The peculiarities and impacts of airports : The case for Malta International Airport

Abstract

The small-to-medium sized Malta International Airport (MIA) is the only airport in Malta, especially in terms of its footprint, and is considered one of the world’s most scenic landings, according to a 2016 poll. The annual passenger turnover is approximately 16 times the country’s population. MIA’s unique features include its proximity to the urban conservation area of Luqa, as well as that town’s other residential and business facilities, and also to the southern coast of Malta and the unique ecological habitats it supports. Its impacts range from noise to atmosphere pollution and, potentially, pollution of the coastal waters, in the eventuality of an air traffic accident. On the basis of the national strategic vision that Malta evolves into an expanding hub in the centre of the Mediterranean, significant investment is earmarked for MIA, including initiatives impacting security, the environment and energy.