Spanish low cost airline Vueling Airlines, announced yesterday it is to run a Madrid/Malta flight from 31 March, adding to the growing ranks of low cost carriers plying the Malta route since the government opened up the airline travel sector.

In a statement, Vueling said tickets for the new route would run at an all-inclusive e40, at a frequency rate of three flights per week – from Madrid on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays and from Malta on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays.

The airline said it expects to carry 45,000 passengers in the first year of operations. Vueling sales director Juan Carlos Iglesias observed how Malta is “particularly attractive from a tourism point of view”.

He added: “With its privileged location in the Mediterranean, Malta has become one of the European destinations with more demand during the summer season, and Vueling will be the first Spanish company to offer scheduled flights between Madrid and the island throughout the year at very competitive prices.”With the Malta route, the airline has increased its route offering to a total of 16 destinations, 16,000 flights and three million seats.

Yesterday’s announcement follows related news emerging earlier this week, that leading British low cost carrier Easyjet would be flying to Malta after purchasing GB Airways, which operates routes from Gatwick and Manchester. Easyjet has said, in light of the buyout, it would be honouring all GB Airline’s scheduled flights until 29 March.