Malta’s First Post-Pandemic Arrival Flight Has Already Been Delayed
The first flight to arrive at the Malta International Airport since its reopening today has been delayed.
The flight, a co-shared journey from Rome, was meant to land at 11.25, but has been delayed by almost an hour, now arriving at 12.10.
However, the delay had little to do with Malta’s airport, with the outbound airport reporting operational issues leading to delays from their end.
The co-shared flight is being operated by Air Malta flight KM 613 and Alitalia flight AZ 7912.
Upon Malta International Airport’s re-opening, a wide range of sanitary measures and health checks have been adopted. These might have inadvertently contributed to these delays.
Italy was one of the worst-hit European countries during the pandemic, so delays could and probably should be expected as Malta and other EU countries begin to reopen for open travel.
In a statement made by Air Malta, it was claimed that the 45-minute delay was caused at Rome’s Fiumicino Airport due to slower boarding processes – something beyond Air Malta’s control.
To ensure a smoother boarding process, Air Malta urges customers to be at the airport two and a half hours before the flight’s departure.
The airline is also checking in all luggage at no extra charges. Only handbags, man bags, and laptop bags are allowed on board.
Click here to learn more about the new procedures adopted by Air Malta.