Shareholders' Newsletter - Issue 26

Dear Shareholder,

When we issued our first MIA Link for 2022 in March, we were still operating amid great pandemic-induced uncertainty and within stringent travel restrictions, whilst hoping for a good summer. The summer season did usher in much of the activity we had been accustomed to prior to the pandemic, but passenger traffic during our peak summer months still remained between 13 and 17 per cent below 2019 levels. This shows that, while we are on the right path to recovery, it will take a while longer–and a lot of hard work–to reach prepandemic numbers again.

But enough of the pandemic palaver, and on to more positive news from our airport. A couple of weeks ago, we were delighted to welcome Air Serbia back following a temporary suspension of services. The Serbian flag carrier, which had touched down in Malta for the very first time in 1975, has returned to our islands with a biweekly flight to Belgrade as part of our 22/23 winter schedule. The Belgrade route is also being operated by another airline throughout the season; so, if you are looking for your next holiday destination, you might wish to check out what the vibrant Serbian capital with a chequered past has to offer.

If you travel through our airport, do tell us all about your experience by filling in the Secret Passenger Programme survey on our website at this link: maltairport.com/the-secret-passenger-programme. The Secret Passenger Programme was established towards the end of 2020, giving our guests a new platform through which to channel their feedback about the services and facilities offered at Malta International Airport. As a company, we are firm believers in curating airport experiences that exceed our guests’ expectations, and, knowing that the COVID-19 pandemic has changed travellers’ priorities, we felt it important to make this survey available alongside other feedback-collection channels.

Another priority for the company is ensuring that the airport environment is a safe space which inspires confidence in air travel among our guests. Just a couple of weeks ago, we spearheaded a full-scale emergency training exercise, which simulated an aircraft accident and brought together all the stakeholders that would be involved if an actual emergency were to occur at Malta International Airport.

In order to recreate a true-to-life scenario, in addition to the airport team and the relevant stakeholders, around 80 actors and volunteers were brought on board to play the part of injured passengers wearing special effects make-up simulating different injuries. While such full-scale exercises take place once every two years, testing how wellequipped Malta International Airport and its partners are to respond efficiently to an emergency, table-top exercises and routine drills are organised on a much more frequent basis, allowing us to deliver on our promise of maintaining a safe and secure airport environment.

To learn more about what has kept us busy over the past few months, we invite you to sit back and have a browse through what we have prepared for the November issue. On the back page, you will find a number of vouchers which can be redeemed at Malta International Airport. Since we’re now edging closer to the end of the year, we have also included two five-euro tokens in appreciation of your support throughout 2022. Whether you are jetting off on a Christmas break or picking up a loved one who’s visiting for the holidays, we hope that these small tokens contribute to an even better experience at Malta International Airport.

On that note, we would like to wish you and your loved ones joy, peace and health this festive season. We hope that the true spirit of Christmas extends beyond December into 2023.

Merħba

GĦALL-ĦARĠA TA’ NOVEMBRU TAL-MIA LINK

Għażiż Azzjonist, Meta ppubblikajna l-ewwel ħarġa tal-MIA Link għal din issena konna qegħdin noperaw fi sfond ta’ inċertezza kbira u b’restrizzjonijiet stretti fuq l-ivvjaġġar minħabba l-pandemija, filwaqt li nittamaw għal staġun tas-sajf aħjar. Minkejja li x-xhur tas-sajf tabilħaqq ġabu magħhom ħafna mill-attività li konna mdorrijin biha qabel il-pandemija, matul l-aktar xhur impenjattivi tagħna bejn Ġunju u Settembru, in-numru ta’ passiġġieri li ospitajna baqa’ bejn 13% u 17% taħt il-livelli li konna rreġistrajna fl-istess xhur qabel il-pandemija. Dan juri li, filwaqt li qbadna t-triq tal-irkupru, għad fadlilna x’naqdfu sabiex nerġgħu nilħqu dak li konna ksibna fis-sena rekord tal-2019.

Iżda issa ejja nħarsu naqra lejn aħbarijiet aktar pożittivi middinja tal-Ajruport Internazzjonali ta’ Malta. Xi ftit tal-ġimgħat ilu, erġajna lqajna fostna lil Air Serbia, wara li din il-linja talajru kienet issospendiet is-servizzi tagħha lejn il-gżejjer Maltin. Il-linja nazzjonali tas-Serbja, li operat l-ewwel titjira tagħha lejn Malta lura fl-1975, issa qiegħda terġa’ toffri servizz lejn Belgrad bħala parti mill-iskeda ta’ titjiriet tal-ajruport għaxxitwa 22/23. Ir-rotta ta’ Belgrad qiegħda tiġi operata wkoll minn linja tal-ajru oħra, u jekk qiegħed tfittex destinazzjoni għall-btala li jmiss, forsi tista’ tikkunsidra l-kapitali tas-Serbja x’għandha x’toffri.

Jekk ser tivvjaġġa mill-ajruport tagħna, tinsiex li issa tista’ taqsam magħna l-esperjenza tiegħek billi timla l-istħarriġ li jagħmel parti mis-Secret Passenger Programme u li huwa disponibbli fuq maltairport.com/the-secret-passenger-programme. Is-Secret Passenger Programme twaqqaf lejn l-aħħar tal-2020, bil-għan li l-passiġġieri tagħna jingħataw pjattaforma oħra li permezz tagħha jkunu jistgħu jgħidulna x’jaħsbu dwar is-servizzi u l-faċilitajiet tal-ajruport. Bħala kumpanija, dejjem ħdimna sabiex nisbqu l-aspettattivi talpassiġġieri tagħna, u billi nafu li l-COVID-19 kellha impatt fuq dak li jfittxu l-vjaġġaturi f’ajruport, ħsibna li dan l-istħarriġ ikun għodda tajba sabiex jgħinna nkomplu nifhmu l-prijoritajiet tal-passiġġieri tagħna.

Prijorità oħra għall-kumpanija hija li nżommu l-ogħla livelli ta’ sigurtà fl-ajruport. Ftit tal-ġimgħat ilu, organizzajna eżerċizzju fuq skala sħiħa ta’ taħriġ għal xenarju ta’ emerġenza, li fih ġiet simulata sitwazzjoni fejn ajruplan kien involut f’aċċident. Dan l-eżerċizzju kien importanti minħabba li laqqa’ flimkien l-entitajiet kollha li kieku jkunu involuti f’każ li sseħħ emerġenza fl-ajruport.

Sabiex tinħoloq sitwazzjoni kemm jista’ jkun reali, minbarra t-team tal-Ajruport Internazzjonali ta’ Malta u għadd ta’ entitajiet oħrajn, ħadu sehem ukoll mat80 attur u volontier, li permezz ta’ make-up b’effetti speċjali setgħu jidħlu aktar fil-parti ta’ passiġġieri midrubin. Filwaqt li eżerċizzju fuq dan il-livell isir darba kull sentejn, sabiex jiġi ddeterminat kemm huma mgħammrin tajjeb l-ajruport u l-entitajiet relevanti sabiex jirrispondu b’mod effiċjenti għal emerġenza, eżerċizzji fuq skala iżgħar isiru b’mod aktar regolari sabiex dejjem inkunu lesti għal kull ma jista’ jinqala’.

Fil-kumplament tal-paġni ta’ dan il-fuljett, tista’ taqra aktar dwar il-proġetti li żammewna impenjati f’dawn l-aħħar xhur. Fuq wara ta’ din il-pubblikazzjoni, ser issib għadd ta’ kupuni li jistgħu jissarrfu f’servizzi u millħwienet li jinsabu fl-Ajruport Internazzjonali ta’ Malta. Minħabba li issa qed noqorbu lejn tmiem is-sena, inkludejna wkoll żewġ kupuni ta’ ħames ewro bħala ringrazzjament ċkejken tal-appoġġ tagħkom matul issena 2022. Sew jekk se ssiefru biex tgawdu l-festi barra minn xtutna jew ser tiġu tiġbru lil xi ħadd tal-familja li ser ikun qed iqatta’ l-Milied Malta, nittamaw li dawn ilkupuni jservu sabiex l-esperjenza tagħkom fl-ajruport tkun waħda aħjar.

Fuq dik-nota, nixtiequ nawguraw lilkom u lill-għeżiez tagħkom l-isbaħ xewqat għall-festi. Nittamaw li l-ispirtu veru tal-Milied jestendi lil hinn minn Diċembru fis-sena l-ġdida 2023.

