Gozo's Airport Plans: A Comprehensive Overview

is there an airport in gozo

The island of Gozo, Malta, is a popular tourist destination. However, it does not have its own airport. Travellers to Gozo first need to fly to Malta International Airport in Luqa, Malta, and then make their way to the island via taxi, shuttle bus, ferry, or rental car.

Characteristics Values
Airport in Gozo No
Closest airport Malta International Airport
Transport options from Malta International Airport to Gozo Taxi, shuttle bus, public transport, car
Ferry terminal Ċirkewwa
Ferry operator Gozo Channel Lines
Ferry schedule 7 am to 10 pm daily
Ferry duration 25 minutes
Ferry cost €2.50 per adult
Taxi fare from Malta Airport to Gozo €32-€38
Car rental cost €15-€30 per day
Distance between Malta Airport and Gozo 32 km
Travel time by car or taxi 1 hour
Travel time by bus 1.5 hours

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Transport options from Malta Airport to Gozo

There is no airport on the island of Gozo, so to get there, you must first travel to Malta. From Malta Airport, there are several transport options to get to Gozo.

Taxi

Taking a taxi is the quickest option, taking around 40 minutes to reach the port and costing around €30. You can pre-book your taxi online, or find one waiting outside the arrivals terminal exit doors. Prepaid tickets can be purchased at fixed rates from a booth in the airport's Welcomers Hall. A regular taxi accommodates three to four people, but luggage space must be considered.

Private Transfer

A private transfer is another option, which can be booked through your hotel. This will likely be a minibus from the airport to the ferry terminal, and another taxi when you arrive in Gozo.

Bus

The X1 bus takes you directly to the Ċirkewwa Ferry Terminal, with no other stops, and costs €2.50 per adult. The trip takes around one hour and a half. Tickets can be purchased from the counters inside the airport or from the driver in cash. There is also a shuttle bus service that can take you to any location in Malta and Gozo. The average cost for two adults and luggage is around €16.

Car

You can rent a car from Malta International Airport and drive to the Ċirkewwa Ferry Terminal, from where you can take your car across on the ferry to Gozo. The average car rental cost is €15-30 per day for an economy car.

Ferry

Once you have arrived at the Cirkewwa Ferry Port, you will need to take a ferry to Gozo. The ferry costs €4.65 and takes 25 minutes to reach the island.

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The journey time from Malta Airport to Gozo

There is no airport on the island of Gozo, part of the Maltese archipelago. To get to Gozo, you must first fly to Malta and then take a ferry from the main island. The total journey time from Malta Airport to Gozo is around 1 hour and 30 minutes by car, including the ferry. Here is a breakdown of the different ways to get from Malta Airport to Gozo and the respective journey times:

By Taxi

Taking a taxi is the quickest option, with a journey time of around 1 hour. First, you need to take a 30-40 minute taxi ride to the Cirkewwa Ferry Terminal, which costs around €30. From there, you can take a 25-minute ferry to Mġarr Harbour in Gozo for €4.65 during the day and €4.05 after 20:00. The total cost of the trip, including the taxi and ferry, will be €34.65.

By Car

If you prefer to drive yourself, you can rent a car at the airport or book one online. The drive from Malta Airport to the Cirkewwa Ferry Terminal takes under an hour, and the average cost of renting an economy car is €15-30 per day. Once you arrive at the terminal, you can take the ferry to Gozo, which also allows vehicles on board. The ferry ride takes around 25 minutes, and the ticket price for one passenger and a car is €15.70 during the day and €12.80 after 20:00.

By Bus

Taking the bus is the cheapest option, but it will take the longest. You can take the X1 or TD1 bus from the airport to the Cirkewwa Ferry Terminal. The bus ride takes around 80 minutes, and tickets cost €2. From the terminal, you can take the 25-minute ferry to Gozo for €4.65 during the day and €4.05 after 20:00.

By Shuttle Bus

A shuttle bus is another budget-friendly option. While there is no specific journey time mentioned, it is said to be faster than the public bus but slower than a taxi.

By Ferry

If you are already in Malta and want to get to Gozo, you can take the ferry directly from Valletta. The fast ferry from Valletta to Gozo takes 15-20 minutes, and the larger ferry from Cirkewwa takes 25 minutes. However, the larger ferry is more popular and runs more frequently, while the fast ferry is more prone to cancellations due to bad weather.

By Tour

If you would like a guide during your travels, you can book a tour that will take you from Gozo directly to the airport.

