KM Malta Airlines has decided to stop flying to Catania during the winter months because, simply put, it’s just not worth it financially. The airline says there’s too much competition from budget airlines and ferry services, which has driven ticket prices down to the point where they’re barely covering costs.
Apparently, the demand for this route is super lopsided. People love flying out from Malta on Friday or Saturday mornings and coming back later in the weekend, so those flights are packed. But the problem is, the return flights in the opposite direction? Not so much. That imbalance makes it tough for the airline to keep the route running year-round.
A spokesperson for KM Malta Airlines explained that since they operate on commercial principles, they have to make tough calls based on the numbers. And right now, the numbers just aren’t adding up. That said, they do plan to bring back the Catania flights during peak season—July to September—when demand is at its highest.
Understandably, not everyone is happy about the decision. One traveler, Sharon Camilleri, who runs tours to Sicily, took to Facebook to express her frustration. She said she was devastated, explaining that while she could operate tours anywhere in the world, Sicily had become her passion. Now, she feels like all the hard work she put into building her business is being undone before her eyes.
For now, it looks like winter travelers hoping for a quick hop to Catania will have to look elsewhere—or wait for the summer rush to bring the route back.
