Share a meal, share a moment

Meals are often quick and functional, squeezed between meetings, errands, and deadlines. Why not take the pressure off and turn mealtime into an occasion? Skip the prep and cleanup, and treat Mum to a leisurely bite at the airport’s diverse Food Court. With everything from fresh salads to comforting classics, international delights, sweet treats and warm beverages, there’s something to tempt every taste. Whether you’re indulging in a long-overdue chat over coffee or discovering a new dish together, it’s the experience, not just the food, that truly satisfies.

See where you can grab a bite by clicking here.

Take it slow, together

Spending time together doesn’t always need an itinerary. Sometimes, the best moments come from simply being present. Take the opportunity to wander through o

ur diverse shopping outlets, where you can browse new releases at Agenda Bookshop, help Mum pick out something new to brighten up her home at Butlers, upgrade your travel gear at Samsonite or even find something to sparkle in at Hebe. The beauty of retail therapy is that it can quickly turn out to be a low-key but high-quality day out.

Shop your way through our outlets – click here!

Catch your breath and a view

For a moment of calm, head to the Observation Deck, where you can enjoy a quiet moment and just take it all in. With planes gliding across the sky, it’s the perfect place to reminisce about childhood holidays or even daydream about planning your next trip. And with some of Malta’s most traditional skylines in the backdrop, it’s the perfect place to reflect and connect.

Create memories, not just moments

Mother’s Day doesn’t have to be grand gestures or elaborate plans. Sometimes all it takes is choosing to be fully present. At the airport, you’ll find

more than just a place to pass time, you’ll discover a space where meaningful moments can unfold naturally. So go ahead, plan a day t

hat’s all about her, and you, together.

The holiday season is here, and I’ve been thinking about all the little (and not-so-little) things that would make Christmas extra special this year.

To get into the holiday spirit, I’d love some adorable Christmas decorations from Butlers at WHSmith—they’re simply the cutest! Once everything is set up, I’d also like some festive books from Agenda Bookshop to enjoy with a cozy cup of Christmas tea from Butlers at WHSmith.

Christmas is the season of celebrations—whether it’s intimate family gatherings, dinners with colleagues, or festive parties with friends. That’s why I’m eyeing some stylish new additions to my wardrobe from Saltwater, Parfois, and Hard Rock’s winter collections.

No outfit is complete without the perfect accessories! A cozy bucket hat and boots from Parfois, paired with gloves from Saltwater, will keep me stylishly warm. I’ve also heard Saltwater has introduced a new brand—Michael Kors—and their bags are simply irresistible!

Even though it’s winter, Malta’s sunny days are here to stay, so a new pair of sunglasses from Hebe is a must. While I’m at it, I’ll throw in a stunning watch also from Hebe to complete the look.

And for my holiday getaway, I’ll need a new suitcase and backpack from Samsonite to travel in style.

And finally, for those cozy days at home, I’ll need a little self-care indulgence—and I know just the place! From scented candles to luxurious perfumes, creams, and lotions, Dufry has everything to help me unwind in style.

If your dad loves the finer things in life, consider treating him to a luxurious fragrance, high-quality skincare products or perhaps a fine bottle of his favourite spirit from Dufry. If he has a sweet tooth, you can also opt for a premium box of decedent chocolates from Sunday in Scotland.

For the dad who loves exploring and embarking on new adventures, inspire his next journey with a captivating travel book from WHSmith. One way to make sure he’s always got his in-flight entertainment while travelling is to treat him to a new page-turner or high-quality headphones, both of which are also available from WHSmith. Keep him hydrated on his travels with a Costa Coffee reusable water bottle and equip him with travel gear that is both durable and stylish from Samsonite.

Impress your stylish dad who is always on trend with pieces from the latest collections at Saltwater, featuring brands like Tommy Hilfiger, Armani Exchange, and Calvin Klein. Add a touch of elegance to his ‘fits with sunglasses, jewellery, watches, or a set of cufflinks from Hebe, which stock high-end brands including Gucci, Police, Kenzo, Saint Laurent, and Dolce & Gabbana.

