Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1518765
6 maltatoday | WEDNESDAY • 10 APRIL 2024 NEWS JAMES DEBONO jdebono@mediatoday.com.mt A planning application has been presented to demolish one of the last surviving old townhouses facing the Tower Road promenade in Sliema. This house is presently sand- wiched between the blank par- ty walls of two massive 10-sto- rey blocks which dwarf it. With the surrounding area completely transformed in the past four decades, the addi- tional floors are unlikely to stir any controversary. But contrary to what has be- come a norm in similar appli- cations involving townhouses in Sliema, the application does not even foresee the retention of the building's elegant façade. Internal photos submitted by the developer also indicate that the building includes interest- ing architectural features typ- ical of early twentieth century buildings including arches and a spiral staircase. The Superintendence for Cul- tural Heritage which in such cases normally calls for the re- tention of the façade and some of the internal features has still to submit its feedback on the application. The application submitted by Karl Hyzler foresees the erec- tion of garages at ground floor level, nine overlying apart- ments and a penthouse. Hyzler declared that he does not own the townhouse but was authorised by its owners to apply. Sandwiched Tower Road townhouse faces the axe The townhouse in Tower Road set for demolition PASSENGER movements through Malta Internation- al Airport exceeded the 600,000-mark in March for the first time in the airport's history, with the airport team welcoming 633,826 passengers last month. As March traf- fic registered a 30.1 per cent growth over 2023, the first quarter of 2024 was brought to a close with a total of 1,573,712 passenger movements. Passenger volumes reached their peak towards the end of the month, with 27,250 pas- sengers travelling through Malta International Airport on Thursday 28th March. Apart from heralding the Easter long weekend, Maundy Thursday also coincided with the com- mencement of Cruise and Fly services offered by P&O Cruises, whose operations will extend to October. This positive traffic perfor- mance was achieved on the back of an increase of 24.6 per cent over 2023 in the seat ca- pacity deployed on flights to and from Malta, and a strong seat load factor of 87.2 per cent; the highest load factor to ever be recorded in March. Aircraft movements also in- creased by 20.5 per cent year- on-year to total 4,031 take-offs and landings last month. With a combined market share of just over 50 per cent, Malta International Airport's top three markets in March remained Italy, the Unit- ed Kingdom and Germany. However, out of the top five markets, Poland achieved the most substantial growth of 80.6 per cent over 2023, sur- passing the French market to secure fourth position on the airport's market leaderboard. After serving the Maltese Is- lands as the national flag car- rier for the past 50 years, Air Malta's final flight landed at the airport in the early hours of Sunday 31st March, pav- ing the way for the inaugural KM Malta Airlines flight to depart from our airport later that same day. Whilst thank- ing Air Malta for collaborating closely with our airport, and for the services it has provid- ed to guests over the last half a century, we would like to take this opportunity to welcome its successor, KM Malta Air- lines. We would also like to congratulate Universal Air on commencing operations from our airport towards the end of March. Passenger movements through Malta International Airport exceeded 600,000-mark in March 27,250 passengers travelled through Malta International Airport on Thursday 28th March alone