A lot of flights out of Malta leave between six and eight in the morning.
That means being at the airport by four or five, and the island is not set up for moving people around at that hour.
Buses
The airport routes start early but not early enough for the first departures.
The night services that do run are limited and infrequent.
If your flight is after about eight you can usually make it by bus. Before that, do not plan on it.
Check the actual first departure on your route rather than the general timetable. They differ by an hour or more.
Taxis and transfers
Book a transfer the night before and agree the price then.
It is the reliable option and costs about the same as a taxi hailed on the spot.
The ride-hailing apps work here and are cheaper, but at four in the morning there are fewer drivers and waits get long.
Do not stand outside at that hour hoping one appears.
From Sliema, St Julian’s or Valletta the drive is 20 to 30 minutes with no traffic. From the north it is 40 to 50.
Hotels will arrange a car if you ask at reception the day before, usually at a fixed price.
Driving and parking
The airport has short and long stay car parks, and the long stay is reasonable by European standards.
It is the cheapest answer for a week away if you already have a car.
The long stay is a short shuttle or a five minute walk from the terminal, so allow for it at that hour.
Returning a hire car before six means checking whether the desk is staffed. Most have a key drop, but confirm it when you collect.
What is open when you get there
Check-in desks open two to three hours before departure. Airside there is a cafe and a shop working from early.
Landside is quiet. There is nowhere useful to sit for an hour before the desks open.
Security is at its fastest between five and six, before the main morning rush builds.
How early to arrive in general is covered separately.
From Gozo
Add the ferry, which runs through the night but hourly rather than every 45 minutes.
Give yourself an extra two hours and check the night timetable, which is different from the day one.
Direct transfers from Gozo to the airport exist and take the ferry with you, which removes the timing problem.
The alternative is crossing the evening before and staying near the airport. For a six o’clock flight that is often the calmer choice.
