The Maltese subsidiary of Flughafen Wien AG, Luqa Airport, counted only 2020 passengers in October 110.346 - a decrease of 73,8 percent compared to the same month last year. In the meantime, Austria landed on the so-called “Amber List”, which means that entry is only possible on presentation of a negative PCR test.

There have also been changes with regard to connectivity between Austria and Malta: Wizzair and Ryanair have suspended their offers, so that only Air Malta flies between Luqa and Vienna. But the state carrier also reduced the frequencies. While Malta International Airport recorded an all-time high in 2019, management is now expecting extremely difficult winter months.

The VIE subsidiary announced that operating income fell by 2020 percent between January and the end of September 67,7 and amount to 24,9 million euros. Personnel costs have been reduced by 2020 percent since April 24,1. This was also implemented by means of wage cuts in management and ordinary employees. The only commercial airport in the Republic of Malta emphasizes that the government's short-time work program is of great help. The operating costs could be reduced by 38,4 percent, because you have limited yourself to the bare essentials.

According to management, the current 2020/21 winter flight schedule is set to be the most difficult since Luqa Airport opened. The financial situation should not be strained, but one reckons with a further sharp drop in traffic volume, which will result in lower income. In this context, Luqa boss Alan Borg also called for uniform travel guidelines in order to be able to stimulate demand. However, he does not expect the situation to ease in the short term. The coming months will be “challenging”.

Luqa Airport does not expect a recovery until the second half of 2021 at the earliest, when a certain vaccination rate has been reached. In this context, it is also hoped that the entry and quarantine regulations of European countries will be relaxed in the summer of 2021.