Air Malta launches new Palermo service

VALLETTA, Malta – Air Malta will start scheduled services between Malta and Palermo as from 4th July.

VALLETTA, Malta – Air Malta will start scheduled services between Malta and Palermo as from 4th July. These flights will operate in addition to the 13 weekly flights between Malta and Catania/Sicily and reinforce the airlineโ€™s leading position between Italy and Malta. Air Malta gives the best choice for travelers from both Italy and Malta with 34 weekly flights and the highest number of frequencies per destination compared to any other carrier.

โ€œThis is more good news for our customers,โ€ said Ursula Silling, Air Maltaโ€™s Chief Commercial Officer. โ€œWe are thrilled to launch new flights to/from Palermoโ€™s Falcone-Borsellino airport and thus offer 15 weekly flights between Sicily and Malta. With over 2,700 years of history, the Sicilian capital has a lot to offerโ€, continued Ms Silling.


The Maltese National Airline will operate two weekly flights to/from Palermo every Monday and Thursday and will retain the route throughout winter.

โ€œOur new flights will offer connectivity between Malta and the western part of

Sicily. Palermo is the islandโ€™s cultural, political and touristic capital and we expect to carry around 20,000 passengers in the first year of operation. As part of our constant schedule improvements we have also retimed some of our Catania flights to offer better connectivity with our services to major European cities. These initiatives are expected to facilitate business opportunities between the two islands,โ€ added Ms Silling.

Palermo is Sicilyโ€™s largest city, a historic melting pot of Western and Arabic cultures and the perfect base from which to explore the region. It is renowned for its rich culture, architecture and gastronomy. Being one of the top tourist destinations in Italy, Palermo attracts tourists with its Romanesque, Gothic and Baroque buildings.

Its historic medieval old town is very popular with tourists including Cappella Palatina, a small chapel hidden within the Palazzo dei Normanni. This palace is renowned for its wealth of outstanding mosaics that bejewel the walls of its interior. Also popular are the cityโ€™s landmark square of Quattro Canti and the tiny chapel of San Cataldo, which has three miniature domes and Arabic inscriptions on its columns. This overlooks Palermoโ€™s famous โ€˜Fountain of Shameโ€™. Just outside of Palermo is the Cathedral of Monreale, one of Sicilyโ€™s most beautiful buildings, whose interior is lined with shimmering golden Byzantine mosaics while its cloister columns are twisted with vivid zigzags of Moorish inlay.

Palermoโ€™s strength is in its beauty and civilization, which are reflected through the local markets and unique beaches with crystalline waters and sandy stretches.

For those who prefer the lure of shopping one should visit the haute couture streets of Via Maqueda, Via Ruggero Settimo and Via della Liberta. For those who prefer bargain hunting and traditional crafts, earthen ware, wrought iron and carved wood, shops in Via Bara, Via Orologia and Vittorio Emanuele are recommended.

Between purchases in either the back streets or the wide boulevards, there is plenty of opportunity to stop for a quick snack of fried aubergines or hefty pizza slices prepared by street vendors. For those who have more time to spare a stop at the more formal restaurants to savor Sicilyโ€™s excellent cuisine is a must.

The flight schedule will operate as follows:

Monday
dep Malta 1315hrs arr Palermo 1415hrs
dep Palermo 1505hrs arr Malta 1555hrs

Thursday
dep Malta 1950hrs arr Palermo 2050hrs
dep Palermo 2140hrs arr Malta 2230hrs

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Linda Hohnholz

Editor in chief for eTurboNews based in the eTN HQ.

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