Life seems to be falling back into place after having been put on hold for too many months. By July 2022, most European countries-including Malta-had completely scrapped travel restrictions, opening the floodgates to people’s bottled-up longing to travel unhampered. It was a relief to see Malta International Airport humming with life once again from April onwards, but it was also quite the task to maintain a smooth operation, particularly on our busiest days. Although monthly passenger numbers remained below pre-pandemic figures, on certain summer days, traffic peaks were even higher than 2019 levels. While summer 2022 has been dubbed by many as the summer of discontent, due to the many challenges faced by the industry across Europe as travel came roaring back, feel that through planning, the recruitment of new talent, and close cooperation with our stakeholders, we were able to rise to the occasion on most days.

Although we have now entered the slower paced winter season, we are striving to keep the momentum picked during the summer months going. Just a couple of weeks ago, together with the airport’s Traffic Development team and representatives from the Malta Tourism Authority, I attended Routes World 2022; a conference which brought together more than 700 airlines, airports, and aviation organisations from across the globe. It was particularly refreshing to be able to hold in-person meetings with potential airline partners and industry professionals, during which we had the opportunity to discuss present challenges and look beyond the immediate future.

While we have recovered around 75 per cent of pre-pandemic winter connectivity, our aim is to continue rebuilding our route network, with a strong focus on establishing more connections between Malta and Northern Europe and Scandinavia, as well as restoring connections in regional airports, notably in the United Kingdom and Germany. We shall also continue working towards addressing seasonality, with the aim of stimulating more evenly spread tourist inflows across the year for economic reasons, as well as to dilute the demand on the island and its resources at any given time.

The return to a semblance of normality, together with the Planning Authority’s approval earlier this year, has also allowed us to kick-start works on the Apron X multi-million project, with the excavation of the site having started in September. This project, which will equip our airport with the aerodrome infrastructure needed to handle future growth, is set to be executed in two main phases, the first one of which is expected to be concluded by summer 2024. This ambitious project will also include a number of environmental considerations through the construction of a reservoir for better rainwater harvesting and preparatory works for the electrification of aircraft parking stands, in line with the European Union’s plan to reduce greenhouse gas emissions Fit for 55.

Over the coming years, environmental considerations will increasingly be factored into the way we operate and the development of new airport infrastructure, as we seek to further minimise our carbon, waste, and water footprints. If you are interested in learning more about Malta International Airport’s environmental journey, you can have a browse through our recently published sustainability report on our website in the corporate responsibility section.

would like to conclude my message with a mention of a project am very proud of: the complete overhaul of our airport food court and the area leading to it. Back in May, Avotaco, Banh Mi, Dr Juice Natural Good Food and Sotto Pinsa Romana joined anchor tenants Burger King and KFC on Level -1, improving the food offering at Malta International Airport by leaps and bounds. If you have not visited our new food court yet, I invite you to come see for yourselves what an incredible transformation this area has undergone. Further transformations and changes to our food and beverage offering are set to take place over the coming months, in line with our vision to be one of the best airports in Europe both in terms of service and the facilities offered.

On that note, I would like to thank you for your support, and promise that the company will continue working full steam ahead towards a complete recovery.

IL-MESSAĠĠ

tas-CEO

Il-ħajja donnha reġgħet qabdet it-ritmu normali tagħha wara xhur sħaħ li ħarbtu dar-ritmu. Sa Lulju 2022, ħafna millpajjiżi Ewropej-inkluża Malta-kienu neħħew għalkollox irrestrizzjonijiet fuq l-ivvjaġġar, biex b’hekk kulħadd seta’ jerġa’ jibda jsiefer b’mod aktar ħieles. Kienet xi ħaġa sabiħa wisq li erġajna rajna lill-Ajruport Internazzjonali ta’ Malta jieħu l-ħajja minn April ’il quddiem, minkejja li l-isfidi sabiex kollox jimxi bla ntoppi, partikolarment fl-aktar jiem impenjattivi, ma naqsux. Għalkemm in-numru ta’ passiġġieri ta’ kull xahar baqa’ taħt iċ-ċifri ta’ qabel il-pandemija, f’ċerti jiem tas-sajf, stajna ninnutaw li l-livelli tat-traffiku tal-passiġġieri kienu qegħdin ikunu ogħla minn dawk tal-2019. Filwaqt li s-sajf 2022 tlaqqam minn ħafna bħala s-sajf tal-iskuntentizza, minħabba l-ħafna sfidi li affaċċjat l-industrija tal-avjazzjoni fl-Ewropa, inħoss li permezz ta’ pjanar bir-reqqa, ir-reklutaġġ ta’ persuni ġodda u ħidma kollaborattiva mas-sħab tagħna rnexxielna negħlbu ħafna mill-ostakoli li xirfu matul l-istaġun.

Ir-ritorn lejn in-normalità, flimkien mal-approvazzjoni tal-Awtorità tal-Ippjanar aktar kmieni din is-sena, ippermettielna nagħtu bidu għall-ħidma tagħna fuq ilproġett ta’ Apron X, permezz tal-iskavi tas-sit f’Settembru. Dan il-proġett, li ser jgħammarna bl-infrastruttura neċessarja fl-ajrudrom sabiex inkunu nifilħu għal aktar tkabbir, ser ikun eżegwit f’żewġ fażijiet prinċipali, b’dik talewwel mistennija titlesta sas-sajf tal-2024. Dan il-proġett ambizzjuż ser jinkludi wkoll għadd ta’ kunsiderazzjonijiet ambjentali permezz tal-bini ta’ ġibjun sabiex jinħażen aktar ilma tax-xita u xogħlijiet ta’ tħejjija sabiex titwassal provvista tal-elettriku sal-istands ta’ parkeġġ tal-ajruplani l-ġodda, f’konformità mal-pjan tal-Unjoni Ewropea għattnaqqis tal-emissjonijiet ta’ gassijiet b’effett serra Fit for 55.

Għalkemm issa dħalna fl-istaġun aktar kwiet tax-xitwa, qegħdin nagħmlu l-almu tagħna sabiex inkomplu nibnu fuq dak li ksibna fis-sajf. Ftit tal-ġimgħat ilu, flimkien matteam tal-Iżvilupp tat-Traffiku tal-ajruport u rappreżentanti tal-Awtorità Maltija għat-Turiżmu, attendejt Routes World 2022; konferenza li laqqgħet aktar minn 700 linja talajru, ajruport u organizzazzjoni tal-avjazzjoni mill-erba’ naħat tad-dinja. Kienet ħaġa tassew sabiħa li stajna nerġgħu niltaqgħu wiċċ imb wiċċ ma’ esperti fl-industrija sabiex niddiskutu l-isfidi li għandna bħalissa kif ukoll opportunitajiet ġodda sabiex naħdmu flimkien.

Filwaqt li permezz tal-iskeda tax-xitwa 22/23 ksibna madwar 75% tal-konnessjonijiet li kellna f’dan l-istaġun qabel il-pandemija, l-għan tagħna huwa li nkomplu nibnu n-netwerk ta’ rotot li jgħaqqad lil Malta mal-bqija tad-dinja. Ser inkomplu niffukaw l-attenzjoni tagħna fuq l-introduzzjoni ta’ aktar titjiriet bejn Malta u swieq fit-Tramuntana tal-Ewropa u l-Iskandinavja, kif ukoll fuq l-irkupru ta’ konnessjonijiet ma’ ajruporti reġjonali, partikolarment fir-Renju Unit u l-Ġermanja. Prijorità oħra fl-istrateġija tagħna ser tkun li nkomplu naħdmu sabiex innaqqsu l-istaġjonalità, bil-għan li nistimolaw turiżmu mifrux matul is-sena kollha, kemm għal raġunijiet ekonomiċi u kemm sabiex intaffu l-piż fuq il-gżejjer tagħna u r-riżorsi tagħhom f’xhur partikolari.

Fis-snin li ġejjin, ser inkunu qegħdin nintegraw aktar kunsiderazzjonijiet ambjentali fil-mod kif noperaw u fliżvilupp ta’ kwalunkwe infrastruttura ġdida tal-ajruport, biex b’hekk inkomplu nnaqqsu l-impronta ambjentali tagħna f’termini ta’ emissjonijiet tal-karbonju, skart u użu tal-ilma. Jekk inti interessat tkun taf aktar dwar il-vjaġġ ambjentali tal-Ajruport Internazzjonali ta’ Malta, nistiednek tagħti titwila lir-rapport dwar is-sostenibbiltà li ppubblikajna ftit ilu fuq is-sit elettroniku tagħna fit-taqsima ddedikata lirresponsabbiltà korporattiva.

