MIA LINK March 2024 - Issue No. 29

CEO’S Message

Dear shareholders,

While 2023 was a significant year for the aviation industry as a whole, with traffic volumes across Europe reaching 92% of 2019 levels, the past year was also a milestone for our company in many respects.

Perhaps the most encouraging result was achieved within the company’s aviation segment, which contributed almost 69% of the total revenue posted by the company in 2023, as Malta International Airport handled an unprecedented 7.8 million arrivals and departures between January and December. While accommodating this surge in air travel demand presented challenges after the past few quiet years, the airport team rose above to secure Malta International Airport’s place among the winners of Airports Council International’s Airport Service Quality Awards for the sixth consecutive year; an award which truly testifies to our employees’ commitment to service excellence.

Another notable milestone was the unveiling of our company’s €250 million investment in the upgrading of airport infrastructure over the next five years, as we continue seeking opportunities to improve our business processes to better cater for our operational environment in the longer term. In 2023, the team made headway in the execution of operational projects, namely the mammoth development of Apron X and the Runway 05-23 project, which you can learn more about in the following pages.

It is our strong financial position that is enabling the company to take on such investments to not only better

the guest experience but also increase operational efficiency and improve Malta International Airport’s bottom line. With that said, the airport continues to operate in an uncertain supply-and-demand environment, and the company’s financial and traffic forecast for 2024 reflects this cautious optimism.

Looking ahead, we are expecting to reach a new traffic milestone for Malta International Airport, as passenger volumes are forecast to reach the 8 million passengermark by the end of 2024. The company will also be executing planned investments on capital expenditure projects to the tune of €45 million.

Last but certainly not least, we are looking forward to commemorating the 10th anniversary of the Malta International Airport Foundation later this year, during an exclusive event for our shareholders in celebration of the cultural, artistic and environmental projects the company has invested in since the Foundation’s establishment in 2014. In line with our mission as Malta’s sole air terminal to provide tourists with a positive impression of the Maltese Islands, the Foundation has allowed us to collaborate with numerous local organisations and invest circa €2 million in the preservation of our islands’ precious heritage over the past decade alone.

I am confident that the steadfast efforts of our team and stakeholders, together with your continued support, will continue to set our company on the right course for 2024 to be another successful year for Malta International Airport.

year, we will be celebrating the ¹0th Anniversary of the Malta Airport Foundation.

To commemorate the occasion, Malta International Airport will be organising an exclusive event for shareholders later in the year to coincide with the Foundation’s anniversary.

An official invitation, including the details of the event, will reach you by post closer to the date.

Din is-sena, se nkunu qed niċċelebraw l- ¹0 anniversarju mit-twaqqif tal-Malta Airport Foundation.

L-Ajruport Internazzjonali ta’ Malta se jkun qed jorganizza attività esklussiva għall-azzjonisti aktar tard fis-sena, biex ifakkar dan l-anniversarju tal-Fondazzjoni.

Invit uffiċjali, bid-dettalji kollha ta’ din l-attività, se jkun qiegħed jintbagħat aktar tard fis-sena.

tal-Kap Eżekuttiv

Għeżież azzjonisti,

Is-sena 2023 kienet waħda sinifikanti għas-settur talavjazzjoni, bit-traffiku tal-passiġġieri madwar l-Ewropa jilħaq it-92% tal-livelli milħuqa fl-2019. Daqstant ieħor, issena li għaddiet, kienet waħda importanti għall-kumpanija tagħna minn diversi aspetti.

Forsi l-aktar riżultati inkoraġġanti ntlaħqu fi ħdan il-qasam tal-avjazzjoni tal-kumpanija li kkontribwixxa għal madwar 69% tad-dħul kollu li għamlet il-kumpanija fl-2023. Filfatt, bejn Jannar u Diċembru, l-Ajruport Internazzjonali ta’ Malta kiseb rekord ieħor fil-moviment tal-passiġġieri biex laqa’ 7.8 miljun passiġġier. Ma kienx faċli tilqa’ għal din iż-żieda fid-domanda wara ż-żmien tal-pandemija, iżda t-tim tal-ajruport qam għall-okkażjoni u għas-sitt sena konsekuttiva, l-Ajruport Internazzjonali ta’ Malta sab postu fost ir-rebbieħa tal-premju għall-Kwalità fis-Servizz tal-Airports Council International, premju li jixhed l-impenn tal-impjegati tagħna biex joffru l-aqwa servizz possibbli lill-viżitaturi kollha tagħna.

Mira oħra importanti ntlaħqet meta l-kumpanija ħabbret investiment ta’ €250 miljun fir-riġenerazzjoni tal-infrastruttura tal-ajruport fil-ħames snin li ġejjin u dan hekk kif qed inkomplu nħarsu fit-tul u nesploraw opportunitajiet biex intejbu l-operat tagħna għas-snin li ġejjin. Fl-2023, it-tim tagħna diġà kiseb riżultati importanti, fosthom bit-tkomplija tal-bini ta’ Apron X u r-riġenerazzjoni ta’ Mitjar 05-23, liema proġett massiċċ tista’ taqra iżjed fuqu f’din il-pubblikazzjoni.

Dawn l-investimenti importanti setgħu jsiru għax ilkumpanija kompliet issaħħaħ il-pożizzjoni finanzjarja tagħha. Dan se jwassal mhux biss biex noffru esperjenza isbaħ u aħjar lill-viżitaturi tagħna imma anke biex intejbu l-operat tagħna u nkomplu nsaħħu l-pożizzjoni talAjruport Internazzjonali ta’ Malta. Minkejja dan kollu, qed noperaw f’ambjent pjuttost inċert għas-settur talavjazzjoni u t-tbassir finanzjarju, kif ukoll it-tbassir tattraffiku tal-kumpanija, jirrifletti dan l-ottimiżmu kawt.

Fl-aħħar u mhux l-inqas, qed inħarsu ‘l quddiem biex aktar tard din is-sena nfakkru l-10 anniversarju talMalta Airport Foundation, permezz ta’ attività li għaliha se nkunu qed nistiednu lilkom, l-azzjonisti tagħna, biex flimkien niċċelebraw il-proġetti kulturali, artistiċi u ambjentali li l-kumpanija investiet fihom sa mittwaqqif tagħha fl-2014. Bħala l-uniku ajruport f’Malta, inħossu li hija l-missjoni tagħna li noffru lit-turisti impressjoni tajba tal-gżejjer Maltin. Il-Fondazzjoni kienet strumentali biex l-ajruport seta’ jaħdem id f’id ma’ diversi organizzazzjonijiet biex tul dawn l-aħħar għaxar snin investit madwar €2 miljun fil-konservazzjoni talpatrimonju tagħna.

Jiena kunfidenti li bis-saħħa tal-impenn tat-tim tagħna u l-ħaddiema tal-ajruport u anke l-appoġġ tagħkom, se nkomplu miexja ‘l quddiem biex anke l-2024 tkun sena oħra ta’ suċċess għall-Ajruport Internazzjonali ta’ Malta.

THE TRAFFIC ROUND-UP FOR 2023 RECORD YEAR FOR MALTA INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT

In 2023, Malta International Airport welcomed 7.8 million passengers, surpassing its 2019 record by 6.7%, or roughly 500,000 passenger movements.

Almost 33% of this total was handled by the airport during the peak summer months between July and September, with each month in the third quarter exceeding the 800,000-passenger movement mark for the first time in the airport’s history.

This upward trend continued throughout the year, as the remaining months, bar January and February, also registered record traffic volumes. At 10.8%, December was the only month to register double-digit growth over 2019 levels, while the lowest monthly traffic growth rate was achieved in March, with an uptick of 2%.

Seat Load Factor Peaks at 91.4%

Despite the fact that the airport reported a drop of 1.1% in aircraft movements over 2019, seat capacity increased by 2.4% as airlines operated their Malta routes with larger aircraft in the reporting year.

The seat load factor also began to trend upward as the year progressed, peaking in August at 91.4%, which is the highest-ever percentage of occupied seats to be registered by Malta International Airport.

Vast Majority of Markets Outperform 2019 Results

In 2023, Malta International Airport was connected to 35 markets, 22 of which outperformed their respective 2019 results. Italy secured the top spot on the airport’s market leaderboard, surpassing the United Kingdom by more than 500,000 passenger movements. This achievement was fuelled by significant route developments established throughout the year by Ryanair, Air Malta, and Wizz Air.

Following the scaling back of operations by Condor, Ryanair and Air Malta, the German market, occupying the third position, saw a sharp decline of 23% over 2019. On the other hand, France and Poland, ranking fourth and fifth, demonstrated the most robust growth among the top five markets, ending the year 43% and 61% above 2019 levels, respectively.

