Maltese departures during the month of January totalled 14,148. Of these, 14,117 passengers departed by air – a percentage increase of 17.6 over the same month last year, the National Statistics Office said yesterday.

This was mainly due to a rise in the number of Maltese departing for the United Kingdom – an increase of 8.1 per cent over January 2004.

In fact, Maltese air departures to the United Kingdom made up 29 per cent of total Maltese air departures in the month under review. A group of “other” markets garnered 36.5 per cent of total air departures, thus marking a percentage increase of 42.3 over January 2004.

Increases were recorded also for Maltese departing to Germany, Holland and Tunisia.

On the other hand, a decrease was recorded in Maltese air departures to Italy which, albeit being the second most preferred destination, was down by 12.7 per cent over January 2004. Decreases were also recorded in the number of Maltese travelling to France and Spain.

Of the Maltese travelling abroad by air, 97.7 per cent had a length of stay of less than six months.

The majority of Maltese air departures in the month under review were male, accounting for 61.6 per cent of total air departures. Men and women falling in the 25-64 age bracket were the ones who travelled abroad most. However, of Maltese air travellers in the 25-44 age group, 60.7 per cent were men as were a higher percentage – 65.8 per cent – of Maltese air travellers in the 45-64 age group.