If you’re shopping for a sports enthusiasts, a sleek yet functional gym bag from Saltwater to carry his workout gear is the way to go. For the summer, the outlet also stocks Karl Lagerfeld and Tommy Hilfiger caps and swimming trunks, which are sure to keep him looking cool while staying active. Plus, for some at-home fun, don’t miss out on the billiard and soccer tables available at Butlers available from WHSmith.

A sweet gift for the chocolate lover

Is your mum’s only weakness chocolate? Then treat her to a box of Sunday in Scotland’s indulgent chocolate creations, which are crafted locally using the finest ingredients. A whole array of milk, white and dark chocolate, having varying levels of cocoa content, is on offer at the outlet inside our Check-in Hall, but one of the all-time best sellers is the HAZELNUTCRUNCH, which comes in 4-piece or 12-piece gift boxes. And if your mum is a bit of an eco-warrior, she’ll surely appreciate Sunday in Scotland’s efforts to keep packaging to a minimum and use recyclable materials!

A heaven scent gift from cloud nine

If your mum is anything like ours, she manages to juggle a million things, but never has much time to put up her feet and unwind. The Cloud Nine ceramic aroma diffusers, which are available from the Butlers shop inside the WHSmith outlet, are perfect for creating a soothing ambiance at home as the heavenly scents of essential oils, ranging from the citrusy fragrance of lemongrass to the sweet smell of vanilla, waft through the air. For an even more soothing experience that’ll transport mum straight to her favourite spa, these diffusers come with a light function which allows you to choose among seven LED colours.

A gift to face the day with much gusto

Is your mum’s go-to morning beverage a good cup of coffee? Our WHSmith outlet inside the Welcomers’ Hall has the perfect gift for her. With Nescafé’s Dolce Gusto machine in the kitchen, she can wake up to the aroma of good coffee every day. Whether she loves heady espressos or frothy cappuccinos, the high-quality beans used by Nescafé in their products will surely help her face the morning with much gusto and give her the energy to conquer the day. And if she prefers her coffee to-go, you can always top off the gift with a re-usable travel mug from one of our Costa Coffee outlets!

An eye-catching gift for the stylish mum

If your mum loves accessories, a pair of stylish sunglasses will certainly not go amiss. From oversized sunglasses to daintier cat-eye frames – and a hundred other options in between – at our HEBE outlet, you’ll surely find the pair that suits your mother to a T. The array of brands and styles that are stocked by HEBE will ensure that you walk out of the outlet with a pair of sunglasses that’ll make your mum feel as fabulous as Audrey Hepburn in Breakfast at Tiffany’s without breaking the bank!

A gift that’ll ignite her wanderlust

Has it been a while since your mum travelled last? You can always ignite her wanderlust and nudge her into booking that long overdue holiday with new luggage from the Samsonite outlet. Samsonite’s new range of travel gear in orange hues and bold floral designs is ideal for the woman who likes to stand out in a crowd, while other in-store collections in more subdued and pastel colours are more suited to the mother who prefers to blend in while still looking super stylish.

Finally, drop by the Agenda Bookshop outlet inside our Check-in Hall or the WHSmith outlet inside the Welcomers’ Hall to pick your wrapping paper and a card. Both outlets have a delightful selection of cards, in Maltese and English, with enough space inside to write a special message to let your mother know that she’s the absolute opti-mum.

• Get to the airport on time

Turning up at the terminal two hours before your flight gives you plenty of time to sort out your travel documents and luggage, whiz through security and have some time to grab a bite or browse through the shops before taking off. Do check that you have your passport and all the necessary documents, including any COVID-related paperwork required by your destination country, before you leave! Remember that all departing passengers are subject to thermal screening, and if your body temperature exceeds 37.2^oC, you may be asked to leave the airport.

• Take a Rapid Test at the Airport

Malta International Airport is offering rapid antigen testing provided through a third party for the added convenience of travellers. To take a test at the airport prior to your departure pre-booking is required, with each test costing €35. Further information about this facility may be found here.

• To Drive or to Taxi It

Malta International Airport offers a good number of parking spaces, but you can not ease into holiday mode before you actually take off, by booking a taxi to get you to the airport? Taxis drop you off right outside the terminal, meaning that you’re literally a minute away from your check-in desk.

