Are you tired of the cramped quarters, smelly passengers and generally uncomfortable experience of flying? Does the idea of spending nine hours on a plane with noisy strangers make you feel a bit nauseous? In many places around the globe, the amenities once associated with flying, such as good meals, free drinks and great passenger service are lacking. Passengers are unhappy, and some people are flying less as a result. In Malta, however, conditions are different.



Malta International Airport has addressed the negative issues associated with flying and has taken action to change the public perception of airlines. The Healthy Flying campaign provides products to help passengers feel better during their flights. Airport Value Marketing Association and Aviation Health have teamed up with the airport to give passengers in Malta the flying experience of their dreams.

The internal air in a plane often leaves passengers with drying, cracked and uncomfortable skin. In Malta, the comfort of passengers is the number one priority. When flying to or from Malta International Airport, passengers have access to moisturizers, helpful in combating dry skin during a long flight. Dry skin equals cranky passengers, while well-moisturized skin brings the opposite effect.

How about leg swelling as a result of a long flight? The airport now provides flight socks that drastically decrease swollen limbs, as well as ear plugs to provide a quiet flight. With ear plugs, passengers can now get a nice, long nap on their flight, without children screaming and other passengers talking loudly and interrupting their dreams. There's nothing like a good dose of silence to lull a person to sleep.

Under Aviation Health founder Farrol Kahn, an expert in the field of aviation health and medicine, passengers are guaranteed to receive a great experience in Malta. Oxygen supplement drops, which aid in reviving a stressed brain, are also given to passengers when requested. Dark chocolate and red wines, both well-known for their health benefits, soothe passengers who are often apprehensive about flying in a crowded plane.

Materials are handed out in the departure area by a staff highly trained in product knowledge. An expert on the products gives passengers a sense of comfort usually not associated with public airplanes. By keeping up to date with a strict training program, promoters and sales assistants are always aware of the benefits and side effects of each health care item available on the flight.

Mario Psalia-Savona, Malta International Airport's head of non-aviation services, believes that the Healthy Flying concept shows the commitment that the airport gives to customer service. With the Healthy Flying program changing the face of aviation, other programmes are being planned to set the airport apart from the crowd. This makes Malta one of the top airports in the world for passenger comfort and service.

It's a step in the right direction, and, hopefully, other airports around the globe will follow Malta's lead. Every frequent flyer, and even non-frequent fliers, will benefit from the progressive steps Malta is taking to increase passenger comfort.