--- iata: MLA name: Malta International Airport city: Luqa country: Malta lastUpdated: '2026-08-31' officialWebsite: 'https://maltairport.com/' sources: - 'https://maltairport.com/' - 'https://cdn.borzamalta.com.mt/download/announcements/MIA461.pdf' - 'https://maltairport.com/corporate/our-airport/facts-and-figures/' - 'https://maltairport.com/corporate/airport-operations/aerodrome/' - 'https://maltairport.com/transport/' - 'https://maltairport.com/transport/bus-service/' - 'https://www.publictransport.com.mt/en/airport-direct' - 'https://www.publictransport.com.mt/en/fares' - 'https://maltairport.com/passenger/security-passport-control/hand-luggage/' - 'https://maltairport.com/facilities/' - 'https://maltairport.com/to-from/parking/' - 'https://maltairport.com/passenger-services/' - 'https://www.maltataxi.mt/' - >- https://www.prioritypass.com/en/lounges/malta/malta-international-luqa/mla-la-valette-club - 'https://lavaletteclub.my.site.com/members/s/buy' - 'https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Malta_International_Airport' quickFacts: - >- Malta’s only civil international airport at Luqa (~5 km southwest of Valletta); IATA MLA / ICAO LMML; operated by Malta International Airport plc — the national gateway for Malta and the usual air link onward to Gozo (via road + ferry), not a military-only field - >- Record 10,061,969 passenger movements in 2025 (+12.3% YoY) — first year above 10 million — with 65,470 aircraft movements (+11.4%) and an average seat load factor of 85.4% (Malta International Airport plc company announcement 461/2026, 14 Jan 2026 / Borza Malta MIA461 PDF; top markets UK, Italy, Poland, Germany, France — Poland fastest-growing at +48.9%) - >- Single passenger terminal (officially opened 7 February 1992 with later reconfiguration); Schengen vs non-Schengen boarding after central security; KM Malta Airlines hub and Ryanair / Malta Air operating base; La Valette Club departures lounge airside (Priority Pass) plus a separate VIP terminal for GA / state traffic - >- Two asphalt runways per airport aerodrome page: 13/31 — 3,350 × 58 m and 05/23 — 2,373 × 40 m (prefer these published figures over rounded wiki lengths); field elevation ~91 m / 300 ft AMSL - >- Cabin security uses CT screening with liquids allowed up to a 2-litre container left in bag (airport hand-luggage page); still pack ≤100 ml if your next airport has not lifted the classic LAG rule; free Wi-Fi; three free drinking fountains (reclaim + both departure piers) - >- No rail under the terminal — Malta Public Transport Airport Direct (TD1– TD5) from the curb bus stops, or prepaid Malta Taxi from the Welcomers’ Hall booth (24h); winter day-bus single €2.00 / 2 hours (19 Oct 2025– 13 Jun 2026); Airport Direct €3 (€3.50 on TD1) without an Unlimited card bentoTips: - label: Transport title: Airport Direct €3 — or prepaid taxi booth detail: >- There is no metro or train under the terminal. Default public option is Malta Public Transport from the signed stops outside the terminal (one stop across from Check-in; another beside McDonald’s). Airport Direct (TD) routes are the luggage-friendly express links: TD1 Rabat / Buġibba / Mellieħa / Ċirkewwa (hourly; €3.50 without Unlimited card), TD2 St Julian’s / Pembroke (every ~30 min), TD3 Gżira / Sliema / St Julian’s (every ~30 min), TD4 Valletta / Gozo Fast Ferry (every ~30 min), TD5 Rabat / Buġibba (hourly) — €3 on TD2–TD5 if you are not on an Unlimited Travel Card (which includes Airport Direct). Tallinja sales office in Welcomers’ Hall Mon–Sun 08:00–19:30 plus 24/7 machines and WHSmith. Winter day-service single is €2.00 cash/contactless for 2 hours (19 Oct 2025–13 Jun 2026 per publictransport.com.mt). For door-to-door, buy a prepaid fixed-rate ticket at the official Malta Taxi booth in Welcomers’ Hall (24h) or use the Malta Taxi app — do not accept curb touts; zone boards at the booth are authoritative (third-party blogs still quote stale €17 Valletta figures). Bolt/eCabs often undercut white taxis into Valletta / Sliema when you have mobile data. Surface parking and Park East: first 10 minutes