Malta Airport Buses: Routes, Fares and Timetables

Malta International Airport has two useful types of public bus: the limited-stop Airport Direct network and ordinary scheduled routes. Airport Direct is usually the simplest choice when one of its stops suits your accommodation. A regular bus can cost less or stop closer, but it normally makes more stops and may require a change.

You do not need to book an Airport Direct bus. Before travelling, check the route in the official journey planner because the first and last departure, direction, stop and disruption information can change.

Which Airport Direct bus should you take?

Malta Public Transport currently publishes five Airport Direct routes:

Route	Main destinations from the airport	Published frequency	Most useful when
TD1	Rabat, Buġibba, Mellieħa and Ċirkewwa	Every 60 minutes	You are travelling to northern Malta or the Gozo Channel ferry at Ċirkewwa
TD2	St Julian's and Pembroke	Every 30 minutes	Your stop is in St Julian's or Pembroke
TD3	Msida, Gżira, Sliema and St Julian's	Every 30 minutes	You need the central harbour-side towns served along this corridor
TD4	Valletta and the Gozo fast-ferry connection	Every 30 minutes	You are staying in Valletta or continuing as a foot passenger towards the fast ferry
TD5	Rabat and Buġibba	Every 60 minutes	Rabat or Buġibba is your destination and its stop suits you better than TD1

TD1 and TD5 both serve Rabat and Buġibba, but TD1 continues to Mellieħa and Ċirkewwa. Do not choose only by the place name: compare the exact stop and next departure for both routes in the official route planner.

The published frequency is not a promise that buses operate throughout the night. For a late arrival or an early flight, check the first or last service for the correct date and direction. If the timing is tight, compare the bus with an airport taxi or private transfer before you travel.

Airport Direct or a regular bus?

Choose Airport Direct when	Consider a regular route when
One of TD1–TD5 serves a convenient stop	A standard route stops closer to your destination
You prefer fewer stops and dedicated luggage space	The lower standard fare matters more than journey simplicity
You want a direct link to Valletta, St Julian's, Sliema, Buġibba, Mellieħa or Ċirkewwa	You are travelling towards Żurrieq, Safi, Qrendi, Mater Dei, the University area or another place served by the regular network
You would rather avoid changing buses after a flight	The journey planner shows a practical direct regular service or an easy connection

Airport Direct buses also advertise comfortable seats, USB charging, Wi-Fi and ample luggage space. Those features can be valuable after a flight, but the best route is still the one that reaches the correct stop at a workable time.

Regular buses serving the airport

Malta Public Transport currently highlights these regular airport connections:

• Routes 117, 135, 208 and 218 for connections involving Mater Dei Hospital or the University area
• Routes 71, 72 and 73 for Żurrieq, Safi and Qrendi
• Routes 201 and 214 for Rabat connections

These are route groups, not a guarantee that every bus serves every place named in both directions. Enter the airport and your exact destination in the journey planner, then check the stop name, direction and any required change. Our Malta bus routes guide explains how to use timetables, live tracking and service alerts.

Fares and payment

Airport Direct costs €3 per passenger, except TD1, which costs €3.50. You can pay the driver with cash or contactless payment, and no advance reservation is required.

Regular routes use the standard bus fare. When this guide was checked, a daytime single ticket cost €2.50 in summer and €2 in winter. The fare can change, so verify it on the official Fares and Tickets page before relying on it.

Travel cards need more care because the official wording is not completely consistent:

• The Explore Flex four-day and seven-day bus offers explicitly list Airport Direct as included.
• An Airport Direct trip deducts two journeys from a 12 Single Day Journeys card.
• Free travel on a personalised Tallinja Card does not automatically cover Airport Direct; the card needs enough credit for the fare.
• The current Airport Direct and fares pages say unlimited travel cards include Airport Direct, but Malta Public Transport's general terms still say the Explore Adult and Explore Child cards exclude it.

If you plan to use an Explore Adult or Explore Child card, confirm the inclusion displayed when you buy it or ask Malta Public Transport before boarding. Paying the driver remains the straightforward fallback. See our Malta bus fares guide for a fuller comparison of ticket and card options.

Where to board and buy a ticket

The airport bus terminal is immediately outside arrivals and is signposted inside the terminal. Several routes use the interchange, so read the stop display and confirm both the route number and direction before boarding.

For a pay-as-you-go trip, you can simply pay on the bus. Malta Public Transport also lists a sales office in the airport's Welcomers' Hall, another point in baggage reclaim and card-dispensing machines at the airport. Opening hours and machine availability can change, so contactless payment is a useful backup.

Travelling with luggage

Airport Direct buses provide dedicated luggage space. Small luggage is also welcome on regular buses if it does not block an aisle, door, exit or passenger movement.

The driver can restrict or refuse a large or bulky item if it creates a safety problem or prevents people moving through the bus. Keep valuables with you, secure bags so they cannot roll or fall, and be ready to follow the driver's instructions. Malta Public Transport says it is not responsible for lost or damaged belongings.

Accessibility

Malta Public Transport states that its buses are low-floor and fitted with ramps. Ask the driver to deploy the ramp if required. Buses also provide priority seating and audio and visual stop announcements.

Wheelchairs and mobility scooters must fit safely within the available space. Malta Public Transport notes that motorised wheelchairs and scooters need the relevant certification and that not every size or weight can be accommodated. If this affects your journey, check the operator's accessibility guidance before flying and read our accessible transport in Malta guide.

Taking a bus from Malta Airport to Gozo

There is no single bus that takes you all the way onto Gozo. You first travel to one of Malta's ferry terminals:

• TD1 to Ċirkewwa: use this for the Gozo Channel ferry. TD1 continues through Rabat, Buġibba and Mellieħa before reaching the terminal.
• TD4 to Valletta: use this for the Gozo fast-ferry connection. This option is for foot passengers and requires a transfer from the bus to the ferry.

Check the bus and ferry schedules as two separate parts of the journey, then plan how you will travel from the Gozo terminal to your final destination. Our Malta Airport to Gozo guide compares the two routes step by step.

Planning the bus for a departing flight

For the return journey, do not assume the airport-bound timetable mirrors the route you used after landing. Check the airport direction, boarding stop and latest service alerts on the day.

Build in time for walking to the stop, waiting, road traffic and airport check-in. If missing the planned bus could also mean missing the flight, identify the next service and a taxi fallback in advance. A bus can be excellent value, but the cheapest option is not the right one when the timetable leaves no margin for delay.

For all the alternatives in one place, compare buses with taxis, transfers and car hire in our Malta Airport transport guide. You can also browse all Transport guides.