Nixtieq nikkonkludi dan il-messaġġ billi nsemmi proġett li tassew qiegħed għal qalbi; il-proġett tal-food court. F’Mejju li għadda, fetħu l-bibien tagħhom għall-pubbliku Avotaco, Banh Mi, Dr Juice Natural Good Food u Sotto Pinsa Romana, biex b’hekk l-għażla ta’ ħwienet tal-ikel fil-Livell -1 kibret ġmielha. Jekk għadek ma żortx il-food court il-ġdida, nistiednek tagħtina titwila sabiex tkun tista’ tapprezza aħjar it-trasformazzjoni li saret f’din il-parti tal-ajruport, u forsi anki dduq l-ikel bnin b’togħmiet minn madwar iddinja li qegħdin joffru l-ħwienet l-ġodda. Fix-xhur li ġejjin huma mistennijin isiru aktar trasformazzjonijiet u bidliet fil-ħwienet tal-ajruport, f’konformità mal-viżjoni tagħna li l-Ajruport Internazzjonali ta’ Malta jkun wieħed mill-aqwa fl-Ewropa kemm f’termini ta’ servizz u kemm fir-rigward ta’ faċilitajiet provduti.

Fuq dik in-nota, nixtieq nirringrazzjak tal-appoġġ tiegħek, u nwiegħdek li l-kumpanija ser tkompli taħdem sabiex l-irkupru tagħna jkun wieħed sħiħ u sostenibbli

The recently revamped airport Food Court on Level -1

Passenger Traffic for the First 9 Months of 2022

Following two years of extreme uncertainty for the aviation industry, the second quarter of 2022 and the subsequent months brought some stability and increased visibility for Malta International Airport. This allowed the company to publish its first passenger traffic forecast in two years, projecting that, by the end of 2022, it will have hosted more than 5.7 million passengers. Here is a detailed traffic report for the first nine months of the year.

A slow Q1 followed

by signs of recovery

The year 2022 started on a sluggish note, as the repercussions of knee-jerk reactions to an increase in coronavirus cases and new variants towards the end of 2021, extended into the new year. A dismal first quarter saw Malta International Airport welcome just 672,965 passengers, which total fell 44.1 per cent below the traffic it had handled in the same quarter prior to the outbreak of the pandemic.

The first three months of the year were followed by an uptick in passenger numbers in April, largely driven by the launch of Malta International Airport’s new flight schedule together with the Easter holiday effect. During the month’s busiest week, which fell between April 18 and 24, Malta International Airport welcomed 133,267 passengers, almost equalling the number of passengers it had handled in January 2022.

The gap between 2022 results and pre-pandemic figures narrowed gradually during the second quarter, from a 21.3 per cent drop in April to 16.4 per cent in June. However, at 81.7 per cent, Malta International Airport’s average recovery rate for the second quarter of the year remained below the rates registered by direct competitor destinations such as Greece (96.7 per cent), Portugal (95.6 per cent) and Spain (89.3 per cent). This lag can be partly attributed to the fact that, while the local authorities eased a good number of restrictions in the second quarter of 2022, Malta’s travel requirements remained quite stringent compared to those of other European countries until July.

More than 2 million passengers welcomed in the third quarter

The third quarter started off with welcome news for the local tourism industry, as Malta joined other European countries in completely scrapping its travel restrictions on July 25. During the third quarter, Malta International Airport welcomed 2.05 million passengers, with this total falling 13.6 per cent below pre-pandemic levels.

Strong seat load factors (SLF) were registered throughout the quarter, with each month registering an increase in SLF ranging between 1.2 per cent and 3.3 per cent compared to pre-pandemic levels. At 90.4 per cent, August’s seat load factor became Malta International Airport’s highest-ever seat occupancy rate. Unsurprisingly, August was the airport’s busiest month, during which the 700,000-passenger mark was surpassed for the first time since 2019.

The top drivers of traffic during this quarter were Italy, the United Kingdom, France, Germany and Spain. While the number of passengers that travelled to and from Italy and France during this quarter increased by 7.2 per cent and 35.1 per cent respectively compared to 2019, the United Kingdom (-33.8 per cent), Germany (-33.4 per cent) and Spain (-19.0 per cent) continued to recover at a slow pace.

Malta International Airport’s expectations for the winter 22/23 season

Having launched its winter flight schedule in mid-October, Malta International Airport has recovered around 75 per cent of its pre-pandemic connectivity for the season.

One of the highlights of this schedule is the return of Air Serbia with a biweekly flight, constituting a much-welcome decision given Malta International Airport’s efforts to maintain a healthy mix of airlines operating to and from Malta. The schedule also features up to 14 weekly flights to Istanbul, up from seven weekly flights operated during the winter 21/22 season.

The Maltese Islands are now connected to Sweden once again through a biweekly flight to Stockholm, following the suspension of this route by Scandinavian Airlines in 2021. This development falls in line with Malta International Airport’s endeavours to better tap into the potential presented by the Scandinavian market, which is currently connected to Malta through flights to Sweden and Denmark.

Although this schedule augurs well for the winter months and Malta International Airport’s continued recovery, the season is not expected to be without challenges for the wider aviation industry. Apart from industry-specific challenges, such as staff shortages which may have already dealt a new blow to consumer confidence in the summer, a combination of economic and geopolitical factors may have an impact on the demand for air travel. For the time being, shorter booking times continue to be favoured by a number of passengers, making it difficult to gauge what the exact impact of factors such as inflation on demand will be this winter.

2019 365,995 359,455 477,533 653,258 674,101 721,565 798,453 823,653 762,361 2022 159,357 196,895 316,713 513,979 554,820 603,532 689,145 712,122 658,569

Ħarsa Lejn l-Ewwel 9 Xhur tas-Sena 2022

Wara sentejn ta’ inċertezza kbira għall-industrija talavjazzjoni, it-tieni kwart tal-2022 u x-xhur ta’ warajh ġabu magħhom xi ftit stabbiltà u viżibbiltà aħjar għall-Ajruport Internazzjonali ta’ Malta. Dan ippermetta lill-kumpanija sabiex, għall-ewwel darba fi żmien sentejn, tippubblika t-tbassir tat-traffiku tagħha għas-sena, fejn ħabbret li qiegħda tistenna li sa tmiem l-2022 tkun laqgħet aktar minn 5.7 miljun passiġġier. F’dan l-artiklu ser nagħtu ħarsa fiddettall lejn ir-riżultati tat-traffiku tal-Ajruport Internazzjonali ta’ Malta għall-ewwel disa’ xhur tas-sena.

Bidu kajman segwit minn sinjali ta’ rkupru Is-sena 2022 bdiet fuq nota pjuttost skoraġġanti, hekk kif ir-riperkussjonijiet ta’ deċiżjonijiet li kienu ttieħdu hekk kif bdew jiżdiedu l-każijiet tal-coronavirus u feġġ varjant ġdid, estendew fis-sena l-ġdida. L-ewwel kwart kien wieħed batut, fejn l-Ajruport Internazzjonali ta’ Malta laqa’ biss 672,965 passiġġier, jiġifieri 44.1% taħt iċ-ċifri li kien irrapporta fl-istess perjodu fl-2019.

L-ewwel tliet xhur tas-sena kienu segwiti minn żieda filpassiġġieri f’April, li kienet ir-riżultat tat-tnedija ta’ skeda ta’ titjiriet ġdida mill-ajruport flimkien mal-vaganzi talGħid. Fl-aktar ġimgħa impenjattiva tax-xahar, li kienet bejn it-18 u l-24 ta’ April, l-Ajruport Internazzjonali ta’ Malta laqa’ 133,267 passiġġier, u b’hekk kważi laħaq innumru ta’ passiġġieri li kien irrapporta għax-xahar sħiħ ta’ Jannar 2022.