free, then €2.50 (10–60 min) up to €25 / 24 h, then €40 per extra day (airport parking page). summary: >- TD Airport Direct €3–€3.50; winter day bus €2.00/2h; prepaid taxi booth in Welcomers’ Hall. category: timing - label: Security title: CT lanes — liquids up to 2 L stay in bag detail: >- Malta International Airport’s published hand-luggage page states departing passengers may carry liquids up to a maximum 2-litre container per hand bag and may leave large electronics in the bag at the central checkpoint — empty bottles larger than 2 L only, or pack them in hold baggage. That is a genuine CT-era waiver, not the classic EU 100 ml rule. Caveat: many connecting or destination airports still enforce 100 ml, so keep a clear 1 L bag packed if you will clear security again abroad. Baby food / medically necessary liquids above the allowance still need the usual supporting documents and may get analyser screening. Duty-free LAG purchases must stay in the sealed STEB with the receipt. Aim ~2.5–3 hours early on peak UK/Italy Ryanair banks in July–August; Schengen mornings outside summer are often lighter. There is no separately priced Fast Track product marketed like some EU airports — Priority Pass / La Valette Club is the paid queue-avoidance path after you clear security. summary: >- Official CT rule: ≤2 L liquids and devices can stay packed — still pack 100 ml for your next airport. category: terminal - label: Lounge title: 'La Valette Club 24h — after Duty Free, 3rd floor' detail: >- La Valette Club is the airside departures lounge: after security, through Duty Free, turn left and take the lift to Level 3 (Priority Pass directory). Listed open 00:00–23:59 daily with a maximum 3-hour stay; access may be capacity-controlled. Priority Pass / LoungeKey-style cards are accepted subject to the live app; La Valette one-time walk-up is €45 for non-members and €30 for a member’s guest (La Valette Club purchase page). PP conditions note children under 4 free and an indoor smoking terrace — confirm live desk rules for older children (some PP mirrors still say under 12). Amenities commonly listed: soft drinks, standard alcohol, Wi-Fi, flight screens, PRM access. A separate La Valette arrivals / VIP path and a dedicated VIP Terminal exist for premium / state traffic — not a substitute for the Priority Pass departures room. Peak summer mid-afternoon UK banks are when the lounge fills first. summary: PP La Valette Club airside L3 after Duty Free; 24h / max 3h; walk-up €45. category: status - label: Food title: Free fountains — then airside cafés detail: >- Airport facilities page maps three free drinking fountains: Baggage Reclaim next to Dufry; Schengen Departures opposite Gate 10 behind Hard Rock Cafe; Non-Schengen Departures opposite Gate 17. Empty before screening if you are still carrying a full bottle, then refill airside. Free unlimited Wi-Fi is advertised across the terminal with charging points on airport maps. Landside pharmacy in Welcomers’ Hall roughly 08:00–14:30 and 15:00–22:00; Tourist Information Desk 10:00–21:00 most days (closed Christmas, New Year’s, Good Friday, Easter Sunday). Airside F&B is a compact leisure mix (Hard Rock and cafés on the Schengen side are the usual landmarks) — expect queues when several Ryanair / easyJet / KM Malta banks board together. Observation Deck on Level 3 is open 24/7 if you want apron views instead of another coffee. summary: >- Three free fountains (reclaim + Gate 10 / Gate 17 areas); free Wi-Fi and Level 3 observation deck. category: food lounges: - name: La Valette Club (Departures) zone: 'Airside — after security, before passport control when required' hours: '00:00–23:59 daily (Priority Pass); max stay 3 hours' access: - Priority Pass / LoungeKey-style cards (confirm live app) - Participating airline business / status entitlements (carrier-dependent) - La Valette one-time pass €45 non-member / €30 member guest bestFor: - Priority Pass holders on long UK / continental waits - Early or late departures (true 24-hour listing) - Work / power after security without sitting on the pier floor summary: >- Primary