8 Million Passengers Expected in 2024

Despite the fact that the company is expecting air travel demand to level off this year, passenger traffic is forecast to continue its upward trend, as Malta International Airport is expecting to handle 8 million passengers in 2024.

In line with its commitment to work with local tourism stakeholders and partner airlines to attract air services to the Maltese Islands, Malta International Airport has secured new route developments for the upcoming summer season. Amongst the most notable developments are Lufthansa restarting the Belfast route this summer, Air Baltic introducing direct flights to Tallinn and easyJet operating to Amsterdam and Bristol, in addition to 5 other routes. Ryanair will also be adding two new destinations to its schedule, establishing further connections with Fiumicino Airport in Rome as well as Norwich Airport.

For more information about our full summer flight schedule, please refer to pages 6 and 7, or visit our website.

IT-TRAFFIKU

TAL-PASSIĠĠIERI FL-2023

SENA REKORD GĦALL-AJRUPORT INTERNAZZJONALI TA’ MALTA

Fl-2023, l-Ajruport Internazzjonali ta’ Malta laqa’ 7.8 miljun passiġġier biex hekk qabeż ir-rekord tal-2019 b’6.7%, jew inkella b’madwar 500,000 passiġġier.

Ix-xhur impenjattivi tas-sajf, jiġifieri bejn Lulju u Settembru, kienu responsabbli għal 33% talmoviment tal-passiġġieri fl-2023. F’kull xahar, f’dan it-tielet kwart tassena, għaddew mill-ajruport aktar minn 800,000 passiġġier, biex issajf li għadda kien l-aktar perjodu impenjattiv fl-istorja tal-ajruport.

Apparti Jannar u Frar, iż-żieda filmoviment tal-passiġġieri kienet evidenti fix-xhur l-oħra li kollha rreġistraw volum rekord fl-għadd ta’ passiġġieri li għaddew millajruport. B’żieda ta’ 10.8%, Diċembru kien l-aktar xahar li esperjenza żieda fil-moviment tal-passiġġieri meta mqabbel mal-istess xahar fl2019, filwaqt li l-inqas żieda kienet irreġistrata f’Marzu (2%).

Is-seat load factor jilħaq l-ogħla livell f’Awwissu b’91.4% Minkejja li matul is-sena li għaddiet, meta mqabbel mal-2019, it-traffiku talajru fl-ajruport naqas b’1.1%, in-numru ta’ postijiet disponibbli fuq it-titjiriet żdied bi 2.4%, hekk kif linji tal-ajru użaw ajruplani akbar għat-titjiriet minn u lejn Malta.

Is-seat load factor (SLF) ukoll beda jiżdied matul is-sena, biex laħaq l-ogħla livell tiegħu f’Awwissu b’91.4%, l-ogħla wieħed li qatt irreġistra l-Ajruport Internazzjonali ta’ Malta.

Il-maġġoranza tas-swieq jaqbżu r-riżultati tal-2019 Fl-2023, l-Ajruport Internazzjonali ta’ Malta kien konness ma’ 35 suq, li 22 minnhom kisbu riżultati aktar b’saħħithom minn dawk tal-2019. Issuq Taljan kien l-aktar wieħed b’saħħtu u qabeż lir-Renju Unit b’aktar minn 500,000 passiġġier. Dan kien riżultat taż-żieda fir-rotot offruti matul is-sena minn Ryanair, Air Malta u Wizz Air.

Hekk kif Condor, Ryanair u Air Malta naqqsu t-titjiriet minn u lejn ilĠermanja, dan is-suq esperjenza tnaqqis sostanzjali ta’ 23% fil-moviment tal-passiġġieri meta mqabbel massena referenzjali 2019. Minkejja dan, issuq Ġermaniż kien it-tielet l-aktar suq importanti għall-ajruport. Mill-banda

l-oħra, Franza u l-Polonja rreġistraw l-akbar tkabbir fost il-ħames l-aktar swieq importanti, b’żieda ta’ 43% u 61% rispettivament, fuq il-livelli tal-2019.

8 miljun passiġġier mistennija fl-2024

Minkejja li t-tbassir tal-kumpanija huwa li d-domanda għall-ivvjaġġar bl-ajru se tkun qed tonqos xi ftit jew wisq matul din is-sena, it-traffiku tal-passiġġieri mistenni li jibqa’ b’saħħtu. Fil-fatt, l-Ajruport Internazzjonali ta’ Malta qed jistenna li jilqa’ 8 miljun passiġġier matul l-2024.

Bħala parti mill-istrateġija talkumpanija li taħdem mal-entitajiet kollha fil-qasam tat-turiżmu lokali u anke ma’ linji tal-ajru, l-Ajruport Internazzjonali ta’ Malta assigura titjiriet lejn diversi rotot ġodda għall-iskeda tas-sajf. Fost l-aktar żviluppi notevoli, Lufthansa se terġa’ tibda ttir lejn Belfast, Air Baltic se tintroduċi titjiriet diretti lejn Tallinn, filwaqt li easyJet, apparti ħames rotot oħra, se topera wkoll lejn Amsterdam u Bristol. Maliskeda tagħha, Ryanair se tkun qed tistabbilixxi wkoll aktar konnessjonijiet, partikolarment lejn l-ajruport ta’ Fiumicino f’Ruma u l-ajruport ta’ Norwich.

Għal aktar informazzjoni dwar l-iskeda tas-sajf 2024 ara paġni 6 u 7 jew żur is-sit tal-Ajruport Internazzjonali ta’ Malta.

DESTINATION AIRLINE

Amsterdam KM Malta Airlines/easyJet

Athens Aegean/Ryanair

Barcelona Vueling/Ryanair

Bari Ryanair

Basel easyJet

Belfast Jet2/Ryanair

Belgrade Air Serbia/Wizz Air

Berlin KM Malta Airlines

Bergamo Ryanair

Bilbao Vueling

Billund Atlatnic Airways Ryanair

Birmingham Jet2.com/Ryanair/TUI airways

Bologna Ryanair

Bordeaux Ryanair

Bournemouth Ryanair

Bratislava Ryanair

Bristol Jet2.com/easyJet/TUI airways

Brussels KM Malta Airlines/Ryanair

Bucharest Wizz Air/Ryanair

Budapest Wizz Air/Ryanair

Cagliari Ryanair

Catania KM Malta Airlines/Ryanair

Chania Ryanair

Cologne Ryanair

Copenhagen Atlantic airways/Norwegian

Geneva easyJet

Dubai Emirates

Dublin Ryanair

Dusseldorf KM Malta Airlines/Eurowings

East Midlands Jet2/Ryanair

Edinburgh Jet2/Ryanair

Eindhoven Ryanair

Frankfurt Lufthansa

Gdansk Ryanair

Glasgow Jet2

Hamburg Eurowings

Istanbul Turkish Airlines

Katowice Wizz Air

Krakow Ryanair

Lamezia Ryanair

Lampedusa HelloFly

Larnaca Emirates

Leeds Jet2

Lisbon Ryanair

Liverpool Ryanair

Lourdes Ryanair

London British Airways/easyJet/ KM Malta Airlines/TUI Airways/ Ryanair/Jet2.com

DESTINATION AIRLINE

Luxembourg Luxair/Ryanair

Lyon KM Malta Airlines

Madrid KM Malta Airlines/Ryanair

Manchester Ryanair/easyJet/Jet2.com/ TUI Airways

Marseille Ryanair

Memmingen Ryanair

Milan KM Malta Airlines/easyJet/ Ryanair/ ITA Airways

Munich KM Malta Airlines/Lufthansa

Newcastle Jet2

Nantes Ryanair

Naples easyJet/Ryanair

Nice easyJet

Nis Ryanair

Norwich Ryanair

Oslo Norwegian

Palermo HelloFly

Paphos Ryanair

Paris KM Malta Airlines/Air France/ Transavia France/Ryanair

Parma Ryanair

Perugia Ryanair

Pescara Ryanair

Pisa Ryanair

Porto Ryanair

Poznan Ryanair

Prague KM Malta Airlines

Riga Air Baltic/Ryanair

Rome KM Malta Airlines/Ryanair/ITA

Seville Ryanair/Scandinavian SAS

Shannon Ryanair

Skopje Wizz Air

Sofia Ryanair

Stockholm Ryanair

Tallinn Air Baltic

Thessaloniki Ryanair

Trapani Ryanair

Treviso Ryanair

Trieste Ryanair

Toulouse Ryanair

Tunis Tunisair Express

Turin Ryanair

Valencia Ryanair

Venice Ryanair

Vienna KM Malta Airlines/Ryanair

Vilnius Ryanair

Warsaw Wizz Air/Ryanair

Wroclaw Ryanair

Zagreb Ryanair

Zurich KM Malta Airlines/Swiss

LARNACA

ISTANBUL PAPHOS

DUBAI

RUNWAY REVIVAL:

A CLOSER LOOK AT THE €15 MILLION RESURFACING PROJECT

Malta International Airport boasts two operational runways: the primary runway, runway 13-31, and the secondary runway known as runway 05-23, one of the oldest parts of Luqa airport. Runway 05-23 was originally constructed as an air force base when Malta was under British Rule and runs 2.4 kilometres long.

