Malta may not instantly register in the mind as an international aviation hub. But singers Beyonce and Mariah Carey, actor Hugh Jackman and wrestler The Rock beg to differ.

Writing on Bloomberg, contributor Andrew Cave said they are all users of aircraft registered in Malta by VistaJet, the Swiss company that claims to be Europe's biggest independent private jets operator.

Even Zlatan Ibrahimovic, the Swedish footballer who has styled himself as the "God of Manchester" after signing for Manchester United, was whisked for his medical with the Red Devils in one of Vista's Malta-registered Bombardier aircraft. VistaJet is far from alone in Maltese aviation. Some 28 companies and 220 aircraft are now on Malta's aviation registry, set up six years ago following the success of the country's maritime strategy.

Mr Cave said that Lufthansa operates one of its most efficient aircraft engineering centres in Malta; Britain's royal family has hired Malta-based jets and VVB Aviation, an airline part-owned by a company of Iron Maiden lead singer Bruce Dickinson, is based there. VistaJet, which registered its first jet in Malta in 2013, now has 55 planes worth a total of £1.8BN registered in the nation.

It has also recently moved its head office to Malta, adding 50 staff to the 225 it already had in the country. Four years ago, it had only 80 workers there.

VistaJet's move instantly made it Malta's biggest aviator and is seen as a major vote of confidence in MaltaThomas Flohr, VistaJet's founder and chief executive, says: "As a fast-growing company, we're looking at decisiveness and speed of execution and that mirrors our relationship with the Malta government.