When is the Cheapest Time to Fly to Malta?
Airfares will rise during the peak summer season from mid-June through to August as well as briefly over the festive period in December. The shoulder season is an excellent time to bag some return flights because there will be more deals on cheap flights to Malta thanks to fewer tourists arriving on the island.
When is the Best Time to Book your Flight to Malta?
To get the best deals on airfares for you flights to Malta it’s best to book them four to six weeks before departure. In a bid to sell seats, airlines tend to lower their rates. Holy Week is a great time to visit the island. There are festivals, parades and townspeople carry crosses through the streets.
Flying to Malta International Airport (MLA)
Direct flights from the UK only leave from London Gatwick. It is possible to depart from another UK airport like Manchester or Edinburgh but this will require a transfer in another European destination en route. The most common transfer points are Amsterdam, Paris, Zurich, Frankfurt and Brussels. A direct flight takes between three and three and a half hours end to end. However, indirect routes can take considerably more. A good set of indirect flights will clock in at around five and a half hours. At times, choosing an indirect service for your flights to Malta can result in significant savings which may be appealing if you’re working to a tight budget. Carriers operating Malta flights out of the UK include British Airways, Air Malta, Swiss, Lufthansa, Brussels Airlines and Air France.
On Arrival and Getting Around the Airport
Malta International Airport (MLA) is the only airport on the island and is the main airport serving the Maltese islands. It is quite a small airport with only two runways and 28 departure gates. Its small size makes it very easy to navigate. Arrivals and Departures are right next to one another. Malta Airport has many services available to their patrons including free Wi-Fi, several eateries, banking services and shopping opportunities.
Getting to the City from Malta International Airport (MLA)
Taxi ranks are located just outside of Arrivals. Pre-paid tickets to a variety of destinations around the island are available from the booth in the welcome hall. Fares vary according to destination. Malta International Airport (MLA) is also serviced by a fleet of buses that take travellers to a variety of localities around the island. Express services are denoted by an ‘X’ and then a number. For the capital, Valetta, take the X4.
Why visit Malta?
This island nation boasts a diverse landscape that feels as though you’ve stepped off the plane onto another world. Golden sandy beaches dip into painfully clear water and craggy limestone cliffs hug the coastline. Prehistoric treasures, built a millennium before the great Egyptian pyramids, await above and below ground. They are a masterclass on how the people who came before us used to live, work and worship. Several temples are spread across the islands and a museum dedicated to these wondrous artefact is located in Valetta.
Lurking beneath those crystalline waters is another world altogether. Thanks to the temperate climate, Malta benefits from unparalleled visibility almost all year round and its dive sites teem with marine life. Several wrecks, ships or otherwise, are located just off the Maltese coast. Many date from the world wars and nature has wasted no time in reclaiming them as reef. Other sites include caves and caverns with diving opportunities for all levels.
Don't Forget Before you Fly
British passport holders don’t need a visa to travel to any country in the EU – you can stay for up to 90 days within a 180-day period. You just need to make sure that your passport has at least six months validity left, on the day you travel. Since joining the European Union, Malta has switched their currency from the Maltese lira to the euro. To get the best exchange rate on your currency you should consider purchasing your euros online because sometimes the rates are more favourable than ordering in person at a bureau de change. ATMs are available at check-in and in the arrivals all.