In accordance with aviation conventions, the name ‘Runway 05-23’ (referred to by pilots as zero-five, twothree) is derived from the magnetic headings of the runway, rounded to the nearest 10. The magnetic heading is the direction a runway is oriented concerning the Earth’s magnetic north. Thus, Runway 05-23 is aligned so that one end faces approximately 230 degrees on the compass, and the other end faces approximately 050 degrees. This naming convention helps pilots easily identify the orientation of runways, helping in take-offs, landings, and taxiing on the airport grounds. Interestingly, the original runway headings were 06-24 but these were recalibrated in 2007 to 05-23, to reflect the effects of magnetic variation. Runway 05-23 is generally limited to use by General Aviation aircraft and aviation training institutions; however, the runway also carries 9% of the airport’s commercial movements.

The resurfacing project, which commenced in the first week of October 2023 and was completed by the last

week of December, entailed a series of meticulous interventions to reinforce and modernise the infrastructure of Runway 05-23. The resurfacing of this runway was a mammoth project entailing a €15 million investment. Although significant maintenance and ongoing repairs were previously carried out on the runway, the overall increase in use coupled up with environmental deterioration of the asphalt has had an impact on the runway’s layers, from the lowermost subbase up to the surface.

The company is now looking towards taking on the resurfacing of the main runway, which would take place over the coming years. Given that runway operations are becoming increasingly demanding, the runway will only be closed intermittently, with the flight load being shared with Runway 0523. Therefore, these works were highly significant as they provide the airport with additional operational flexibility and heightened preparedness.

Works Entailed

Several areas of Runway 05-23 underwent extensive rehabilitation, involving complete excavation, buildup, and reconstruction with the use of concrete in specific sections and asphalt in others. Certain taxiways leading to the runway also underwent widening. Additionally, Ing. Martin Dalmas, Senior Vice President for Operations and Business Continuity, explained that the entire airfield’s

The renovation of Runway 05-23 formed a key part of the operational pillar of the ambitious five-year €250 million investment program which was unveiled in 2023 to enhance the airport’s infrastructure. In total, this multi-million-euro investment program also encompasses two other pillars: sustainability and retail and property. This strategic initiative positions Malta International Airport to sustain the ongoing development of the airport campus and effectively manage the anticipated surge in passengers over the coming years.

electrical power and control systems, along with the associated wiring, were upgraded, as part of Malta International Airport’s efforts to convert all ground lighting on the airfield to more energy efficient LEDs.

Challenges and Coordination

Daniela Borg, MIA’s Health and Safety Manager, emphasised that the oversight of the resource-heavy project was the most challenging aspect, particularly with regards to the deployment of resources, given that the project involved a workforce of 350 individuals including subcontractors, contractors, and internal personnel. Apart from requiring coordination and collaboration among all parties involved, extreme caution also needed to be exercised on site, with the Health and Safety team overseeing the operation of large vehicles and machinery in the area while works were taking place.

In light of the fact that the closure of the runway impacted thirdparty operations, the runway rehabilitation project required a well-thought-out, phased execution strategy, with excavation, buildup, and reconstruction works taking place around the clock to ensure that the project was completed swiftly yet safely.

300 new light fittings and a state-of-the-art lighting control system installed. L-installazzjoni ta’ 300 bozza ġdida tul il-mitjar.

Over 2.4 kilometres of stormwater pipework installed. Aktar minn 2.4 kilometri ta’ pajpijiet għall-ilma tax-xita.

100 new manholes introduced to facilitate cable routing. 100 tappiera ġdida biex jiffaċilitaw xogħlijiet ta’ manutenzjoni li jkun hemm bżonn minn żmien għal żmien.

Installation of 50 kilometres of cable ducts along the sides of the runway, together with 35 kilometres of cables. L-iskavar ta’ 50 kilometru ta’ kanali fil-ġnub talmitjar u l-installazzjoni ta’ 35 kilometru cables.

6,500 square metres of paint markings applied. L-applikazzjoni ta’ sinjali ġodda biż-żebgħa fuq medda ta’ 6,500 metru kwadru.

35,000 tonnes of special asphalt laid. Il-kisi tal-mitjar b’madwar 35,000 tunnellata ta’ asfalt speċjali.

3,000 square metres of damaged concrete sections replaced. Il-bidla ta’ madwar 3,000 metru kwadru ta’ konkrit miksur.

Ix-xogħlijiet ta’ ristrutturar fuq Mitjar 05-23 huma parti millpjan ambizzjuż imħabbar fl-2023 u li se jara lill-kumpanija tinvesti €250 miljun biex issaħħaħ l-infrastruttura talajruport. Apparti minn hekk, dan il-proġett multimiljunarju, mifrux fuq ħames snin, jinkludi żewġ pilastri oħra importanti, jiġifieri s-sostenibbilità u t-tisħiħ ta’ operat ieħor li jikkontribwixxi għal dħul lilhinn mill-avjazzjoni. Dan il-proġett huwa strumentali biex l-Ajruport Internazzjonali ta’ Malta jkun jista’ jsaħħaħ l-infrastruttura tieħu, filwaqt li jsostni ż-żieda fit-traffiku tal-passiġġieri li mistenni jkompli jikber fis-snin li ġejjin.

WIĊĊ ĠDID LILL-MITJAR

SEKONDARJU:

ĦARSA MILL-QRIB LEJN IL-PROĠETT TA’ €15-IL MILJUN

L-Ajruport Internazzjonali ta’ Malta għandu żewġ mitjar ewlenin: il-mitjar prinċipali, magħruf bħala Runway 13-21, u l-mitjar sekondarju, magħruf bħala Runway 05-23, fost l-eqdem partijiet tal-ajruport ta’ Ħal Luqa. Mitjar 0523, li hu mifrux fuq 2.4 kilometri, inbena oriġinarjament bħala bażi militari talajru fi żmien li Malta kienet kolonja tar-Renju Unit.

Bi qbil mal-konvenzjonijiet tal-avjazzjoni, l-isem tal-mitjar (magħruf mal-bdoti bħala ‘runway two-three, zero-five’) huwa referenza għall-pożizzjoni tal-mitjar fuq ilboxxla, fi kliem aktar tekniku, il-pożizzjoni tal-mitjar b’relazzjoni għat-Tramuntana manjetika tad-dinja. Għalhekk, naħa minnhom ta’ Mitjar 05-23, timmarka qrib il-230 grad fuq il-kompass, filwaqt li n-naħa l-oħra timmarka madwar 050 grad. L-ismijiet lill-mitjar jgħinu lill-bdoti jidentifikaw aħjar l-orjentazzjoni ta’ mitjar partikolari. Interessanti li oriġinarjament, l-isem ta’ dan il-mitjar kien 06-24, iżda l-pożizzjoni ġiet rikalibrata fl-2007 għal 05-23, biex tirrifletti l-effett talvarjazzjonijiet manjetiċi. Mitjar 05-23 jintuża l-aktar mill-ajruplani tal-Avjazzjoni Ġenerali u anke minn istituzzjonijiet ta’ taħriġ tal-avjazzjoni. Madanakollu, l-istess mitjar jintuża wkoll minn 9% tattraffiku kummerċjali tal-ajruport.

Il-proġett li ta wiċċ ġdid lil dan il-mitjar, beda fl-ewwel ġimgħa ta’ Ottubru u ġie konkluż fl-aħħar ġimgħa ta’ Diċembru. Ix-xogħlijiet kienu jinkludu sensiela ta’ interventi metikolużi biex isaħħu u jimmodernizzaw l-infrastruttura ta’ Mitjar 05-23. Il-proġett kien wieħed massiċċ u sar b’investiment ta’ €15-il miljun. Għalkemm matul is-snin saru diversi interventi ta’ manutenzjoni u tiswijiet, l-użu aktar frekwenti tal-mitjar u anke l-impatti ambjentali, ħallew l-effett tagħhom fuq is-saffi kollha, minn dak l-aktar ‘l isfel, sal-wiċċ.