passenger lounge at MLA — Level 3 after Duty Free via lift. Compact but genuinely useful; walk-up €45 is steep versus a TD bus fare, so Priority Pass is the usual path. Capacity limits apply in peak summer. verdict: worth-it terminal: Main terminal (airside Level 3) amenities: - Soft drinks and standard alcoholic drinks (PP listing) - Wi-Fi / flight information / TV - Air conditioning and PRM access - Terrace with separate smoking area (PP conditions) - name: La Valette Club (Arrivals VIP Lounge) zone: Arrivals / landside VIP path hours: >- Listed 00:00–23:59 on Priority Pass VIP Lounge (Arrivals) mirror — confirm on the day access: - La Valette membership / prepaid VIP products - >- Meet & greet add-ons (La Valette schedule: non-member €75 / member €60 — confirm live) bestFor: - Arriving premium passengers who prepaid VIP handling - Same-day turnarounds that never re-clear departures security summary: >- Arrivals-side La Valette product and the separate VIP Terminal are not the Priority Pass departures lounge — only book if your itinerary explicitly includes them. verdict: depends terminal: Arrivals / VIP Terminal (separate from main pier) amenities: - VIP meet & greet / escort options - Quiet seating away from Welcomers’ Hall crowds waterOptions: - kind: free name: Schengen Departures fountain (Gate 10 / Hard Rock) zone: airside summary: >- Free drinking fountain on the Schengen pier — best post-security refill before most EU/UK-adjacent Schengen gates. location: 'Schengen Departures opposite Gate 10, behind Hard Rock Cafe' terminal: Main terminal isBestValue: true - kind: free name: Non-Schengen Departures fountain (Gate 17) zone: airside summary: >- Free fountain on the non-Schengen side after passport control — use this if your gate is in the non-Schengen pier. location: Non-Schengen Departures opposite Gate 17 terminal: Main terminal isBestQuality: true - kind: free name: Baggage Reclaim fountain (Dufry) zone: landside summary: >- Free fountain on arrival reclaim — useful after landing before you commit to a bus or taxi queue. location: Baggage Reclaim Hall next to the Dufry outlet terminal: Main terminal - kind: purchase name: Airside café / retail bottled water zone: airside price: Typically ~€2–€4 for 0.5 L (shelf price varies) summary: >- Sealed bottles at airside F&B and shops if you prefer not to hunt for a fountain — still empty anything over 2 L before the CT checkpoint. location: Hard Rock Cafe corridor and pier retail after security terminal: Main terminal airportistScore: 7.6 slug: mla region: Europe --- > Markdown for [/airports/mla](/airports/mla). Append `.md` to any page URL (or send `Accept: text/markdown`) for an agent-readable copy. - [HTML page](/airports/mla) - [Lounge directory](/airports/mla/lounges.md) - [Sitemap](/sitemap.md) # Malta International Airport (MLA) Luqa, Malta · Europe Compact one-terminal island gateway with real CT liquids relief, free fountains, and a useful 24h Priority Pass lounge — held back mainly by no rail link and summer LCC banks on a single security spine. ## Airportist Score **7.6 / 10** - Comfort: 7.4 - Navigation: 8.2 - Food: 7.0 - Transport: 7.2 - Disruption resilience: 7.5 ## At a glance - Passengers: 10.06M (2025) - Terminals: 1 (+ separate VIP terminal) - Typical security: 18 min - On-time: 78% - Disruption: normal ## Best for - Schengen leisure trips with Priority Pass - Free water refill after CT security - Simple one-terminal wayfinding - Airport Direct bus into Valletta / Sliema corridors ## Watch out for - No rail — buses or prepaid taxi only - Peak summer UK/Italy LCC banks at one security block - Classic 100 ml still applies at many destination airports - Walk-up lounge (€45) is steep versus a TD bus fare ## More intel - [Lounge directory](/airports/mla/lounges.md) (free) - [Getting there](/airports/mla/getting-there.md) (free) - [Amenities](/airports/mla/amenities.md) - [Traveler tips](/airports/mla/tips.md) - [Water](/airports/mla/water.md) - [Full guide](/airports/mla/guide.md) - [Disruptions](/airports/mla/disruptions.md) - [Reviews](/airports/mla/reviews.md)