• Check in online

Check in online and print your boarding pass to avoid check-in queues. Most airlines allow you to do this within 24 hours of your flight’s departure. There are also a number of self-check-in kiosks in the Check-in Hall at Malta International Airport. See whether you can make use of this facility here.

• Be aware of luggage weight restrictions

Be aware of the luggage weight restrictions applied by the airline you’re travelling with and weigh your bags before you leave for the airport to avoid any nasty surprises at check-in!

• Be security screening ready

Remember to remove pointed items from your hand luggage. Liquids are only allowed if they’re in containers having a maximum capacity of 100 ml. Empty your pockets and remove your belt and jewellery before you are asked to do so, as this helps make the screening process smoother… and faster.

That’s why the team at the Samsonite outlet at MIA put together a few recommendations to keep in mind when shopping for luggage. As the sellers of one of  travellers’ favourite luggage brands, we reckon they know a thing or two about wise luggage choices!

Practical pockets & compartments

Most soft luggage comes with practical front pockets and compartments, which are ideal for keeping handy items – such as your flight tickets or mobile phone – you may need quick access to as you travel.

Protection

Here, hard shell luggage wins a couple of points as it is ideal for keeping equipment such as laptops and cameras intact. Hard shells are also quite difficult to tamper with and ensure that your belongings are kept dry. While hard shells can get dented, the outer shells of Samsonite’s Proxis collection (pictured in gold and silver below) are made from Roxkin, a multi-layered material developed by Samsonite which helps the shell bounce back into shape.

Integrated locks and TSA locks

Most hard shell luggage at Samsonite comes with integrated combination locks and TSA locks (as seen at the side of the red luggage in the photo). These allow personnel to conduct random luggage checks without damaging your luggage.

Flexibility & Expandability

If you’re planning on going on a shopping spree, you may want to consider travelling with soft shell luggage. Soft luggage is usually expandable and somewhat more flexible around the edges, helping you squeeze in a couple of extra items.

Other considerations

Whichever type of luggage fits your needs best, make sure that the material is of high quality. Hard shell luggage made from cheap and flimsy plastic can crack very easily. Look for polypropelene hard shell suitcases, as this material combines sturdiness with lightness. Samsonite have developed their own exclusive material CURV®, which comes with a ten-year global warranty.

If you’re going for soft shell, ask for breathable materials that are also water resistant. It is also important to check whether the handles are sturdy enough; a broken handle will make the affair of lugging your luggage around a little more difficult and irksome!

What some people might not be aware of is what travelling with a pet entails. To get a clearer picture we caught up with a frequent traveller, Dana, who never leaves her four-legged companion behind when flying to Malta. She admitted that the first trip with Nika was quite daunting, first and foremost, because she didn’t know whether her pet dog would warm up to the idea of travelling. Now that they have been on several trips together, Dana knows that Nika enjoys flying just as much as she does and now travels more frequently than the majority of us do!
By time Dana also learnt that her travel buddy does not particularly like connecting flights as this makes her quite restless and squirmy. Giving a pet too much food and water before travelling is, well, not exactly the most brilliant of ideas either! Having said this, keeping a couple of treats close by could certainly come in handy.

To make things easier for those considering travelling with their pet (dog, cat or ferret) for the first time, Dana helped us put together a check-list of things you should know and do:

• Check whether the airline you are flying with accepts pets, as not all airlines offer this possibility
• Once you do this and proceed to book your ticket, inform the airline that you will be travelling with your pet
• Remember that pet fees are non-refundable for many airlines
• Pets weighing less than 10 kgs (including carry bag) can stay in the cabin with their owners, provided that their carry bag conforms with the stipulated dimensions
• Make sure that your pet is microchipped
• Before flying, take your pet to the vet to get a fit-for-travel certificate
• See that your pet’s vaccination documentation is up to scratch
• To be able to enter Malta, your pet dog must have received the Echinococcus (tapeworm) treatment a maximum of 5 days prior to entry
• Other countries requiring this treatment are Finland, the Republic of Ireland, Norway, and the United Kingdom
• Before flying to Malta inform one of the Agricultural Department’s vets of your arrival time by email on petstravel.msdec@gov.mt so that he/she can be on site to examine your pet
• Remember that if your papers are not in order your pet can be refused entry into Malta or put into quarantine
• Finally, if your pet is not a dog, cat or ferret, and especially if it is a turtle or parrot, you should verify that it is not protected under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES).  You will need to apply for additional permits if this is the case.