Apparti aktar flessibilità lill-operat talajruport, ix-xogħlijiet ta’ ristrutturar li saru fuq dan il-mitjar kienu kruċjali biex eventwalment, fis-snin li ġejjin, jibdew xogħlijiet infrastrutturali importanti fuq ilmitjar ewlieni tal-Ajruport Internazzjonali ta’ Malta. Ix-xogħlijiet fuq il-mitjar prinċipali jeħtieġ li jsiru f’fażijiet u f’ħinijiet speċifiċi u għalhekk se jkun hemm bżonn li l-mitjar sekondarju jieħu fuqu xi ftit mit-traffiku.

Ix-xogħlijiet imwettqa

Ix-xogħlijiet kienu jinkludu skavar, bini u rikostruzzjoni biex tissaħħaħ l-integrità strutturali tal-mitjar, bl-użu ta’ konkrit f’xi partijiet u bl-użu tal-asfalt fi bnadi oħra. Ġew ukoll imwessa’ wħud mit-taxiways li jagħtu għal dan il-mitjar. L-Inġinier Martin

Dalmas, Viċi President Ewlieni għallKontinwazzjoni tal-Operat u n-Negozju, spjega wkoll kif ix-xogħlijiet aġġornaw is-sistemi għall-provvista u l-kontroll taddawl, anke bħala parti mill-miri ambjentali tal-ajruport, li jbiddel id-dwal kollha talajrudrom għal dawl LED.

Sfidi u Koordinament

Daniela Borg, Maniġer fid-Dipartiment għas-Saħħa u s-Sigurtà tal-ajruport, spjegat ma’ MIALink uħud mill-isfidi ewlenin ta’ dan il-proġett li kellu bżonn id-dedikazzjoni ta’ ħafna riżorsi. Fil-fatt, fuq dan il-proġett ħadmu xejn inqas minn 350 ħaddiem, li jinkludu kuntratturi, sub-kuntratturi u ħaddiema tal-ajruport. Apparti minn hekk, kien jeħtieġ ħafna koordinament u kollaborazzjoni bejn dawk kollha involuti fix-xogħlijiet. It-tim tasSaħħa u s-Sigurtà tal-ajruport ħadem lejl u nhar biex jassigura li jiġu mħarsa l-miżuri tas-saħħa u s-sigurtà għall-ħaddiema kollha u anke biex jikkordina l-operat ta’ vetturi kbar u makkinarju.

Il-fatt li l-għeluq tal-mitjar kellu impatt fuq operaturi terzi, ix-xogħlijiet ta’ ristrutturar kellhom jiġu ppjanati sal-inqas dettall u saru f’fażijiet, bix-xogħlijiet jibqgħu għaddejja lejl u nhar. Dan għen biex ikun assigurat li l-proġett iseħħ bl-aktar mod sigur iżda fl-iqsar żmien possibbli.

A DECADE OF THE MALTA AIRPORT FOUNDATION:

A LOOK BACK AT KEY INVESTMENTS THROUGHOUT THE YEARS

Founded in September 2014, this year marks the Malta Airport Foundation’s tenth year anniversary. Throughout the past decade, the Foundation has played a pivotal role in investing in the tourism industry, primarily through diverse projects involving the preservation and conservation of Malta’s rich heritage and environment. In this year’s two editions of MIALink, we’re going to be looking back at the Foundation’s major initiatives. This retrospective not only acknowledges the Foundation’s impactful work but also extends heartfelt gratitude to you, our valued shareholders, whose steadfast support has made these ten years possible. In this edition we shall be looking at the first five years of the Malta Airport Foundation.

2014

2014

RESTORATION OF A RENAISSANCE TRIPTYCH

The Malta Airport Foundation is very passionate about the restoration and conservation of works of art, which shed light not only on the works themselves, but also on the heritage and artistic history of the Maltese Islands. In fact, one of the very first projects of the Malta Airport Foundation in its inaugural year, was the meticulous restoration of a Renaissance triptych dedicated to Madonna del Soccorso, an integral part of the Mdina Cathedral Museum’s prestigious collection.

This restoration project led to a significant discovery, as the restorers managed to attribute the triptych to Antonio de Saliba, the grandson of Antonello da Messina, a prominent Italian artist of the 15th century. This revelation carried profound implications, as several paintings from Malta’s early Renaissance were linked to de Saliba and Salvo d’Antonio, another grandson of Antonello da Messina.

Another eight paintings attributed to the artists de Saliba and Salvo d’Antonio exist, dating back to before the arrival of the Order of Saint John in 1530. This project therefore affirms that the Maltese Islands’ artistic renaissance legacy precedes the era of the Knights. Out of these eight paintings, three of them form part of this triptych, which make it one of the only three Renaissance triptychs that still exist almost in their entirety.

GĦAXAR SNIN

TAL-MALTA AIRPORT FOUNDATION:

ĦARSA LURA LEJN

L-INVESTIMENTI EWLENIN

Is-sena 2024 timmarka l-għaxar anniversarju mit-twaqqif tal-Malta Airport Foundation. Sa mit-twaqqif tagħha, lura f’Settembru tal-2014, il-Fondazzjoni investiet dirett fl-industrija tat-turiżmu, primarjament permezz ta’ diversi proġetti favur il-protezzjoni u l-konservazzjoni talpatrimonju u l-ambjent Malti. Fiż-żewġ edizzjonijiet ta’ MIALink ta’ din is-sena, se nkunu qed nagħtu ħarsa lura lejn il-proġetti ewlenin li ħadmet fuqhom il-Fondazzjoni, anke b’rikonoxximent lejkom l-azzjonisti tagħna li għamiltu dawn l-għaxar snin possibbli. F’din l-edizzjoni, se nħarsu lejn l-ewwel ħames snin tal-Malta Airport Foundation.

RESTAWR TA’ TRITTIKU TA’ ŻMIEN IR-RINAXXIMENT

Għal qalb il-Malta Airport Foundation huwa x-xogħol ta’ restawr u konservazzjoni fuq xogħlijiet talarti li jitfgħu dawl mhux biss fuq ixxogħlijiet infushom, imma anke fuq il-patrimonju u l-istorja artistika talgżejjer Maltin. Wieħed mill-ewwel proġetti tal-Fondazzjoni kien irrestawr u l-konservazzjoni ta’ trittiku Rinaxximentali, iddedikat lill-Madonna tas-Sokkors, li jifforma parti millkollezzjoni tal-Mużew tal-Katidral.

Dan il-proġett ta’ restawr wassal lir-restawraturi biex setgħu jattribwixxu t-trittiku lil Antonio de Saliba, in-neputi ta’ Antonello da Messina, wieħed mill-aktar artisti importanti Taljani tas-seklu 15. Din is-sejba kienet waħda importanti għax diversi pitturi tal-ewwel snin tar-Rinaxximent f’Malta huma attribwiti lil de Saliba u Salvo d’Antonio, neputi ieħor ta’ Antonello da Messina.

Jeżistu tmien pitturi oħra ta’ dawn iż-żewġ artisti li waslu f’Malta qabel il-wasla tal-Ordni ta’ San Ġwann fl-1530. Dan kompla jsaħħaħ l-argument li l-gżejjer Maltin kellhom ir-rinaxximent artistiku tagħhom qabel il-miġja tal-Kavallieri. Minn dawn it-tmien pitturi, tlieta jiffurmaw parti minn dan it-trittiku, li jagħmluh ukoll wieħed mill-uniċi tliet trittiċi tarRinaxximent li għadhom jeżistu kważi fl-intier tagħhom.

THE EXCAVATION OF A PHOENICIAN SHIP

The Malta Airport Foundation also gives great importance to our islands’ underwater heritage, as every year thousands of tourists including divers, flock to the Maltese Islands for its seas. The Foundation was a pioneer in its investment in this field, and over a period of years supported the excavation and research works on a shipwreck from the Phoenician era, found in 2007.

Some noteworthy artefacts were also found in the shipwreck, including urns and even Gozitan ceramics. This discovery and the research which followed, continued to strengthen the argument that the Maltese Islands were a key part of the Phoenicians’ maritime market.

The artefacts excavated by international maritime archaeologists, were exhibited in the Archaeological Museum of Gozo in 2018.

2015 2015

NICOLA SAID: AMBASSADOR OF THE MALTA AIRPORT FOUNDATION

In 2015, the international soprano Nicola Said, was appointed as an Ambassador of the Malta Airport Foundation. She was instrumental in raising awareness and increasing knowledge about the Foundation’s activities. This was all done while Said continued to tour and represent Malta in the best international theatres, through lyric opera.

The Foundation also invested in Nicola Said’s training at one of the best international conservatories, the Guildhall School of Music and Drama in London.