Il-qabża bejn ir-riżultati għall-2022 u dawk ta’ qabel ilpandemija kompliet tingħalaq gradwalment matul ittieni kwart, hekk kif it-tnaqqis ta’ 21.3% ta’ April niżel għal 16.4% f’Ġunju. Madankollu, ir-rata ta’ rkupru medja ta’ 81.7% li rreġistra l-Ajruport Internazzjonali ta’ Malta f’dan il-kwart kienet aktar baxxa minn dik ta’ destinazzjonijiet simili għal Malta bħall-Greċja (96.7%), il-Portugall (95.6%) u Spanja (89.3%). L-irkupru aktar kajman ta’ Malta jista’ jiġi parzjalment attribwit għall-fatt li, filwaqt li l-awtoritajiet lokali rrilassaw numru ta’ restrizzjonijiet fit-tieni kwart tal2022, ir-rekwiżiti sabiex tivvjaġġa lejn Malta baqgħu wħud mill-aktar stretti, meta mqabblin ma’ dawk ta’ pajjiżi Ewropej oħrajn, sa Lulju.

Aktar minn 2 miljun passiġġier għaddew mill-ajruport fit-tielet kwart It-tielet kwart beda b’aħbar tajba għall-industrija tatturiżmu lokali, hekk kif Malta ngħaqdet ma’ għadd ta’ pajjiżi Ewropej oħrajn bit-tneħħija għalkollox tar-restrizzjonijiet fuq l-ivvjaġġar fil-25 ta’ Lulju. F’dan il-kwart, l-Ajruport Internazzjonali ta’ Malta laqa’ 2.05 miljun passiġġier, b’dan it-total ikun 13.6% taħt il-livelli tal-2019 għall-istess kwart.

Matul it-tielet kwart ġew irreġistrati seat load factors (SLF) għoljin, b’Lulju, Awwissu u Settembru jirreġistraw żieda fis-SLF ta’ bejn 1.2% u 3.3% fuq il-livelli ta’ qabel il-pandemija. Is-SLF ta’ Awwissu laħaq il-livell ta’ 90.4%, li kien l-ogħla SLF li qatt irreġistra l-Ajruport Internazzjonali ta’ Malta. Awwissu kien l-aktar xahar impenjattiv għall-ajruport fejn, għall-ewwel darba mill-2019, inqabeż is-700,000 moviment tal-passiġġieri.

L-aqwa swieq għal dawn it-tliet xhur kienu l-Italja, ir-Renju Unit, Franza, il-Ġermanja u Spanja. Filwaqt li n-numru ta’ passiġġieri li vjaġġaw minn u lejn l-Italja u Franza żdied b’7.2% u 35.1% rispettivament meta mqabbel mal-2019, irRenju Unit (-33.8%), il-Ġermanja (-33.4%) u Spanja (-19.0%) komplew jirkupraw b’pass kajman.

L-aspettattivi tal-Ajruport Internazzjonali ta’ Malta għall-istaġun tax-xitwa 22/23

L-Ajruport Internazzjonali ta’ Malta nieda l-iskeda ta’ titjiriet għax-xitwa f’nofs Ottubru, fejn irkupra madwar 75% talkonnessjonijiet li kellu fl-istess staġun qabel il-pandemija.

F’din l-iskeda qegħdin nerġgħu naraw lil Air Serbia, li rritornat lejn il-gżejjer Malta b’servizz ta’ darbtejn f’ġimgħa. Din iddeċiżjoni min-naħa ta’ Air Serbia kienet partikolarment inkoraġġanti għall-Ajruport Internazzjonali ta’ Malta u l-istrateġija tiegħu li jattira taħlita tajba ta’ linji tal-ajru sabiex joperaw minn u lejn Malta. L-iskeda toffri wkoll sa 14-il titjira fil-ġimgħa lejn Istanbul, jiġifieri titjib kunsiderevoli fuq l-iskeda tax-xitwa 21/22 li kienet toffri biss seba’ titjiriet filġimgħa lejn din il-belt fit-Turkija.

Il-gżejjer Maltin qegħdin jerġgħu jgawdu minn żewġ titjiriet fil-ġimgħa lejn Stokkolma għal darba oħra, wara li din irrotta, li kienet operata minn Scandinavian Airlines, kienet ġiet sospiża fl-2021. Dan l-iżvilupp huwa parti mill-isforzi tal-ajruport sabiex jisfrutta l-potenzjal ippreżentat missuq Skandinavu, li bħalissa huwa aċċessibbli minn Malta permezz ta’ titjiriet diretti lejn l-Isvezja u d-Danimarka.

Minkejja li din l-iskeda tawgura tajjeb għall-istaġun taxxitwa u l-vjaġġ ta’ rkupru tal-Ajruport Internazzjonali ta’ Malta, l-istaġun huwa mistenni jkun ikkaratterizzat minn għadd ta’ sfidi għall-industrija tal-avjazzjoni. Minbarra sfidi li huma speċifiċi għall-industrija, bħan-nuqqas ta’ persunal, taħlita ta’ fatturi ekonomiċi u ġeopolitiċi jista’ jkun li jħallu impatt fuq id-domanda għall-ivvjaġġar bl-ajru. Barra minn hekk, għadd ta’ passiġġieri għadhom qegħdin iħallu għallaħħar sabiex jibbukkjaw titjira, fattur li jagħmilha diffiċli sabiex jitkejjel l-estent tal-impatt ta’ fatturi bħall-inflazzjoni fuq id-domanda għall-ivvjaġġar din ix-xitwa.

THE COMPANY’S

Financial Performance in the First Three Quarters of 2022

Malta International Airport published its financial results for the first three quarters of the year in November, disclosing that the group’s revenues for the period between January and September 2022 had totalled €66.5 million. While 67 per cent of this total stemmed from aviation activities, 33 per cent was generated through non-aviation activities, in line with the company’s strategy to maintain a healthy balance between the two revenue streams.

A look at the company’s Statement of Comprehensive Income (SOCI) shows that staff costs during the first nine months of the year increased by 46.1 per cent over the same comparable period in 2021. This notable increase was driven by the discontinuation of the COVID-19 wage supplement benefit in May 2022. Moreover, the company started recruiting new talent in 2022, following the discontinuation of the hiring freeze it had introduced at the onset of the pandemic as part of its efforts to minimise costs. It was deemed crucial to start bringing new people on board earlier this year in order to have the necessary human resources in place to handle busier operations, particularly in the peak summer months, as air travel made a comeback.

The company also revealed that operating costs for the first nine months of the year experienced an increase compared to 2021, largely as a result of Malta International Airport’s busier operation and the

company’s less stringent approach to cash management as it started to recover.

Malta International Airport’s capital expenditure during the first nine months of 2022 amounted to €9,697,491, with the airport Food Court project and the construction of new warehousing facilities at the airport’s Cargo Village being two of the major contributors to this investment amount.

Given the positive results achieved in the first three quarters and the €12 million tax credit the company will be benefitting from, Malta International Airport revised the guidance it had issued to the market in July 2022. Whereas the company had originally projected that its revenues would exceed €82 million by the end of 2022, the revised forecast shows that the company now expects to generate more than €85 million. To read more about the company’s expectations in relation to other financial indicators, visit maltairport.com/company-announcements

Il-Prestazzjoni Finanzjarja tal-Kumpanija fl-Ewwel Disa’ Xhur tas-Sena 2022

L-Ajruport Internazzjonali ta’ Malta ppubblika r-riżultati finanzjarji tiegħu għall-ewwel disa’ xhur tas-sena aktar kmieni f’Novembru, fejn ħabbar li d-dħul tal-grupp għall-perjodu bejn Jannar u Settembru 2022 kien laħħaq is-€66.5 miljun. Filwaqt li 67% ta’ dan it-total ġie ġġenerat minn attivitajiet marbutin mal-avjazzjoni, 33% ġie ġġenerat minn attivitajiet marbutin mal-proprjetà u l-bejgħ, f’konformità mal-istrateġija tal-kumpanija sabiex tilħaq bilanċ tajjeb bejn dawn iż-żewġ sorsi ta’ dħul.

Ħarsa lejn id-Rapport ta’ Dħul Komprensiv tal-kumpanija juri li l-ispejjeż marbutin mal-persunal għall-ewwel disa’ xhur tas-sena żdiedu b’46.1% fuq l-istess perjodu kumparabbli fl-2021. Din iż-żieda notevoli tista’ tiġi attribwita għall-fatt li filwaqt li l-kumpanija rċeviet ilbenefiċċju tal-pagi tal-COVID-19 matul is-sena 2021 kollha, dan il-benefiċċju twaqqaf f’Mejju 2022. Barra minn hekk, il-kumpanija reġgħet bdiet tingaġġa persunal ġdid fl-2022, wara li kienet waqfet tagħmel dan meta faqqgħet il-pandemija bħala parti mill-isforzi tagħha sabiex timminimizza l-ispejjeż. Inħass li kien kruċjali li jiddaħħlu aktar nies fit-team aktar kmieni din is-sena sabiex jiġi żgurat li l-kumpanija jkollha r-riżorsi umani kollha neċessarji sabiex tkun tista’ tlaħħaq mal-operat, partikolarment fl-aqwa xhur tas-sajf, hekk kif l-ivvjaġġar beda jirkupra ġmielu.