We hope that this post makes the thought of travelling with your pet a little less daunting and we look forward to welcoming you and your furry, feathered, or scaly companion at our airport!

Frequent travellers and parents, Daisy, Roberta, Jennifer, Jackie, Reuben, and Kurt shared with us some top tips they picked along the way, with Reuben recommending that these are coupled with more than just a pinch of patience for the smoothest of journeys.

Plan ahead

“Leaving barely enough time to check in and go through security amounts to a lot of unnecessary stress and flaring of tempers,” says Jackie. Do try your best not to leave packing until the very last minute, and to be at the terminal well ahead of your flight departure time.

Security Screening Note: Travelling with a pushchair? It is highly likely that you’ll be asked to close it, so that it goes through the X-ray machine for screening. It is recommended that you prepare for this part of the airport journey before you actually get to the security screening area.

Snacks aplenty

Have plenty of snacks handy, but steer away from messy foods and sweets. Hands smeared with chocolate and sugar rushes in mid-air can have quite disastrous consequences. Roberta recommends breadsticks, crackers, small cereal boxes, and fruit pouches as great alternatives to sugary and messy foods. You can even stock up on last-minute snacks for the trip from one of our WHSmith outlets located within the Welcomers’ Hall and at Departures.

Security Screening Note: Remember that baby foods are allowed only if you are travelling with a baby or infant (aged 0-24 months).  Passengers are requested to carry only what is needed for the duration of the trip until they reach their final destination. Baby food and other dietary products may be subject to additional screening with liquid analysers.

On-the-go entertainment

Favourite toys, small colouring books, puzzles, and plasticine make for excellent on-to-go entertainment and time killers. “Think small, but not too tiny,” says Kurt, “the last thing you’d want is a hunt for a practically microscopic piece, whilst dodging other travellers’ stomping feet.” If you’re resorting to technology to keep your little ones amused, be sure that your device is charged and brimming with cartoons, songs, and apps.

Put together a first aid kit

All’s not well when young globetrotters feel unwell. Be prepared for the eventuality by putting together your own first aid kit, packed with easy-to-swallow medicine, suppositories, and other basics such as a teething gel, plasters, antiseptic wipes or hand sanitising gel, an antiseptic cream, and calamine lotion.

Security Screening Note: Remember that medicines that are carried in the hand luggage may be subject to additional screening with liquid analysers and if they exceed 100ml, they should ideally be accompanied by a doctor’s note indicating that they are needed on the flight.

Have an extra change of clothes handy

Toilet accidents and spillages will literally dampen a journey. “A change of clothing, or two if the trip’s particularly long, should be one of your hand luggage staples to save the day when the need drops,” says Jackie.

Beat that ear pressure

Little ones are particularly prone to experiencing ear pain during take-off and landing. New mother Jennifer has learnt that breast or bottle feeding at these two points of the journey helps equalise the pressure in the inner ear and lessen the pain.

“Older children, who can chew food properly, can be given a gummy sweet to chew on at these two points of the journey. However, do remember not to let children doze off with food in their mouth,” says Daisy.

Keep tabs on your children

You can easily allow your toddlers the freedom to wander off, explore, get lost, and be found with a tracking device. Such devices come in many shapes and sizes, but they generally are very inconspicuous and will not make your child feel restrained and watched.

“I love these gadgets, but if you don’t quite subscribe to the idea of tracking your little ones, do make sure that you kit them out with a bracelet or tag with information such as your contact details,” says Kurt.

You have the power!

Nobody knows your child better than you do. This arms you with some seriously great powers and strengths to breeze through journeys and deal with hitches with common sense and intuition.

Have a safe trip!