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The cost of travelling from Malta Airport to Gozo

There is no airport in Gozo, so to get there, you must first fly to Malta. From Malta Airport, you can take a taxi, bus, or hire car to the Ċirkewwa Ferry Terminal in the north of Malta. From there, you can take a ferry to the island of Gozo.

Taxi

The fixed taxi fare from Malta Airport to the Ċirkewwa Ferry Terminal is around €30 if booked online in advance via Welcome Pickups. The total cost of the trip, including the ferry to Gozo, will be €34.65. The taxi ride takes around 40 minutes.

You can also pre-purchase prepaid tickets at fixed rates from a booth in the airport's Welcomers Hall. The standard adult fare for the ferry is €4.65, and children from 3 to 12 pay €1.15.

Bus

The X1 bus from Malta Airport to the Ċirkewwa Ferry Terminal costs €2 and departs every 45 minutes. The trip is slower than the taxi, but it is a good option if you are travelling on a budget. The ferry from the terminal to Gozo costs €4.65.

Hire Car

You can rent a car from Malta International Airport and drive to the Ċirkewwa Ferry Terminal, from where you can take your car across on the ferry to Gozo. You can book your car rental online and pick it up from the airport car park, or you can rent a car when you arrive in Malta.

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The reliability of the Gozo ferry

There is no airport on the island of Gozo, Malta. The closest airport to Gozo is Malta International Airport in Luqa, which is approximately 32km away. Travellers can get to the Gozo Ferry terminal in Ċirkewwa from the airport by taxi, shuttle bus, or public transport. The taxi ride takes about an hour and costs around €32-€38, while the bus takes about an hour and a half.

The Gozo Ferry is a reliable mode of transport, running daily from 7 am to 10 pm. However, travellers should be aware that the ferry service uses smaller vessels, which may be more susceptible to cancellations due to unfavourable weather conditions. The ferry crossing from Ċirkewwa to Mġarr Harbour in Gozo takes approximately 25 minutes. It is recommended to allow extra time when taking the ferry, especially during the busy summer season, weekends, and long weekends, as there may be unexpected delays.

For those seeking a quicker option, the fast ferry to Valletta is available, with departures as early as 5:45 am and 6:45 am. From Valletta, travellers can take a taxi or use ride-sharing services like Bolt or Uber to reach the airport. These ride-sharing services have short waiting times and are considered reasonably priced.

Gozo has a well-developed public transport system, with inexpensive and efficient bus and taxi services, as well as car and bicycle hire options. The island is also pedestrian-friendly, making it easy to explore without relying solely on the ferry service.

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Proposed airfield in Gozo

Gozo is an island that is part of Malta, and it does not have its own airport. All flights to and from Gozo land at the Malta International Airport in Luqa, which is the country's only airport. The distance between Malta Airport and Gozo is 32 km, which can be covered in about an hour by car or taxi, or 1.5 hours by bus.

There is a proposal for a new airfield in Gozo, Malta. This proposal includes a 450-metre runway, which some pilots believe is a comfortable length for a small aircraft. However, others disagree, stating that this length limits usage to very small aircraft and is not ideal for pilots flying over open water to larger land masses. The proposed runway will also be at sea level, and the surrounding area is generally windy.

The new airfield in Gozo may not be a viable alternative to Luqa for touring GA SEP, and it is unclear if light GA aircraft will be able to operate there without an airport of entry. There are also concerns that the new airfield will push GA out of the main airport in Luqa.

Gozo has a well-connected transport system, with inexpensive and efficient public transport, plenty of taxis, car hire options, and bicycles. Visitors can easily travel to and from the island by ferry from the Ċirkewwa Ferry Terminal in Malta, with the journey taking around 25 minutes.

Frequently asked questions

No, there is no airport in Gozo. All flights land at the Malta International Airport in Luqa.

You can get to the island of Gozo from the Malta International Airport by taxi, shuttle bus, rental car, or public transport.

The trip from the Malta International Airport to the Gozo Ferry terminal takes between 1 hour and 1 hour and 30 minutes. The subsequent ferry ride to the island of Gozo takes 25 minutes.

The fixed taxi fare from the Malta International Airport to Gozo is around €32.00-€38.00. The shuttle bus service costs around €16.00 for two adults and luggage. The X1 bus costs €2.50 per adult. The average car rental cost is €15.00-€30.00 per day for an economy car.

The Gozo Ferry runs from 7 am to 10 pm daily. However, the ferries are small vessels that are prone to cancellations due to bad weather conditions. The larger Gozo Ferry rarely stops operating due to bad weather, except when the sea is too rough. The ferry is also in high demand during the summer season, particularly on weekends.

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