Barra minn hekk, ġiet irrappurtata wkoll żieda fuq l-2021 fi spejjeż oħrajn marbutin mal-operat. Din iż-żieda rriżultat prinċipalment minħabba li l-ajruport beda jesperjenza jiem aktar impenjattivi, kif ukoll minħabba li l-kumpanija biddlet l-approċċ tagħha lejn il-ġestjoni tal-likwidità, minn wieħed immirat lejn l-iffrankar tal-flus għal wieħed iffukat aktar fuq l-irkupru tal-ajruport.

In-nefqa kapitali tal-Ajruport Internazzjonali ta’ Malta fl-ewwel disa’ xhur tal-2022 ammontat għal €9,697,491, bil-proġett tal-Food Court il-ġdida u l-bini ta’ mħażen ġodda bħala parti mill-Cargo Village tal-ajruport ikunu tnejn mill-akbar kontributuri għal din in-nefqa.

Wara li kkunsidrat ir-riżultati pożittivi li kisbet fl-ewwel disa’ xhur tas-sena u l-kreditu ta’ taxxa ta’ €12-il miljun li ser tibbenefika minnu, il-kumpanija rrevediet il-gwida li kienet ħarġet lis-suq f’Lulju 2022. Filwaqt li l-kumpanija kienet oriġinarjament proġettat li d-dħul tagħha ser jaqbeż it-€82 miljun sal-aħħar tas-sena, it-tbassir rivedut juri li l-kumpanija issa qiegħda tistenna li tiġġenera dħul li jaqbeż il-€85 miljun. Għal aktar informazzjoni dwar l-aspettattivi tal-kumpanija b’rabta ma’ indikaturi finanzjarji oħrajn, tista’ żżur maltairport.com/ company-announcements.

UNEARTHING THE SECRETS OF

Malta’s Fascinating Underwater World

The saying goes that out of sight is out mind. Very often, this holds true for underwater cultural and natural treasures, given that the submerged world can only be fully experienced by divers and researchers. MIA Link spoke to Professor Timothy Gambin and Maja Sausmekat from Heritage Malta’s Underwater Cultural Heritage Unit about the unit’s role in bringing underwater cultural heritage closer to the public, as well as its current major undertaking, which is being supported by the Malta Airport Foundation.

What lies beneath the surface just off Xlendi Bay

Xlendi Bay in Gozo certainly needs no introduction, being a popular bathing, diving and eating-out spot with locals and tourists alike. But perhaps few are aware that just off Xlendi Bay, at an impressive depth of 105 metres, is a vast area where artefacts, which date back some 2,300 years to the time when the Maltese Islands were an important part of the Punic trade network, abound.

This submerged trove of Punic artefacts, including amphorae, urns and other items, was discovered in 1993, when a submarine survey was being carried out. However, it was not until 2007 that the vastness of this underwater site of high archaeological value was revealed. A mapping and

documentation exercise concluded that year showed that archaeological material was spread across a rectangular area measuring 67,000 m2

The concentration of homogenous artefacts in one place suggests that more than one Punic vessel sank in close proximity to the site. However, the Underwater Cultural Heritage Unit, with the support of other institutions including the University of Malta and the Superintendence of Cultural Heritage, is still trying to gain a proper understanding of how this underwater archaeological hot-spot came to be, as part of its ongoing undertaking to declare the area the world’s first deep-water archaeological park.

Photo credit: D. Gration / Tower Wreck Project

The world’s first deep-water archaeological park

In 2020, the newly established Underwater Cultural Heritage Unit embarked on a trailblazing undertaking to declare the underwater site, found beneath Xlendi’s coastal watch tower, the world’s first deep-water archaeological park. While deep-water historical sites, such as shipwrecks, are not uncommon across the globe, the Xlendi marine park presents a first due to its size and the unique composition of ancient artefacts and natural heritage of the area, which are expected to pique the interest of specialised divers and researchers hailing from different fields.

Site surveys and the documentation process of the area kicked off in 2021, have extended into 2022, and are set to continue in 2023. The already-painstaking documentation process, which is being conducted through the use of

photogrammetry or the capturing of thousands of highresolution photos to create a detailed image of the site, is rendered even more challenging by the archaeological expanse and the depth at which the researchers are operating. To put things into perspective, most diveable shipwrecks are found at around 50 metres below sea level, while the site in Xlendi lies at a depth of around 105 metres.

Professor Gambin explained that the technical divers who are working on this project can only spend 14 minutes at a time on the seabed due to the decompression and safety requirements that must be followed to ensure that the operation is carried out safely. This means that only an area of approximately 600 m2 can be covered as part of a day’s dive.

Bringing this underwater museum closer to the public

While the site has not yet been documented in its entirety, a significant number of amphorae, urns, jugs and bowls dating to the Punic period of the Maltese Islands’ history, particularly the fourth and third centuries BC, have already been discovered. These items correspond to every example of known containers listed in the Maltese Punic archaeological record, and also present types that had been previously unknown both locally and beyond the Maltese Islands’ shores.

The team, which is comprised of archaeologists and other specialists besides divers, has embarked on the mammoth task of quantifying and classifying the thousands of artefacts that lie on the seabed, with the aim of creating a geodatabase of items with different levels of access to heritage managers and the public.

When asked whether any of these artefacts have been elevated from the seabed to be put on public display, Professor Gambin and Sausmekat explained that, so far, there are no plans to raise these objects to the surface. In fact, as a signatory to the UNESCO Convention on the

Protection of Underwater Cultural Heritage, Malta practises in situ preservation as its first preference, raising items only if they are deemed to have unique scientific value.

This approach may initially appear to be at odds with the Underwater Cultural Heritage Unit’s mission of increasing the visibility of underwater cultural heritage among the non-diving community. However, plans are for community engagement to be achieved through the innovative use of 3D technology and 360-degree videos, which will allow for an immersive experience without the need of donning a diving suit.

Moreover, the deep-water marine park will be added to the Underwater Malta Virtual Museum – www.underwatermalta. org – permitting free virtual tours of this submerged site together with other wrecks from the comfort of one’s living room. By spring 2023, those who prefer in-person experiences to virtual ones, will also be able to visit the Xlendi coastal watch tower, which is set to house a permanent exhibition shedding further light on the Xlendi deep-water project.

The Malta Airport Foundation’s involvement in this project

The Malta Airport Foundation is supporting this project through the sponsorship of some of the infrastructure that is needed to ensure that the area is safeguarded and access to it is managed. The Foundation will be bankrolling four branded marker buoys, which will demarcate the area, and a rigid-hull inflatable boat (RHIB), which will be used to patrol the park.

This is not the Malta Airport Foundation’s first venture into the Maltese Islands’ underwater world, having already supported the making of two underwater documentaries revolving around Filfla and Comino and recently launched a mini documentary series shining the spotlight on six wrecks titled Submerged World

The Malta Airport Foundation had also supported the Phoenician shipwreck expedition, which is another important underwater site in Xlendi.

IS-SIGRIETI LI JOSTOR

il-Baħar li Jdawwar lill-Gżejjer Maltin

Il-qawl Malti jgħid li ladarba xi ħaġa tkun bogħod mill-għajn tkun ukoll bogħod mill-qalb. Forsi dan il-qawl jista’ jiġi applikat għat-teżori ta’ taħt il-baħar li għandhom il-gżejjer Maltin li, minħabba l-fatt li huma parti minn dinja remota li tista’ tiġi esperjenzata bi sħiħ biss mill-għaddasa u r-riċerkaturi, ħafna drabi jintesew. MIA Link tkellmet mal-Professur Timothy Gambin u Maja Sausmekat mitTaqsima tal-Wirt Kulturali ta’ Qiegħ il-Baħa fi ħdan Heritage Malta, dwar ir-rwol ta’ din l-unità fittqarrib ta’ dan it-tip ta’ wirt kulturali lejn il-pubbliku, kif ukoll il-proġett ambizzjuż li għaddejja bih bħalissa, bl-appoġġ tal-Malta Airport Foundation.