NICOLA SAID: AMBAXXATUR TAL-MALTA AIRPORT FOUNDATION

Fl-2015, is-sopran internazzjonali Nicola Said, inħatret bħala Ambaxxatur tal-Malta Airport Foundation u kienet strumentali biex titqajjem kuxjenza u jitkabbar l-għarfien dwar l-attivitajiet tal-Fondazzjoni. Dan filwaqt li Said kompliet iddur u tirrappreżenta lil Malta fl-aqwa teatri internazzjonali, permezz tal-opera lirika.

Il-Fondazzjoni investiet ukoll fit-taħriġ ta’ Nicola Said f’wieħed mill-aqwa konservatorji internazzjonali, jiġifieri the Guildhall School of Music and Drama ta’ Londra.

L-ISKAVAR TA’ BASTIMENT TA’ ŻMIEN IL-FENIĊI

Il-Malta Airport Foundation tagħti wkoll ħafna importanza lill-patrimonju ta’ taħt il-baħar, anke għax ta’ kull sena dan jattira eluf ta’ turisti u għaddasa lejn il-gżejjer Maltin. Il-Fondazzjoni kienet pijuniera fl-investiment tagħha f’dan il-qasam u fuq perjodu ta’ snin appoġġjat ix-xogħlijiet ta’ skavar u riċerka fuq bastiment nawfragat ta’ żmien il-Feniċi, li kien instab fl-2007.

Apparti l-bastiment, interessanti ħafna huma l-artifatti li nstabu biswitu, fosthom urni u anke ċeramika Għawdxija. Din is-sejba u r-riċerka li saret dwarha, kompliet issaħħaħ l-argument li l-gżejjer Maltin kienu parti importanti mis-suq marittimu ta’ żmien il-Feniċi.

Uħud minn dawn l-artifatti li ttellgħu minn qiegħ il-baħar minn grupp ta’ arkeoloġisti marittimi minn madwar id-dinja, kienu ġew esebiti fil-Mużew Arkeoloġiku ta’ Għawdex fl-2018.

NIKXFU L-IBĦRA MISTERJUŻI LI

JDAWRU L-FILFLA

Il-Fondazzjoni għenet ukoll fil-produzzjoni ta’ sensiela ta’ dokumentarji dwar l-ambjent marittimu li jdawwar il-gżejjer Maltin, b’enfasi partikolari fuq il-konservazzjoni tiegħu.

L-ewwel mis-sensiela ta’ dokumentarji kien jitratta l-ibħra, xi ftit jew wisq misterjużi, li jdawru Filfla. Id-dokumentarju ta’ 30 minuta jieħu lis-segwaċi viċin aktar minn qatt qabel f’din iż-Żona Marittima Protetta.

Il-gżira ċkejkna toffri kenn lil speċi uniċi bħall-awwista u l-morina, li jistgħu jesploraw l-ibħra ta’ madwar Filfla minħabba nuqqas ta’ attività mill-bniedem. Dawn l-ibħra jostru dinja oħra mogħnija b’għerien u mużew spettakolari ta’ żmien il-gwerra, liema ambjent seta’ għall-ewwel darba jitgawda minn kulħadd.

Tista’ ssegwi dan id-dokumentarju hawn: youtube.com/maltaairport

2016 2016

SAIL THE MYSTERIOUS FILFLA SEAS

The Foundation also made possible the production of a series of documentaries about the marine environment that surrounds the Maltese Islands, with particular emphasis on its conservation.

The first of the series of documentaries dealt with the mysterious seas that surround Filfla. The 30-minute documentary gives viewers a closer than ever look at this Marine Protected Area.

The small island offers shelter to unique species such as the lobster and the moray, which due to a lack of human activity can roam the seas freely. Hidden within these seas is another world, boasting caves and a spectacular wartime museum, which for the first time could be enjoyed by everyone.

You can watch this documentary here: youtube.com/maltaairport

COMINO: A SECRET PARADISE

After the success of the first documentary about Filfla, in 2017 the Malta Airport Foundation sponsored the production of another documentary, this time with the aim of raising awareness about the marine environment that surrounds the island of Comino. The documentary was made public the following year.

Unlike Filfla, Comino is used to the attention and even catching the eyes of international directors of popular films such as ‘Troy’ and ‘The Count of Monte Cristo’. However, the documentary ‘Comino – A Secret Paradise’ offers a fresh perspective, unveiling the island through a different lens. It illuminates the remarkable marine environment, exposing a concealed world beneath the waves that positions Comino as a hidden gem and a key tourist attraction in our country.

You can watch this documentary here: youtube.com/maltaairport

2017 2018 2017 2018

KEMMUNA: ĠENNA SIGRIETA

Wara s-suċċess tal-ewwel dokumentarju dwar Filfla, fl-2017 il-Malta Airport Foundation investiet f’dokumentarju ieħor, din iddarba bil-għan li jsaħħaħ l-għarfien dwar l-ambjent marittimu li jdawwar il-gżira ta’ Kemmuna. Id-dokumentarju ġie ppubblikat fis-sena ta’ wara.

Għall-kuntrarju ta’ Filfla, Kemmuna mdorrija bl-attenzjoni u saħansitra serqet l-attenzjoni ta’ diretturi ta’ films popolari bħalma huma ‘Troy’ u ‘The Count of Monte Cristo.’ Madanakollu, id-dokumentarju ‘Kemmuna –Ġenna Sigrieta’ jippreżenta din il-gżira minn lenti differenti u jitfa’ d-dawl fuq l-ambjent marittimu impressjonanti li hemm mistur taħt il-baħar kaħlani li jagħmel din il-gżira waħda mill-attrazzjonijiet turisti ewlenin ta’ pajjiżna.

Tista’ ssegwi dan id-dokumentarju hawn: youtube.com/maltaairport

CLEANER SEAS

In a more concrete project to strengthen awareness about the conservation of our marine environment, the Malta Airport Foundation joined forces with the NGO Żibel and financed the installation of two sea bins. As part of the airport’s strategy to invest in the airport’s surroundings, these bins were installed in Marsaxlokk and Wied il-Għajn.

These sea bins catch pieces of microplastics and other waste that end up in the sea and even extract a percentage of oils and other elements that pollute the sea. The two most common items that get caught in these containers are cigarette butts and microplastics that can have a detrimental impact on marine ecosystems.

IBĦRA AKTAR NODFA

Fi proġett aktar konkret biex tissaħħaħ il-kuxjenza dwar il-konservazzjoni tal-ambjent marittimu, il-Malta Airport Foundation ingħaqdet malNGO Żibel u ffinanzjat l-istallazzjoni ta’ żewġ sea bins. Bħala parti millistrateġija tal-ajruport li jinvesti fil-madwar tal-mitjar, dawn ġew installati f’Marsaxlokk u f’Wied il-Għajn.

Dawn is-sea bins għandhom il-kapaċità li jaqbdu biċċiet ta’ plastik żgħir u skart ieħor li jispiċċa fil-baħar u anke jiġbed perċentwal ta’ żjut u elementi oħra li jniġġsu l-baħar. L-aktar żewġ oġġetti komuni li jinqabdu f’dawn il-kontenituri huma fdalijiet tas-sigaretti u biċċiet tal-plastik li jagħmlu

ħafna ħsara lill-eko sistemi marittimi.

2019

TORRI XUTU: INAUGURATED AND OPEN TO THE PUBLIC

One of the main projects of the Malta Airport Foundation was the restoration of Torri Xutu in Wied iż-Żurrieq. This was the first project that the Foundation started working on, investing a quarter of a million euros to see it through to completion.

Wied iż-Żurrieq was already a touristic hot-spot and the restoration of this historic tower continued to put this area on the country’s tourist map. Thanks to this investiment, after years of abandon, Din l-Art Ħelwa was able to reopen this tower to the public.

Torri Xutu was built during the time of Grand Master Lascaris. It was the first one to be built with arches to ensure that it was strong enough to be equipped with a cannon on the roof. The tower served as a prototype for a chain of other watch towers that were built along the coast of the Maltese Islands by Lascaris’s successor, Grand Master De Redin. During the Second World War, the tower was used by the Coastal Police as a place to watch over the coast. Until 2002 it served as a police station before it was abandoned.

In the upcoming edition of MIALink, we will delve further into the following initiatives of the Malta Airport Foundation over the past five years.

TORRI XUTU: INAWGURAT U MIFTUĦ GĦALL-PUBBLIKU

Wieħed mill-proġetti ewlenin tal-Malta Airport Foundation kien ir-restawr ta’ Torri Xutu f’Wied iżŻurrieq. Dan kien l-ewwel proġett li bdiet taħdem fuqu l-Fondazzjoni u sar b’investiment ta’ kwart ta’ miljun ewro.

