Gozo airfield tender to be issued within weeks as government pushes stronger island connectivity

The tender for the first phase of works on a proposed airfield in Gozo will be issued within the coming weeks, the Minister for Gozo and Planning, Clint Camilleri, has announced.

Speaking during a discussion meeting on connectivity organised by the Ministry for Gozo and Planning, the minister said the initial tender would cover the levelling of the site where the rural airfield is planned to be built. The project forms part of the government’s long-term development framework, Malta Vision 2050, and is listed as one of the key macro measures for Gozo.

Camilleri said the proposed airfield would strengthen the island’s connectivity and create new economic opportunities. According to the minister, the facility could attract aviation-related investment that has not previously existed in Gozo, including aviation schools relocating from Malta. He also suggested the site could support training in drone operations and skydiving, as well as potentially enable scheduled inter-island flights.

“Effective connectivity is an essential foundation for the progress of the island,” Camilleri said, adding that improving transport links remains a priority for the government to support both residents and businesses in Gozo.

During the meeting, the minister also highlighted improvements already made to travel between Gozo and Malta, particularly the fast ferry service linking the port of Mġarr with Valletta. The service currently offers a journey of around 45 minutes and has become a key transport option for workers and students travelling between the islands.

Camilleri said the service is expected to expand further in the coming weeks, with additional routes planned between Mġarr and Buġibba as well as Sliema, while the existing Valletta route will continue to operate.

He also referred to plans to strengthen maritime links through an expansion of the Gozo Channel fleet to five vessels as part of a wider strategy to improve connectivity.

Improved transport links are also contributing to Gozo’s development as a year-round tourism destination, according to the minister. He noted that the ministry, together with local councils and NGOs, organised 326 cultural activities across the island last year, helping to attract visitors outside the traditional peak tourism season.

Looking ahead, Camilleri said a taskforce involving several government entities and the local council has been established to study the future development of the Port of Mġarr. The group will examine possible port expansion as well as the development of an alternative access road.

Permanent Secretary Mario Borg said that under Malta Vision 2050, Gozo is being recognised as a model for sustainable development. He noted that the strategy marks a shift in policy thinking, with the island being viewed not as a region that must catch up with the rest of the country but as an example of balanced economic growth and improved quality of life.

During the event, Ivan Falzon, chief executive of the Gozo Regional Development Authority, presented an overview of the Port of Mġarr, while tourism director Ronald Sultana outlined recent growth in visitor numbers.

Former colonel and pilot Mark Said also addressed the meeting, stressing the importance of diversifying Gozo’s connectivity. He said the island depends heavily on its port and argued that additional transport links, including an airfield, could open new opportunities and provide faster travel options between Gozo and Malta.

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