L-ewwel park arkeoloġiku fil-fond fid-dinja

Dak li hemm mistur lil hinn mill-Bajja tax-Xlendi

Il-Bajja tax-Xlendi f’Għawdex ma għandha bżonn l-ebda introduzzjoni, minħabba li kemm nies lokali u kemm turisti jfittxuha għall-għawn, l-għads jew għal xi ikla tajba f’wieħed mir-ristoranti ta’ mal-kosta. Iżda huma l-ħafna li ma jafux li lil hinn mill-Bajja tax-Xlendi, f’fond impressjonanti ta’ 105 metri, teżisti żona taħt il-baħar miżgħuda b’oġġetti li jmorru lura mal-2,300 sena għażżmien meta l-gżejjer Maltin kienu parti importanti minnetwerk ta’ kummerċ Puniku.

Din il-ħażna ta’ teżori Puniċi mgħarrqin, inklużi anfori, urni u oġġetti oħrajn, ġiet skoperta fl-1993, waqt li kien qiegħed isir studju bl-użu ta’ sottomarin. Iżda kien biss 14-il sena wara li d-daqs ta’ dan is-sit ta’ valur arkeoloġiku għoli ġie żvelat. Eżerċizzju ta’ mmappjar u dokumentazzjoni li sar dik is-sena wera li l-materjal arkeoloġiku kien mifrux fuq żona rettangolari li tkejjel 67,000 metru kwadru.

Din il-konċentrazzjoni ta’ oġġetti omoġeni f’post wieħed tindika li probabbilment qrib dan is-sit taħt l-ilma għerqu aktar minn bastiment Puniku wieħed. Madankollu, itTaqsima tal-Wirt Kulturali ta’ Qiegħ il-Baħar, bl-appoġġ ta’ istituzzjonijiet oħrajn bħall-Università ta’ Malta u s-Sovraintendenza tal-Wirt Kulturali, għadha qed tinvestiga x’seta’ wassal għall-formazzjoni ta’ dan issit, bħala parti mill-ħidma li qiegħda twettaq bħalissa sabiex tikseb rikonoxximent għal dan is-sit bħala l-ewwel park arkeoloġiku fil-fond fid-dinja.

Fl-2020, it-Taqsima tal-Wirt Kulturali ta’ Qiegħ il-Baħar, li ma kienx ilha li twaqqfet, tat bidu għal proġett li huwa l-ewwel tax-xorta tiegħu, sabiex iż-żona ta’ taħt il-baħar fix-Xlendi tiġi rikonoxxuta bħala l-ewwel park arkeoloġiku fil-fond fid-dinja. Filwaqt li siti storiċi f’ċertu fond, bħal vapuri mgħarrqin, mhumiex xi ħaġa rari madwar id-dinja, il-park marittimu tax-Xlendi huwa speċjali minħabba d-daqs tiegħu u l-kompożizzjoni unika ta’ oġġetti antiki u wirt naturali, li mistennijin jattiraw kemm għaddasa tekniċi u kemm riċerkaturi b’interessi f’oqsma varji.

Il-proċess ta’ studju tas-sit u d-dokumentazzjoni tiegħu bdew fl-2021, qegħdin jitkomplew fl-2022 u mistennijin li jestendu fis-sena 2023. Il-proċess ta’ dokumentazzjoni li minnu nnifsu huwa wieħed li jirrikjedi paċenzja kbira, minħabba li jinvolvi t-teħid ta’ eluf ta’ ritratti b’riżoluzzjoni għolja sabiex jibnu mappa ddettaljata tas-sit, huwa ħafna aktar diffiċli minħabba d-daqs tas-sit u l-fond li fih qiegħda ssir din l-operazzjoni. Forsi nifhmu aħjar dan il-fond ta’ madwar 105 metri kemm huwa ta’ sfida jekk insemmu li ħafna mill-vapuri mgħarrqin li jistgħu jintlaħqu b’mod relattivament faċli jinsabu madwar 50 metru taħt l-ilma.

Il-Professur Gambin spjegalna li l-għaddasa tekniċi li qegħdin jaħdmu fuq dan il-proġett jistgħu jdumu biss 14-il minuta kull darba li jinżlu f’qiegħ il-baħar, minħabba r-regoli ta’ sigurtà li jiġu segwiti sabiex jiġi żgurat li ħadd ma jitqiegħed f’periklu bla bżonn. Minħabba f’hekk, kull darba li t-team ta’ għaddasa jinżel f’qiegħ il-baħar jirnexxilu jkopri biss madwar 600 metru kwadru.

Photo credit: I. Kövesdi

Inqarrbu lill-pubbliku lejn dawn it-teżori mgħarrqin

Għalkemm dan is-sit għadu ma ġiex iddokumentat kollu, diġà ġew skoperti ħafna anfori, urni, buqari u bwieqi mill-perjodu Puniku ta’ Malta, partikolarment mis-sekli erbgħa u tlieta Qabel Kristu. Dawn l-oġġetti jirrappreżentaw kull eżempju ta’ kontenituri mdaħħlin fir-rekords arkaeoloġiċi Puniċi ta’ Malta, kif ukoll tipi ta’ kontenituri li qabel la f’Malta u lanqas barra minn xtutna ma kienu magħrufin.

It-team, li barra mill-għaddasa li diġà semmejna huwa magħmul minn arkeologi u speċjalisti oħrajn, qiegħed jaħdem ukoll sabiex jikkwantifika u jikkwalifika l-ħafna oġġetti li jinsabu f’dan is-sit f’qiegħ il-baħar, bil-għan li tinħoloq bażi ta’ data b’livelli differenti ta’ aċċess għal persuni li jaħdmu fil-qasam tal-wirt kulturali u għall-membri tal-pubbliku.

Meta ġew mistoqsijin jekk xi wħud minn dawn l-oġġetti ttellgħux mill-baħar sabiex jitqiegħdu f’esebizzjonijiet pubbliċi, il-Professur Gambin u Sausmekat spjegaw li, sa issa, m’hemm l-ebda pjan li jsir dan. Fil-fatt, bħala firmatarju tal-Konvenzjoni tal-UNESCO dwar il-Protezzjoni tal-Wirt Kulturali ta’ Taħt l-Ilma, Malta tipprattika preservazzjoni in situ jew aħjar fil-post bħala l-ewwel għażla tagħha, fejn jittellgħu mill-baħar biss oġġetti ta’ valur xjentifiku uniku.

Dan l-approċċ jista’ jidher li mhuwiex kongruwenti malmissjoni tat-Taqsima tal-Wirt Kulturali ta’ Qiegħ il-Baħar li żżid il-viżibbiltà tal-wirt kulturali ta’ taħt l-ilma fost persuni li mhumiex għaddasa jew riċerkaturi. Madankollu, huwa ppjanat li l-pubbliku jintlaħaq permezz tal-użu innovattiv tat-teknoloġija 3D u vidjows li jippermettu esperjenza ta’ immersjoni mingħajr ma wieħed ikollu bżonn jogħdos.

Barra minn hekk, fl-2023 dan il-park ser jiġi miżjud fuq ilpjattaforma Underwater Malta Virtual Museum - www. underwatermalta.org – li qiegħda tagħmel it-teżori ta’ qiegħ il-baħar ta’ Malta aċċessibbli b’xejn mill-kumdità taddar. Dawk li ma tantx għandhom għal qalbhom l-esperjenzi virtwali, ser ikunu jistgħu jżuru esebizzjoni permanenti fittorri ta’ mal-kosta tax-Xlendi, li mistennija tinfetaħ għallpubbliku fir-rebbiegħa tal-2023 sabiex tqarreb dan is-sit arkeoloġiku uniku lejn dawk li għandhom għal qalbhom l-istorja tal-gżejjer tagħna.

L-involviment tal-Malta Airport Foundation

Il-Malta Airport Foundation qiegħda tappoġġja dan il-proġett permezz ta’ sapport finanzjarju sabiex tinxtara l-infrastruttura meħtieġa sabiex iż-żona tiġi ssalvagwardjata u l-aċċess għaliha jiġi ġestit kif xieraq. Il-Fondazzjoni ser tkun qed tgħin fl-akkwist ta’ erba’ bagi, li ser jintużaw sabiex jimmarkaw iż-żona, u dgħajsa tal-għassa.

