Malta International Airport applies to create new dedicated Y-plate lane, reconfigure car park

The Malta International Airport has filed a planning application to reconfigure and expand its car park and also create a lane dedicated to Y-plate traffic.

In an application filed with the Planning Authority earlier this year, the Malta International Airport (MIA) seeks to reconfigure the main airport car park in such a manner that it would create 66 new parking spaces and a lane dedicated solely to Y-plate vehicles.

How Y-plate taxis are handled at the airport has been the topic of discussion and changes over the past few months, particularly as the Malta Taxi Licensed Association which represents the white taxi operators, argued that the “unregulated presence” of Y-plate vehicles at the airport was putting them at a disadvantage.

As of last month, passengers who booked taxis through ride hailing apps such as Uber, eCabs, and Bolt have to go down to the main car park in order to get picked up.  Previously, people could be picked up right outside the airport’s arrivals hall.

MIA’s planning application now seeks to create a more formal environment for this new policy for Y-plate pick-ups to take place.

The plans envisage the creation of a largely one-lane ring round around the main car park which will be specifically dedicated to Y-plate vehicles.

In order to make this happen, the car park itself will be reconfigured: instead of parking spaces being laid out in parallel to the orientation of the terminal building, they will now be laid out perpendicular to it.

The reconfiguration will create 66 new parking spaces for patrons.

The area’s landscaping will also be reorganised, but no trees are expected to be removed.  Some will be retained while others will be uprooted and then replanted once the project is complete, according to the plans. Primrose trees will also be planted within the car park itself.

The Planning Authority is yet to pass a recommendation on the application.