The future of Malta’s tourism sector rests on the expansion of long-haul flight connections, Foreign Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Ian Borg has said.
Speaking at Friday’s Deloitte Malta Aviation Conference, Borg said that “while our short-haul markets are mature, our future lies in long-haul expansion”, pointing to the upcoming June launch of direct flights between Malta and New York as an example.
“With over 98% of our visitors reaching us by air, connectivity is the single most decisive factor in our national competitiveness,” the minister said, while emphasising that the country’s tourism success relies on a “healthy airline mix”.
The minister was speaking a day after Fatih Birol, the head of the International Energy Agency, warned Europe had “maybe six weeks or so [of] jet fuel left” in an interview with the Associated Press.
Birol said the continent would “soon” see flights cancelled as shortages and price hikes caused by US-Israeli military action in the Middle East continue to bite.
Earlier today, low-cost Hungarian airline Wizz Air said it had encountered fuel shortages at three Italian airports. Several Italian airports signalled limitations on jet fuel supplies earlier this month.
Europe normally imports half of its jet fuel from Gulf countries.
Prime Minister Robert Abela told the media on Friday that Malta would not run out of jet fuel or power plant gas and that the country was prepared to face potential energy challenges beyond August.
The tourism ministry noted that the government’s Connectivity Strategy, spearheaded by the Malta Tourism Authority, prioritises the development of new flight routes, market diversification and year-round accessibility.
Borg called on policymakers to “ensure clarity, consistency, and predictability” while challenging industry leaders to “invest with confidence” in a way that was aligned with the country’s long-term connectivity goals.
