent years - one report shows that the number of passengers taking flights in the EU rose by 7 per cent in 2008, but Malta’s rise was over 10 per cent, showing the island wasn’t increasing arrivals just because the number of holidays before the recession kicked in was rising anyway - Malta got more than her share of the holidays taken in the EU countries.

Altogether Malta had 2,900,000 passengers arrive at Luqa Airport in 2008, with just 300,000 of those originating from outside the EU’s 27 member countries, so Malta does seem a very European destination.

Malta offers many activities for tourists, no matter what time of year they visit for their holidays in Malta. Boating, cycling, snorkeling, diving, horseback riding and golf are some of the most popular activities enjoyed by tourists.

If you like history you will like what Malta has to offer, and whole holidays in Malta can be based on her history. Here you will find remnants of the earliest civilizations. Many make this a holidays destination in order to see the Neolithic Temples. These magnificent structures are a true achievement unparalleled. The gravity of the magnificence can only be appreciated after the realization that the 20 ton blocks used to create the temples had to be moved around the rocky landscape of the island.

Wherever you go you will find something wonderful to see. The ruggedly beautiful coastline of Malta offers some fantastic views. Malta is an island of culture and history but with the incredible beaches and secluded coves it can be a romantic setting for a honeymoon or a great place to simply get away from it all.

One of the most popular diving destinations on Gozo, one of the islands of Malta, is a place called ‘The Inland Sea.’ This natural lagoon is completely natural and made from a very narrow arc. This arc is within the island of Gozo. This is regarded as a natural tunnel resulting from a fault in the surrounding limestone rock. Many tourists are amazed to learn the Inland Sea was one of Jacques Cousteau’s ‘Top 10′ diving locations.

And Malta will be hoping that people in the North-East of England will be putting holidays in Malta in their top ten too to ensure future visits to Malta.

The Daily Mirror has run a story about Air Malta.

To see the Daily Mirror’s site click through to

http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/top-stories/2009/01/26/air-malta-pilot-pilot-s-niece-in-9-11-breach-exclusive-115875-21071676/

flights to Malta