Wied iż-Żurrieq diġà kien magħruf ħafna mat-turisti u r-restawr ta’ dan it-torri storiku kompla jpoġġi din iżżona fuq il-mappa turistika tal-pajjiż. Bis-saħħa ta’ dan l-investiment, wara snin abbandunat u mitluq, Din l-Art Ħelwa setgħet tiftaħ dan it-torri mill-ġdid għall-pubbliku.

It-Torri ta’ Xutu inbena fi żmien il-Gran Mastru Lascaris. Kien l-ewwel wieħed li nbena bil-ħnejjiet u għalhekk kien sod biżżejjed biex ikun mgħammar b’kanun fuq il-bejt. It-torri serva bħala prototip għal katina ta’ torrijiet oħra tal-għassa li nbnew mal-kosta tal-gżejjer Maltin missuċċessur ta’ Lascaris, il-Gran Mastru De Redin. Fi żmien it-Tieni Gwerra Dinjija, it-torri kien jintuża mill-Pulizija tal-Kosta bħala post minn fejn tiġi mgħassa l-kosta. Sal-2002 kien iservi bħala għassa tal-pulizija qabel ġie abbandunat.

Fl-edizzjoni li jmiss ta’ MIALink inkomplu nagħtu ħarsa lejn l-aħħar ħames snin tal-Malta Airport Foundation.

THE METEOROLOGICAL OFFICE...

BEYOND WEATHER FORECASTING

The weather captures everyone’s attention and frequently becomes the focal point of our conversations, whether we’re discussing the scorching heat or storms brewing. As the national meteorological service, the Meteorological Office of Malta International Airport has been providing detailed weather information not only to the general public, but also to various other entities since 1922. So, MIALink thought to take our shareholders behind the scenes to understand a little better the work carried out by forecasters, observers, and the Meteorological Office team.

Usually when we talk about the weather, only the forecast we hear about in the news bulletins comes to mind. However, the work of the Meteorological Office goes far beyond mere forecasting. MIALink spoke with Brian Micallef, the most experienced forecaster at the Meteorological Office, a role he has dedicatedly held for the past 23 years.

The operations at the Meteorological Office are continuous, spanning day and night. When a forecaster begins their shift, the initial task involves collecting information about the current weather conditions from the preceding shift. “We analyse the data coming in from the satellites and radars, comparing them with weather models to issue the forecast for the upcoming days, not only for the public, but also for the sailors and pilots,” explained Micallef.

Predicting the future, even in weather forecasting, is inherently uncertain. Brian Micallef acknowledges this reality, emphasising that weather forecasts are forecasts, not certainties. Despite the complexity, weather forecasters and observers strive to enhance accuracy. When asked by MIALink about the pressure associated with this responsibility, Micallef shed light on the challenging yet crucial nature of their work.

First and foremost, Micallef explained how weather forecasters receive a lot of training both locally and also at the UK Meteorological Office situated in Exeter. He compares forecasting to when you start learning to drive a car; the more you practice, the more your skills are refined.

“There is pressure,” continued Micallef, “especially when we receive requests from pilots who need detailed forecasts. The important thing is to properly explain what you are observing and what you think might happen. The more information you give, the better, because that way a pilot can make a more informed decision.”

Forecaster Brian Micallef

DID YOU KNOW?

A scorching week doesn’t necessarily constitute a heatwave. For a series of hot days to be classified as a heatwave, the highest temperature must be five degrees higher than the monthly average for three consecutive days or more. The last heatwave lasted ten days in July last year.

KONT TAF?

Għax tagħmel ġimgħa sħana kbira ma jfissirx li tkun ġiet mewġa ta’ sħana. Biex sensiela ta’ jiem sħan tiġi kkwalifikata bħala mewġa ta’ sħana, l-ogħla temperatura trid tkun ħames gradi ogħla mill-medja ta’ dak ix-xahar, għall-perjodu ta’ tlett ijiem konsekuttivi jew aktar. L-aħħar mewġa ta’ sħana damet għaxart ijiem f’Lulju tas-sena li għaddiet.

From pilots to farmers ... All services offered by the Meteorological Office

Apart from the forecast for the general public, the Meteorological Office provides a number of other services. One of these services, which perhaps few people know about, is the forecast and warnings that the Meteorological Office issues for the FIR (Flight Information Region) of Malta.

“When compared to the size of the country, our FIR is among the largest and stretches from Tunisia to Crete,” continued to explain Micallef. “Every plane that passes through this area, gets a forecast from us.”

The Meteorological Office also provides specialised forecasts tailored towards the agricultural sector, addressing concerns such as ‘blight,’ a bacterial infection affecting crops in humid conditions. By providing timely and relevant information, farmers can proactively safeguard their crops against potential threats, demonstrating the practical application of meteorological insights in agriculture.

“Our main customers are three; the airport for which we issue specialised warnings, the general public and sailors,” Brian Micallef continued to explain.

Storm Helios hit the Maltese Islands in February 2023

One of the instruments used by the Met Office to measure hours of sunlight.

The 2014 Medicane and the 2018 Gregale Winds ... ‘I happened to be working during both’

When a storm is approaching, the workload at the Meteorological Office intensifies. This is due to the fact that they not only need to issue continuous updates but also issue timely warnings to the general public, sailors and pilots.

Brian Micallef recalls the challenges posed by significant storms, such as the rare Medicane in November 2014 and the powerful Gregale Winds in February 2018, during which he was on duty.

“The work doubles. Apart from the continuous forecasts and warnings, we receive many phone calls from the general public, the media and other entities,” continued Micallef.

‘Timely warning can save lives’

Among the entities that the Meteorological Office works closely with, there is the Armed Forces of Malta, particularly when a search and rescue operation is underway. Continuous contact is also maintained with the Civil Protection, especially when a storm is coming or strong winds are anticipated, aiming to enhance preparedness.

Specialised warnings are also issued for the airport when storms are less than five kilometres away from the aerodrome.

Micallef emphasised that the Meteorological Office provides not only forecasts, but a service to the community, since timely warnings are crucial and may even save lives during these circumstances.

DID YOU KNOW?

Remember the Helios storm of February 2023? The Maltese Meteorological Office named that storm. In a Mediterranean meteorological group, the first country to be affected by an approaching cyclone (lowpressure system) gives it a name. Not every storm is named; specific criteria, such as causing a storm with Force 8 winds lasting at least six hours or bringing substantial rain, must be met.

KONT TAF?

Tiftakruha l-maltempata Helios ta’ Frar 2023? Dik ilmaltempata ngħatat l-isem mill-Uffiċċju Meteoroloġiku Malti. Jeżisti grupp li jiġbor fih uħud mill-uffiċċji meteoroloġiċi tal-Mediterran u meta jkun riesaq ċiklun (sistema ta’ pressjoni baxxa), l-ewwel pajjiż li jkun se jiġi milqut, jagħti l-isem lill-maltempata. Ma jfissirx li kull maltempata tingħata isem. Hemm ċertu kriterji, fosthom il-maltempata tkun se tikkawża riefnu, jiġifieri riħ li jilħaq Forza 8 u jdum, minn tal-inqas, sitt sigħat, jew inkella tkun se ġġib magħha ħafna xita.

‘When it seems that we have not provided an accurate forecast, it does not mean that we have been negligent’

Accuracy is instrumental in weather forecasting. Since Malta is such a small island, MIALink inquired how this affects weather forecasting.

‘I often compare it to a game of darts; hitting the dartboard is easier than hitting the centre. The smaller the space, the more difficult it will be to be accurate in your prediction,’ answered Brian Micallef.

Here MIALink couldn’t help but ask Micallef the classic question (or criticism) that every Meteorological Office gets when the weather

forecast seems to be inaccurate. What happened? Why is it that sometimes rain is predicted but not even a single drop falls?

“Only God knows when there is sun or rain,” Micallef began to answer. “I remember once there was a fierce storm with flooding in Gozo, yet not even a drop fell in Malta. We continuously refine our models, but achieving one hundred percent accuracy is elusive. However, it doesn’t imply our efforts are in vain. Sometimes, the forecasted rain ends up falling over the sea. Given our small land size, rain can easily bypass us,” concluded Micallef.

The Meteorological Office... Beyond weather forecasting

L-UFFIĊĊJU

METEOROLOĠIKU...

LILHINN MIT-TBASSIR TAT-TEMP

It-temp jinteressa lil kulħadd u ħafna drabi jkun fiċ-ċentru taddiskussjonijiet tagħna, kemm jekk sħana taqli l-ankri jew inkella tkun riesqa xi maltempata. Bħala s-servizz meteoroloġiku nazzjonali, l-Uffiċċju Meteoroloġiku tal-Ajruport Internazzjonali ta’ Malta ilu mill-1922 jipprovdi informazzjoni dettaljata dwar it-temp mhux biss lill-pubbliku inġenerali, iżda anke lil diversi entitajiet oħra. Għalhekk, MIALink ħaseb biex jieħu lill-azzjonisti tagħna wara l-kwitni biex nifhmu ftit aħjar ix-xogħol li jwettqu l-bassara, l-osservaturi u t-tim tal-Uffiċċju Meteoroloġiku.

