A testament to the dynamic growth of a strong touristic destination, Katowice Airport is celebrating this significant milestone by marking the departure of its half-millionth passenger to Malta this March.
For several years, there has been a marked increase in interest to travel towards the Maltese Islands amongst Polish tourists. In 2023, 52,500 passengers travelled on the Katowice-Malta route which was the highest figure since direct flights began in 2017. Subsequent years brought further growth. In 2024, Katowice Airport almost doubled the number of passengers travelling to Malta, reaching 102,000.
This upward trend continued in 2025, with the airport handling 147,000 passengers on Malta routes, representing a 43% year-on-year increase. Furthermore, Malta was one of the five most popular destinations offered by Katowice Airport at that time.
"We Believe that Traffic to Malta from Katowice Airport will Continue to Grow.”
Artur Tomasik, CEO of Górnośląskie Towarzystwo Lotnicze S.A., the company that manages Katowice Airport stated:
“This route is becoming increasingly popular with both airlines and passengers. In 2025 alone, Ryanair and Wizz Air took off from Katowice Airport bound for Malta 411 times. Thanks to our good cooperation with the Malta Tourism Authority, to whom I extend my sincere thanks, we believe that traffic to Malta from Katowice Airport will continue to grow.”
John Mary Attard, regional director of the Malta Tourism Authority in Poland added:
“This airport is particularly important for developing tourism from Poland to Malta. We are talking about a large region with a population of 2.7 million that is growing rapidly. The key drivers of growth are not only an attractive tourism offering, but also an extensive network of direct flights, enabling fast and convenient travel to the islands and vice-versa. Katowice Airport has been a key driver of double-digit growth for us for years, which is why we carry out consistent marketing activities in this region to promote Malta more effectively to its residents. We would also like this airport to be an important source of traffic for us in the business tourism segment, which is playing an increasingly significant role.”
Dr Charles Mangion, Chairman of the Malta Tourism Authority, also welcomed this milestone:
“Reaching the half a million-passenger mark on the Katowice–Malta route is a clear reflection of the strong and sustained demand from the Polish market. This achievement highlights the effectiveness of our long-standing collaboration with key aviation partners and reinforces the importance of connectivity in driving tourism growth. As we continue to strengthen our presence in Poland, we remain committed to building on this momentum by promoting Malta as a diverse, year-round destination offering high-quality experiences to an ever-growing audience.”
The rapid growth in travel between Katowice and Malta confirms the rising popularity of this Mediterranean destination among Poles. This trend is driven by the attractive year-round climate and increasing direct flight availability, making it easier to plan both short trips as well as longer holidays. At the same time, the route provides added value for Maltese travellers by enhancing outbound travel opportunities, offering convenient access to southern Poland and wider Central European destinations.
Last year, 387,000 tourists from Poland visited the island nation, making Poland the third largest source of tourists from Europe. In January 2026, Poland ranked first in this list.