The triptych is dedicated to the Virgin of Succours, and in its central panel it portrays the Madonna del Soccorso with St Peter and St James the Elder on either side, as well as Annunciation and Golgotha scenes in the panels’ top cusps. The triptych forms part of the Mdina Cathedral Museum collection and was the second painting in this collection to be studied following the restoration of Salvo d’Antonio’s masterful 1510 predella with the Salvator Mundi. The Malta Airport Foundation chose to invest in this project as it believes that the restored work of art will not only add value to the Mdina Cathedral Museum’s collection, but also to the country’s wider cultural tourism offering.

To better understand the importance of this triptych, and the work carried out on it, we spoke to Dr Charlene Vella who has, over the past 10 years, overseen the conservation and restoration of no less than seven 500-year-old Renaissance panel paintings in Maltese public collections. Dr Vella lectures within the Department of Art and Art History at the University of Malta, and is also the Director of the Late Medieval and Renaissance Art Studies research programme, under which the Triptych of the Madonna del Soccorso project falls.

Q. Can you explain why the Triptych of the Madonna del Soccorso was chosen for the aforementioned research programme?

 Antonello da Messina (c.1430-79), whose painting St Jerome in his Study can be seen below, was the most important Renaissance painter born south of Rome in the 15th century: he was a master of the oil technique and of chiaroscuro.

Malta had a special connection with this master through his brother-in-law, Giovanni de Saliba, who was probably of Maltese descent. Antonello de Messina was surrounded by a great network of painters and artisans, with Giovanni being a woodcarver within this circle, and other relatives of his being goldsmiths and painters. Among the painters were two of Antonello’s nephews, one of whom was Giovanni’s son; Antonio de Saliba.

Malta’s earliest Renaissance paintings come from Antonio de Saliba and another of Antonello’s nephews; Salvo d’Antonio. There exist eight paintings by Antonio de Saliba and Salvo d’Antonio in Maltese public collections that reached the Maltese islands before the arrival of the Knights of the Order of St John in 1530. This reinforces the argument that the Maltese islands enjoyed their own artistic renaissance even before the arrival of the Knights.

Within itself, the Triptych of the Madonna del Soccorso constitutes three of the eight paintings mentioned above. These paintings are also the three that make up the closest-to-a-complete altarpiece by the above-mentioned artists. Moreover, this is also one of three almost-complete altarpieces by these Renaissance masters that survive anywhere in the world.

Q. What makes the work conducted on the Triptych of the Madonna del Soccorso unique locally?

Invasive and non-invasive diagnostic tests were carried out on the paintings, providing information on the make-up of the paintings, the type of wood employed, as well as the pigments and binders used, before the actual conservation and restoration process took place.

Furthermore, the three paintings that make up the Triptych of the Madonna del Soccorso were also scanned in 3D. 3D-scanning, which proves that we should not view paintings simply as two-dimensional objects, has been carried out locally on archaeological sites and on sculptural objets d’art, but this was the first painting to be assessed in such a manner in Malta. The data collected through this process will eventually be made available to the public in the same way that several international museums have made their scanned objects available for free online.

The triptych – which originally must have had an ornate gilded Late Gothic type of surround – has been returned to the Mdina Cathedral Museum mounted onto a grey support. Since most paintings by these artists survive without their original framework, we looked at several framework reconstructions that major museums have used to present altarpieces that have lost their original frameworks, as our starting point. What the team working on this project ultimately achieved at the Mdina Cathedral Museum with regard to framework for the triptych, is also another first for Malta.

In the near future, we hope to present a hypothetical reconstruction of the framework in the form of a frosted sticker placed onto the museum-quality glass that is protecting the painted panels. Since the original framework does not survive, the shape of the panels has been studied in depth by architectural designer, Carmel Spiteri, and myself, in order to come up with as close to a hypothetical reconstruction of the framework as possible without being too daring in its recreation.