Ħafna drabi, meta nitkellmu fuq ittemp, jiġina f’moħħna sempliċiment it-tbassir li nisimgħu dwaru fil-bulletini tal-aħbarijiet. Madanakollu, il-ħidma tal-Uffiċċju Meteoroloġiku tmur lilhinn minn sempliċiment tbassir. Dwar dan, MIALink tkellem ma’ Brian Micallef, l-aktar bassar veteran fl-Uffiċċju Meteoroloġiku, rwol li issa ilu jokkupa għal dawn l-aħħar 23 sena.

Il-ħidma fl-Uffiċċju Meteoroloġiku tibqa’ għaddejja lejl u nhar. Malli bassar jidħol l-uffiċċju, l-ewwel ħaġa li jagħmel hija li jiġbor l-informazzjoni dwar ittemp li jkun qed jiġi osservat mix-xift li jkun se jintemm. “Nibdew nanalizzaw

l-informazzjoni li tidħol mis-satteliti u mir-radars, inqabblu dawn mal-mudelli tat-temp u noħorġu t-tbassir għall-ħin u l-jiem ta’ wara, mhux biss għall-pubbliku, imma anke għall-baħħara u l-bdoti,” spjega Micallef.

Il-futur ħadd ma rah, jgħid il-Malti u t-tbassir tat-temp, ismu miegħu, huwa previżjoni u mhux ċertezza. Dan jagħmel ix-xogħol tal-bassara tat-temp xi ftit jew wisq ikkumplikat. Minkejja dan, ilbassara u l-osservaturi tat-temp iridu jaħdmu kemm jifilħu biex it-tbassir ikun kemm jista’ jkun preċiż. Propju għalhekk li MIALink staqsa lil Micallef jekk dan ipoġġix pressjoni fuqu u fuq il-kollegi tiegħu.

Il-Bassar Brian Micallef

L-ewwel u qabel kollox, Micallef spjega kif il-bassara tat-temp jirċievu ħafna taħriġ mhux biss minn bassara oħra f’Malta, imma jirċievu wkoll ħames xhur ta’ esperjenza fl-Uffiċċju Meteoroloġiku tarRenju Unit, stabbilit f’Exeter. Fi kliemu, bħal meta tibda titgħallem issuq karozza, aktar ma tipprattika, aktar tirfina l-ħila tiegħek.

“Pressjoni jkun hemm,” kompla Micallef, “speċjalment meta nirċievu talbiet minn bdoti li jkollhom bżonn tbassir dettaljat. L-importanti li tispjega sewwa dak li tkun qed tosserva u dak li taħseb li jista’ jiġri. Aktar ma tagħti informazzjoni, aktar aħjar, għax hekk bdot ikun jista’ jieħu deċiżjoni aktar infurmata.”

Mill-bdoti għall-bdiewa ... Is-servizzi kollha offruti mill-Uffiċċju Meteoroloġiku Apparti t-tbassir għall-pubbliku inġenerali, l-Uffiċċju Meteoroloġiku jipprovdi għadd ta’ servizzi oħra. Wieħed minn dawn is-servizzi, li forsi ftit jafu bih, huwa t-tbassir u t-twissijiet li l-Uffiċċju Meteoroloġiku joħroġ għallFIR (Flight Information Region) ta’ Malta.

“Meta kkumparata mal-kobor tal-pajjiż, l-FIR tagħna hija fost l-akbar u tinfirex mit-Tuneżija sa Kreta,” kompla jispjega Micallef. “Kull ajruplan li jgħaddi minn din iż-żona, jieħu t-tbassir mingħandna.”

L-Uffiċċju Meteoroloġiku jipprovdi wkoll tbassir speċjalizzat għall-bdiewa, b’mod partikolari minħabba dik imsejħa ‘blight,’ jiġifieri tip ta’ batterja li timpatta lill-ħxejjex u l-frott meta tagħmel ħafna umdità. Bis-saħħa tal-informazzjoni li tingħata, il-bdiewa jkunu jistgħu jilqgħu għaliha.

“Il-klijenti ewlenin tagħna jibqgħu tlieta. L-ajruport li għalih noħorġu twissijiet speċjalizzati, il-pubbliku inġenerali u l-baħħara,” kompla jispjega Brian Micallef.

Il-Medicane tal-2014 u l-Grigalata tal-2018 ... ‘fittnejn li huma nzertajt xogħol’ Meta tkun riesqa xi maltempata, bosta jinteressaw iżjed rwieħhom fittemp. Dan ikompli jżid ix-xogħol fuq l-Uffiċċju Meteoroloġiku li mhux biss ikun irid jaġġorna t-tbassir bl-aħħar żviluppi, imma anke joħroġ twissijiet f’waqthom lill-pubbliku inġenerali, lillbaħħara u lill-bdoti.

Micallef semma żewġ maltempati kbar li jibqa’ jiftakar, anke għax inzerta xogħol meta dawn ħabtu fuq Malta: il-Medicane rari ta’ Novembru 2014 u anke l-Grigalata qawwija ta’ Frar 2018, żewġ maltempati li ħallew ħafna ħsara.

“Ix-xogħol jirdoppja. Apparti t-tbassir u t-twissijiet kontinwi, nirċievu ħafna telefonati mingħand il-pubbliku inġenerali, il-midja u entitajiet oħra,” kompla Micallef.

‘Twissija f’waqtha kapaċi ssalva l-ħajjiet’

Fil-fatt, fost l-entitajiet li l-Uffiċċju Meteoroloġiku jaħdem mill-qrib magħhom, hemm il-Forzi Armati ta’ Malta, partikolarment meta tkun għaddejja xi operazzjoni ta’ tiftix u salvataġġ. Jinżamm ukoll kuntatt kontinwu mal-Protezzjoni Ċivili, l-aktar meta tkun ġejja xi maltempata jew se jqum riħ qawwi, bil-għan li dawn ikunu jistgħu jħejju rwieħhom aħjar.

Twissijiet oħra speċjalizzati jinħarġu għall-ajruport meta jidħlu maltempati li jkunu inqas minn ħames kilometri ‘l bogħod mill-ajrudrom.

Kien hawn li Micallef insista li aktar milli xogħol, dak li joffri l-Uffiċċju Meteoroloġiku, speċjalment f’dawn iċ-ċirkostanzi, huwa servizz lillkomunità. Fi kliemu, twissija maħruġa f’ħinha u f’waqtha hija importanti u saħansitra kapaċi ssalva l-ħajjiet.

‘Meta jidher li ma nkunux qtajna t-temp, ma jfissirx li nkunu morna żmerċ’ Il-preċiżjoni hija strumentali u r-riga li biha jiġi mkejjel it-tbassir tat-temp. Iżda Malta gżira żgħira u għalhekk MIALink staqsa lil Micallef jekk dan jagħmilx ix-xogħol tagħhom aktar diffiċli.

“Jiena dejjem inwieġeb din il-mistoqsija b’analoġija ma’ logħba darts. Għandek ħafna aktar ċans li tolqot id-dart board milli ċ-ċentru. Aktar ma għandek spazju żgħir, aktar se jkun diffiċli li tkun preċiż fil-previżjoni tiegħek,” insista Micallef.

Hawn MIALink ma setax ma jistaqsix lil Micallef il-mistoqsija (jew il-kritika) klassika li jaqla’ kull Uffiċċju Meteoroloġiku meta t-tbassir tat-temp jidher li ma jkunx preċiż. Xi jkun ġara? Għaliex ġieli tkun imbassra x-xita u lanqas tagħmel taqtira?

“Xemx u xita Alla biss jaf meta,” beda jwieġeb Micallef. “Niftakar darba għamlet maltempata qalila Għawdex u kien hemm l-għargħar u f’Malta lanqas niżlet taqtira. Qed naħdmu fuq il-mudelli u qatt ma tista’ tkun preċiż mija fil-mija. Ma jfissirx li nkunu morna żmerċ, anke għax ix-xita mbassra ġieli tkun għamlet fuq il-baħar. L-art tagħna żgħira u x-xita faċli taqbiżna,” temm jgħid Micallef.

Il-Bassar Patrick Zahra u l-Assistenta għall-Amministrazzjoni Federica Briffa

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ANALYSIS

The equity of Malta International Airport plc (MIA) was significantly more active during the trading year of 2023 when compared to 2022.

