Malta will stop all incoming passenger flights on Saturday and only allow cargo, humanitarian and repatriation flights to land to stop the spread of coronavirus, officials said on Wednesday, APA reports citing Reuters.
The Mediterranean island, which depends heavily on tourism, has reported 38 cases so far, of which 32 were people who had caught the disease abroad.
“Saturday will be a dark day for the local aviation industry and all stakeholders who have worked tirelessly to ensure the industry’s growth and success over the past years,” Malta International Airport CEO Alan Borg said in a statement.
“Now, more than ever, it is crucial for us to work together with government and all industry players to see the local aviation industry through these trying times.”
The spread of the virus and international restrictions on travel have severely hit the island’s economy. Tourism accounts for a quarter of its gross domestic product, and its financial services and gaming sectors rely heavily on foreign workers.
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