Dan mhuwiex l-ewwel proġett taħt l-ilma għallFondazzjoni. Fil-fatt, il-Fondazzjoni diġà ffaċilitat ilproduzzjoni ta’ żewġ dokumentarji li jesploraw id-dinja ta’ taħt il-baħar ta’ madwar Filfla u Kemmuna, u aktar reċentement nediet serje ta’ dokumentarji qosra li jesploraw sitt siti fejn hemm vapuri jew ajruplani mgħarrqin li ġġib l-isem ta’ Submerged World

WORKING TOWARDS A

Cleaner and Greener Operation

More than a decade ago, Malta International Airport started putting more environmental considerations at the heart of the company’s decisions. The airport campus’s first photovoltaic panels having the cumulative capacity of 100 kWp were installed in 2010, with this installation being the largest of its kind in Malta at the time. Since then, the airport has invested in three other PV systems and made huge strides in its journey to operate in a more environmentally responsible manner. MIA Link spoke to the airport’s Sustainability and Analytics Manager Justine Baldacchino to learn more about Malta International Airport’s environmental milestones and the company’s plans for a cleaner and greener future.

The hurdles stemming from the COVID-19 pandemic over the past couple of years led Malta International Airport to rethink some of its priorities and investments. However, the company’s efforts to seek out more opportunities to decarbonise its operation did not abate. In December 2021, the airport campus got its fourth PV sytem, which is set to increase the amount of clean energy generated by the airport from 2.08 million kWh in 2021 to more than 3 million kWh by the end of this year. This investment in clean energy was complemented by the commissioning of a new Building Management System, which is helping the company optimise its energy usage inside the terminal through automated air quality and climate control.

Baldacchino explained that while electricity is the main contributor to the airport’s greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, the contribution of fuel to these emissions amounts to around 10%. To address fuel-induced emissions, the company has been making a gradual

shift towards the use of cleaner vehicles through its Vehicle Replacement Programme. Older cars used by the airport Management Team have been replaced by cleaner models and around 28% of the vehicles used for operational reasons have been replaced by hybrid or electric models.

When asked how successful these initiatives have been, Baldacchino said that the company uses the GHG intensity metric to track its performance in this regard. “Back when we started using this metric in 2016, our airport’s GHG emissions stood at 1.2 kg of CO2 per passenger and, by 2019, we had succeeded in lowering our GHG intensity to 0.7 kg of CO2 per passenger. Our plans to aim for further reductions in this intensity metric were interrupted by COVID-19 and its decimating effect on our passenger numbers, which suffered a drop of 76% between 2019 and 2020, resulting in a spike in kilos of carbon dioxide per passenger,” explained Baldacchino.

She went on to add that Malta International Airport is a member of Airports Council International’s Airport Carbon Accreditation (ACA) programme. This programme, which is tailored for airports, is another means by which the company ensures that it is on the right track to become net zero by 2050; a pledge Malta International Airport formalised by signing the industry-specific NetZero 2050 Resolution in 2019 and endorsing the Toulouse Declaration. Having joined ACI’s Airport Carbon Accreditation Programme at Level 1 in 2016, in 2021, the airport satisfied the organisation’s criteria - including the submission of evidence that a senior committe is responsible for climate and energy matters, along with having a detailed carbon plan in place – to be able to proceed to Level 2.

“We do put a lot of effort into carbon and energy management, largely because we feel that this is where we can have the biggest and most quantifiable impact. However, our environmental initiatives are not limited to this area,” said Baldacchino, who also leads the company’s Environmental Working Group. In fact, besides energy management, the company focuses greatly on water stewardship and waste reduction.

Over the past five years, the company has accelerated its efforts to better manage the waste it generates, with a particular focus on the reduction of single-use plastics. Baldacchino described the very first step taken in this regard as a “humble one”, which saw Malta International Airport eliminate balloons from company-driven events. The next steps required a shift in mentality, as plastic water bottles previously used in meetings were replaced by water jugs and an initiative through which passengers had been given small water bottles upon their arrival at the airport was discontinued. These initiatives led to a drop of 4,700 kilos in the plastic waste generated between 2018 and 2019, and encouraged the company to look into removing more plastic and single-use items from its operation.

“Last year, our Procurement Team launched an ongoing project through which a number of unrecyclable or singleuse items that are used as part of the day-to-day operation are gradually being replaced by more environmentally friendly alternatives. So far, the Team has succeeded in finding biodegrable or paper alternatives for mailing bags, the gloves and 1 litre bags used at the Security Screening Area and tape used for packaging, while substitutes for other items are still being explored,” said Baldacchino looking visibly satisfied with this ongoing effort.

While Baldacchino is pleased with how far the company has come, she acknowledged that there’s much more to be done, particularly in relation to the airport’s progression to Level 3 of the ACA programme and the company’s netzero target. She hopes that in 2023, more training and educational opportunities can be made available to the airport’s team of around 370 individuals, so that each employee can feel more empowered to be an agent of change both at the workplace and beyond the office space.

LEJN

OPERAT

Aħjar għallAmbjent

Aktar minn 10 snin ilu l-Ajruport Internazzjonali ta’ Malta beda jqiegħed aktar kunsiderazzjonijiet ambjentali fil-qalba taddeċiżjonijiet tal-kumpanija. L-ewwel sistema ta’ pannelli fotovoltajċi tal-ajruport, fil-fatt, ġiet installata fl-2010 u, dak iż-żmien, kienet l-akbar waħda tax-xorta tagħha f’Malta. Minn dakinhar ’l hawn, l-ajruport investa fi tliet sistemi oħrajn ta’ pannelli u għamel passi sostanzjali fil-vjaġġ tiegħu lejn operat aktar responsabbli f’termini ambjentali. MIA Link iltaqgħet mal-Maniġer tal-Analitika u s-Sostenibbiltà Justine Baldacchino sabiex tifhem aħjar x’kienu l-kisbiet tal-ajruport sa issa u x’hemm pjanat għall-futur.

L-isfidi li xirfu minħabba l-COVID-19 matul dawn l-aħħar snin ġiegħlu lill-Ajruport Internazzjonali ta’ Malta jerġa’ janalizza l-prijoritajiet u l-investimenti tiegħu. Madankollu, l-isforzi tal-kumpanija sabiex tiddekarbonizza l-operat tagħha komplew għaddejjin. F’Diċembru 2021, ġiet installata r-raba’ sistema fotovoltajka, li ser tgħin lill-ajruport jiġġenera aktar enerġija nadifa, minn 2.08 miljun kWh fl-2021 għal aktar minn 3 miljun kWh li mistennijin jiġu ġġenerati sal-aħħar ta’ din issena. Dan l-investiment f’enerġija nadifa ġie kkumplimentat bl-ikkummissjonar ta’ Sistema ta’ Ġestjoni tal-Bini ġdida, li qed tgħin lill-kumpanija ttejjeb il-mod kif tuża l-enerġija fitterminal permezz ta’ kontroll awtomatizzat tal-kwalità talarja u l-klima fil-binja.

Baldacchino spjegat li filwaqt li l-elettriku huwa l-kontributur ewlieni għall-emissjonijiet b’effett serra tal-ajruport, ilkontribut tal-fjuwil huwa ta’ madwar 10%. Għaldaqstant, sabiex tindirizza dawn l-emissjonijiet tal-aħħar, ilkumpanija ilha għal dawn l-aħħar snin tissostitwixxi l-vetturi tagħha b’mudelli aktar nodfa permezz tal-Programm ta’ Sostituzzjoni tal-Vetturi. Vetturi aktar qodma li kienu jintużaw mill-maniġment tal-kumpanija issa ġew sostitwiti b’mudelli li huma aħjar għall-ambjent u madwar 28% talvetturi li jintużaw fl-operat ta’ kuljum ġew sostitwiti b’vetturi ibridi jew li jaħdmu bl-elettriku.

Meta staqsejna lil Baldacchino dwar kif jitkejlu r-riżultati ta’ dawn l-inizjattivi, hija spjegat li l-kumpanija tuża l-metrika tal-intensità tal-emissjonijiet b’effett serra biex tikkwantifika l-prestazzjoni tagħha f’dan ir-rigward. “Meta bdejna nużaw din il-metrika fl-2016, l-emissjonijiet b’effett serra tal-ajruport kienu fil-livell ta’ 1.2 kilo ta’ CO2 għal kull passiġġier u, sal-2019, irnexxielna nbaxxu l-intensità talemissjonijiet b’effett serra għal 0.7 kilo ta’ CO2 għal kull passiġġier. Il-pjanijiet tagħna sabiex nirreġistraw aktar tnaqqis ġew imfixklin mill-pandemija u l-effett li din kellha fuq it-traffiku tal-passiġġieri, li naqas b’76% bejn l-2019 u l-2020, biex b’hekk l-ammont ta’ diossidu tal-karbonju għal kull passiġġier spara ’l fuq,” spjegat Baldacchino.