Q. What kind of expertise was needed to bring this research, conservation and  restoration project to fruition?

The necessary equipment for the 3D scan was brought over from Italy, with Leo Chiechi from Digitarca being assigned with the task. He worked hand in hand with Mr Pierre Bugeja, whose team at Prevarti Ltd was responsible for the entire scientific investigations and the conservation-restoration process. Digitarca have produced several high-profile projects in 3D and other projects, including the scanning of the Castel del Monte – the 13th-century castle in southern Italy commissioned by Emperor Frederick II – and the Virtual Tour of the Florentine Opera del Duomo Museum. Conservation scientist Davide Melica from the Consulenza e Diagnostica per il Restauro e la Conservazione was, on the other hand, responsible for diagnostic research on the manufacturing technique of the paintings alongside Pierre Bugeja.

Interested in staying updated on the Triptych of the Madonna del Soccorso project? Follow the project’s FB page here.

Published on: 16.04.2020

A – Accessories

The airport is probably not the best place to make a fashion statement with jewellery, belts, and watches, as all metallic accessories you might be wearing would have to come off before you go through the metal detector. This is not only somewhat inconvenient, but increases the risk of leaving something expensive or having sentimental value behind in our security trays.

Note: If you ever forget something at our airport, you can let us know by filling in our lost & found form found here. We’ll only be too glad to return it, if we find it!

B – Buckles and Laces

Since it is very possible that you are asked to remove your shoes at security, we recommend you opt for shoes you can easily slip out of and slip into again, without having to unbuckle and buckle up or unlace and lace up. Just a friendly word of advice; do put on a decent pair of socks to avoid the embarrassment of having to walk through the metal detector wearing threadbare socks, or your Tuesday socks on a Wednesday.

Note: Disposable shoe covers are provided upon request.

C- Clear Bags

You can carry liquids in your hand luggage provided that each container does not exceed 100 ml and that all of your liquids combined add up to no more than 1 litre. Liquids should be put in a clear bag measuring around 20 cm x 20 cm (you can ask for one of these bags at security), taken out of the hand luggage and passed through the X-ray machine at security. Liquids exceeding 100 ml will be confiscated, and some of the ‘usual suspects’ include alcohol, shampoos, and sunscreen.

Note: Liquid medicines, including syringes and cooling gel packs, can be carried in the hand luggage even if they exceed 100 ml, provided that you have supporting documentation from a medical professional.

D – Devices

Any electronic devices, such as laptops and tablets, you might be carrying in your hand luggage should be taken out at security and passed through the x-machine. Make sure that your device is sufficiently charged, as you might be asked to switch it on. If you are planning on carrying spare lithium batteries for one of your devices, be sure that these are packed in your hand luggage and are limited to two if the Watt hour rating ranges between 100 Wh and 160 Wh.

Note: E-cigarettes fall under the electronic device category and can be carried in your hand luggage. Additionally, traditional cigarettes may also be carried in your hand luggage, together with one box of safety matches or a single cigarette lighter.

E- Empty Pockets

Coins, keys, mobile phones, and any other treasures that might be lurking in your pockets are items that will probably set off the metal detector. Since it is rather inconvenient to empty the contents of your pockets into one of the security trays and put everything back in, we suggest you keep your pockets empty until you’re past security.

F – Food Items

Visiting a relative abroad who’s just craving some pastizzi or a homemade pie? The good news is that you can carry food items in your hand luggage, provided that they do not have runny fillings, and are not jams, pâtés, or creams. Moreover, when travelling with a baby who is between 0-24 months, you are allowed to carry enough baby food and drinks (even if these exceed 100 ml) in your hand luggage for the duration of your trip.

G – Gifts

You can, of course, carry gifts in your hand luggage, but we recommend that you keep these unwrapped as security staff might want to have a closer look at them. If you’ve bought your young nephew a toy gun or a water pistol, you’ll end up disappointing him as these gifts will be confiscated by security personnel!

H – Hair Dryers & Hair Straighteners

No need to worry about bad hair days ruining your holiday snaps, because you can carry both your hair dryer and hair straightener in your hand luggage. You can carry your favourite shampoo and conditioner too, if they are in containers that do not exceed 100 ml.

Now that you know your security screening ABC, you can whizz through without a single worry that something you’re carrying will end up staying behind at the airport. Always check the security tray twice to ensure that you have left nothing in it, and do be careful about inadvertently picking up other passengers’ items.

Have a safe trip!