Three new Mediterranean routes - to Malta, Sardinia, and Sicily - are now available from London Southend Airport, providing even more choice for passengers.

Air Malta is now operating three direct flights a week to the beautiful island of Malta, of which Valletta is the 2018 European Capital of Culture.

The airline also has direct flights twice weekly to both Catania, Sicily, and Cagliari, the capital of Sardinia.

Air Malta acting chief executive, Joseph Galea, flew in on one of the inaugural flights, which was welcomed with the traditional water arch salute from the Airport Fire Service.
Galea said: “Air Malta is very excited.

“London has always been a major destination for Maltese people, and Malta is a popular attraction for British people, so the connectivity we are now offering between Malta and London - plus Cagliari and Catania - makes it very exciting for us.

“Mostly we fly point to point, but the London Southend product gives us the opportunity to combine Sardinia and Sicily - it is already doing well, so we are thrilled as it is where we want to go in the future.”

Air Malta is the third new airline that London Southend has attracted in 2018.

An IGAvion service to Châteauroux in the Loire Valley started in April, while a new Loganair route to Carlisle Lake District Airport gets underway on June 4th.

Flybe, operated by Stobart Air, and easyJet, already cover 34 popular domestic and European destinations.