Hija kompliet billi qalet li l-ajruport huwa membru talprogramm Airport Carbon Accreditation (ACA) ta’ Airports Council International (ACI). Dan il-programm, li huwa mfassal apposta għall-ajruporti, ukoll jgħin lill-kumpanija taċċerta li qiegħda fit-triq it-tajba sabiex tikseb innewtralità klimatika. L-Ajruport Internazzjonali ta’ Malta ssieħeb f’dan il-programm fl-ewwel livell tiegħu fl-2016. Fl2021, l-ajruport tela’ skaluna, wara li ssodisfa l-kriterji ta’ ACI - inkluż permezz tas-sottomissjoni ta’ evidenza li kumitat apposta huwa responsabbli minn kwistjonijiet relatati malklima u l-enerġija, kif ukoll evidenza li l-kumpanija għandha pjan ta’ ġestjoni tal-karbonju - sabiex ikun jista’ jitla’ fit-tieni livell tal-programm.

“Tassew li nagħmlu sforz kbir sabiex niġġestixxu l-karbonju u l-enerġija tagħna, prinċipalment minħabba li nemmnu li l-impatt tagħna f’dan il-qasam jista’ jkun wieħed kbir u li jista’ jitkejjel. Madankollu, l-inizjattivi ambjentali tagħna ma jiqfux hawnhekk,” qalet Baldacchino, li tmexxi wkoll ilGrupp ta’ Ħidma favur l-Ambjent tal-kumpanija. Fil-fatt, minbarra l-ġestjoni tal-enerġija, il-kumpanija tiffoka wkoll fuq żewġ pilastri oħrajn li huma l-użu għaqli tal-ilma u t-tnaqqis tal-iskart.

Matul dawn l-aħħar ħames snin, il-kumpanija rsistiet sabiex tiġġestixxi aħjar l-iskart li tiġġenera, b’fowkus partikolari fuq it-tnaqqis ta’ oġġetti tal-plastik li jintużaw darba biss. Baldacchino ddeskriviet l-ewwel pass f’dan ir-rigward bħala wieħed “żgħir ħafna”, fejn il-kumpanija ddeċidiet li telimina l-użu tal-bżieżaq mill-avvenimenti organizzati minnha. Il-passi li segwew kienu akbar u rrikjedew ukoll bidla

fil-mentalità, hekk kif il-fliexken tal-plastik li kienu jintużaw fil-laqgħat interni ġew sostitwiti minn buqari tal-ħġieġ u inizjattiva li permezz tagħha l-passiġġieri kienu jingħataw flixkun ilma mal-wasla tagħhom f’Malta twaqqfet. Dawn l-inizjattivi u oħrajn wasslu għat-tnaqqis ta’ 4,700 kilo flammont ta’ skart tal-plastik iġġenerat mill-kumpanija bejn l-2018 u l-2019, liema riżultat inkoraġġixxa lill-ajruport sabiex ikompli bil-ħidma tiegħu.

“Is-sena li għaddiet, it-Team tal-Akkwisti tagħna nieda eżerċizzju li permezz tiegħu għadd ta’ oġġetti li mhumiex riċiklabbli jew li jintużaw biss darba qegħdin jiġu sostitwiti gradwalment b’alternattivi aktar tajbin għall-ambjent. Itteam, sa issa, irnexxielu jsib alternattivi bijodegradabbli jew tal-karta għall-boroż li jintużaw għall-posta, l-ingwanti u l-boroż tal-litru li jintużaw fiż-żona tal-iskrining tas-sigurtà u t-tejp li jintuża fl-ippakkjar, filwaqt li sostituzzjonijiet għal oġġetti oħrajn għadhom qegħdin jiġu mfittxija,” qalet Baldacchino b’ton ta’ sodisfazzjon b’dan l-eżerċizzju.

Filwaqt li Baldacchino hija sodisfatta bil-ħidma talajruport fil-qasam ambjentali, hija rrikonoxxiet ukoll li baqa’ ħafna xi jsir speċjalment biex l-ajruport ikun jista’ jkompli javvanza fil-programm ACA u eventwalment jikseb in-newtralità klimatika li tant hija importanti. Hija qaltilna li qiegħda tittama li fl-2023, il-kumpanija tkun tista’ tipprovdi aktar opportunitajiet ta’ taħriġ u tagħlim dwar dan is-suġġett lit-team tagħha ta’ aktar minn 370 impjegat, biex b’hekk kull individwu jħoss li tassew jista’ jagħmel il-parti tiegħu kemm fuq il-post tax-xogħol u kemm lil hinn mill-uffiċċju.

Share Price Analysis Analiżi tal-Movimenti tal-Prezz tal-Ishma

Since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, various equities have registered significant movements in their respective prices given the elevated uncertainty resulting from the pandemic. Malta International Airport plc’s share price suffered significant dips during the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic, particularly on the 21st of March 2020 when the local health authorities announced the temporary suspension of commercial flights to and from Malta. The day after that announcement, the share price closed at €3.52, which was also the lowest level since July 2015.

Since then, in line with the reopening of the airport and the gradual build-up of passenger numbers, the share price has rebounded to pre-pandemic levels, closing the third quarter of 2022 at €5.95, which is equivalent to the closing price of a year earlier.

Trading of the airport’s equity in the first nine months of 2022 amounted to just over €3 million, representing around 12% of the total value traded on the local equity market. This contrasts with the value traded during the whole of 2019, which had amounted to over €12 million, equivalent to circa 33% of the total value traded during that year.

Analysing the quarterly share price performance in 2022, MIA’s share price kicked off the year in negative territory as it slid 6%, from the €6 level it had closed 2021 at to the €5.65 level as at the end of March. Subsequently, the share price regained the €5.95 level by the end of the first half of the year, and then continued to trade range-bound to also end the third quarter at the same level.

Minn meta faqqgħet il-COVID-19, diversi ishma rreġistraw movimenti sinifikanti fil-prezzijiet rispettivi tagħhom minħabba l-inċertezza kbira li ġabet magħha l-pandemija. Il-prezz tal-ishma ta’ Malta International Airport plc waqa’ sinifikattivament waqt l-eqqel tal-pandemija, partikolarment fil-21 ta’ Marzu 2020 meta l-awtoritajiet lokali ħabbru s-sospensjoni temporanja ta’ titjiriet kummerċjali minn u lejn Malta. Jum wara li tħabbar dan, il-prezz tal-ishma għalaq fil-livell ta’ €3.52, li kien l-aktar livell baxx minn Lulju 2015.

Minn dakinhar, hekk kif l-ajruport reġa’ nfetaħ għal titjiriet kummerċjali u t-traffiku tal-passiġġieri beda jiżdied gradwalment, il-prezz tal-ishma reġa’ laħaq il-livelli ta’ qabel il-pandemija. Il-prezz tal-ishma fit-tielet kwart tas-sena 2022 għalaq fil-livell ta’ €5.95, jiġifieri l-istess livell li kien ġie rreġistrat sena qabel.

Ix-xiri u l-bejgħ tal-ishma tal-ajruport fl-ewwel disa’ xhur tal-2022 ammonta għal ftit aktar minn €3 miljun, jiġifieri 12% tal-valur totali nnegozjat fuq is-suq lokali. Dan b’kuntrast mal-valur li ġie nnegozjat matul is-sena sħiħa tal-2019, li kien ammonta għal aktar minn €12-il miljun, ekwivalenti għal madwar 33% tal-valur totali nnegozjat matul l-istess sena.

Analiżi tal-prestazzjoni tal-prezz tal-ishma fuq bażi ta’ kull kwart fl-2022, turi li l-prezz tal-ishma ta’ Malta International Airport plc beda f’territorju negattiv hekk kif mil-livell ta’ €6, fl-aħħar tas-sena 2021, niżel għal-livell ta’ €5.65 sal-aħħar ta’ Marzu, jiġifieri tnaqqis ta’ 6%. Sal-aħħar tal-ewwel nofs tas-sena 2022 imbagħad il-prezz tal-ishma rkupra għal-livell ta’ €5.95, u baqa’ pjuttost stabbli sabiex it-tielet kwart ingħalaq bi prezz fl-istess livell.