A total of 804 trades were conducted in 2023, compared to a total of 456 trades in 2022. Similarly, the volumes and value of shares traded were aligned to the increase in the number of trades, at 1,113,661 shares and €6.2 million worth, respectively, which, when compared to 2022, represented an increase of 70 per cent and 64 per cent, respectively.

The first quarter of 2023 was the most active for the equity of MIA, during which 30 per cent of the total trades were executed. Throughout the other three quarters, activity in MIA eased lower with the last quarter of the year comprising just under 20 per cent of the year’s total trades. During 2023, the share price trended between a high of €6.00 (2022: €6.05) and a low of €5.30 (2022: €5.65), closing the year at the €5.75 level.

Meanwhile, trading activity during the first month of 2024 was weaker with 40,249 shares valued at €0.23 million changing hands across 60 deals, down from 95 deals comprising 111,131 shares valued at €0.62 million in the comparable period of 2023.

MIA recently announced that it achieved the target of 7.8 million passengers (in line with its revised guidance published in November 2023). Moreover, for 2024, MIA announced that it expects to “reach a historic milestone” of handling 8 million passengers and generating a record total revenue of €126 million. 2024 is also expected to be a pivotal year for MIA, as the operator expects to conclude the first phases of the expansion of the terminal and construction of Apron X, while other works on the VIP Terminal and SkyParks Business Centre 2 are anticipated to commence.

L-ishma ta’ Malta International Airport plc (MIA) kienu ħafna aktar attivi fis-sena 2023 meta wieħed jikkumpara mas-sena 2022.

Fil-fatt, total ta’ 804 tranżazzjonijiet ġew irreġistrati fl-2023, titjib sostanzjali meta kkumparat mal-456 tranżazzjoni li saru fl-2022. Din iż-żieda fin-numru ta’ tranżazzjonijiet, kienet riflessa wkoll fil-volum u l-valur tal-ishma nnegozjati. Fil-fatt, is-sena li għaddiet, 1,113,661 sehem, b’valur ta’ €6.2 miljun, biddlu l-idejn, li meta mqabbel mal-2022, jirrappreżenta żieda ta’ 70% u 64% rispettivament.

L-ishma kienu l-aktar attivi fl-ewwel kwart tas-sena, b’dawn it-tliet xhur ikunu responsabbli għal 30 fil-mija tattranżazzjonijiet totali. Fil-bqija tas-sena, l-attività kienet xi ftit jew wisq aktar kajmana, b’inqas minn 20 fil-mija tattranżazzjonijiet totali jkunu nnegozjati fl-aħħar tliet xhur tas-sena. Matul l-2023, il-prezz tal-ishma varja bejn livell għoli ta’ €6.00 (2022: €6.05) u livell baxx ta’ €5.30 (2022: €5.65), bis-sena tagħlaq fil-livell ta’ €5.75.

Intant, l-attività tan-negozjati fl-ewwel xahar tal-2024 kienet inqas b’saħħitha meta wieħed iqabbilha mattranżazzjonijiet li saru f’Jannar tal-2023. Fil-fatt, f’Jannar 2024, biddlu l-idejn 40,249 sehem, f’60 tranżazzjoni, b’valur ta’ €0.23 miljun. Fl-istess xahar tas-sena ta’ qabel, saru 95 tranżazzjoni, b’valur ta’ €0.62 miljun li permezz tagħhom 111,131 sehem biddlu l-idejn.

Riċentament, l-Ajruport Internazzjonali ta’ Malta ħabbar li laqa’ is-7.8 miljun passiġġier (biex hekk laħaq il-mira tat-tbassir ippubblikat f’Novembru 2023). Apparti minn hekk, għall-2024, il-kumpanija ħabbret li qed tistenna li tilħaq “mira storika” u tilqa’ 8 miljun passiġġier, filwaqt li tiġġenera dħul totali ta’ €126 miljun. L-2024 mistennija tkun ukoll sena kruċjali għall-kumpanija li tmexxi l-ajruport, hekk kif mistennija tkun konkluża l-ewwel fażi tal-proġett tat-tkabbir tat-terminal u anke l-kostruzzjoni ta’ Apron X, filwaqt li huwa mistenni li jibda x-xogħol fuq it-Terminal VIP u SkyParks Business Centre 2.

THE COMPANY’S FINANCIAL PERFORMANCE FOR THE YEAR ENDED 2023

Resilient demand for air travel led Malta International Airport to close 2023 with a record 7.8 million passenger movements, as traffic volumes increased by 33.4% over 2022. Following the attainment of these positive traffic results, Malta International Airport plc’s Board of Directors approved the Group’s financial statements for 2023 during a meeting held on the 28th of February 2024.

The total revenue generated by the Group in 2023 amounted to €120.2 million, with the aviation segment contributing 68.5 per cent of this total and the non-aviation segment contributing 31.3 per cent.

The Group’s Earnings before Interest, Taxation, Depreciation and Amortisation (EBITDA) increased by 37 per cent over 2022 to reach €75.2 million. The EBITDA margin also registered a slight improvement to stand at 62.6 per cent.

Additionally, the Group’s net profit for the year amounted to €40.3 million compared to a net profit of €38.9 million, inclusive of a tax credit of €12 million, reported in 2022.

Proposal for the Payment of a Dividend

Having considered the Group’s solid financial performance for 2023, the Board of Directors is recommending the payment of a final net dividend of €0.12 per share (Gross EUR 0.1846) on all shares settled as at close of business on the 15th of April 2024, which dividend shall not be paid later than the 31st of May 2024.

Annual General Meeting

The Board of Directors also scheduled the Annual General Meeting of the Company for Wednesday, the 15th of May, 2024. Shareholders on the register of members at the Central Securities Depository as at close of business on the 15th of April 2024 shall be eligible to receive notice, attend and vote at the Annual General Meeting.

For more information regarding the company’s financial performance, please visit maltairport.com/companyannouncements.

IL-PRESTAZZJONI FINANZJARJA TAL-KUMPANIJA GĦAS-SENA 2023

Id-domanda qawwija għall-ivjaġġar bl-ajru wasslet biex salaħħar tal-2023, l-Ajruport Internazzjonali ta’ Malta laqa’ 7.8 miljun passiġġier, hekk kif it-traffiku żdied bi 33.4% fuq l-2022. Wara l-kisba ta’ dawn ir-riżultati pożittivi, il-Bord tad-Diretturi ta’ Malta International Airpot plc, approva r-riżultati finanzjarji tal-Grupp għall-2023, waqt laqgħa li saret fit-28 ta’ Frar 2024.

Id-dħul totali ġġenerat mill-Grupp fl-2023 ammonta għal €120.2 miljun, bil-qasam tal-avjazzjoni jikkontribwixxi għal 68.5 fil-mija ta’ dan id-dħul, filwaqt li d-dħul minn attivitajiet tan-negozju mhux marbuta mal-avjazzjoni kkontribwixxa għal 31.3 fil-mija.

Il-Qligħ tal-Grupp qabel l-Imgħaxx, it-Taxxi, idDeprezzament u l-Amortizzazzjoni (EBITDA) żdied b’37 filmija fuq l-2022 biex laħaq il-€75.2 miljun. Titjib marġinali kien irreġistrat ukoll fil-marġini tal-EBITDA li laħaq it-62.6 fil-mija.

Apparti minn hekk, il-profitt nett tal-Grupp għall-istess sena, ammonta għal €40.3 miljun meta kkumparat ma’ profitt nett ta’ €38.9 miljun, li jinkludi kreditu tat-taxxa ta’ €12-il miljun, irreġistrat fl-2022.

Proposta għall-ħlas tad-dividend Wara li ħa inkonsiderazzjoni l-prestazzjoni finanzjarja b’saħħitha għall-2023, il-Bord tad-Diretturi rrakkomanda l-pagament ta’ dividend finali nett ta’ €0.12 għal kull sehem (Gross €0.1846) fuq l-ishma kollha stabbiliti f’għeluq il-jum tan-negozju fil-15 ta’ April 2024, liema dividend ma għandux jitħallas aktar tard mill-31 ta’ Mejju tal-2024.

Laqgħa Ġenerali Annwali

Il-Bord tad-Diretturi skeda wkoll il-Laqgħa Ġenerali Annwali tal-Kumpanija għal nhar l-Erbgħa, 15 ta’ Mejju, 2024. L-azzjonisti mniżżla fir-reġistru tal-membri tad-Depożitarju Ċentrali tat-Titoli sa għeluq il-jum tan-negozju fil-15 ta’ April 2024, għandhom id-dritt li jkunu infurmati, jattendu u anke jivvotaw fil-Laqgħa Ġenerali Annwali.

Għal aktar informazzjoni dwar il-prestazzjoni finanzjarja tal-kumpanija tista’ żżur maltairport.com/companyannouncments.