Nostalgic photos have recently surfaced in the Facebook group ‘Iż-Żurrieq u l-madwar Zurrieq and its surroundings’, offering a glimpse of Luqa Airport before its major refurbishment in the late 1980s. The images capture the simplicity of the airport in its early days, a modest two-story building with basic amenities like a restaurant, post office, cable and wireless office, and a small viewing balcony.

The original passenger terminal was officially inaugurated on 31st March 1958 by Sir Robert Laycock, who was the Governor of Malta at the time. In 1977, Malta's aviation infrastructure saw a significant upgrade with the construction of a longer runway, prompting the expansion and refurbishment of the terminal. This included a focus on improving departure facilities, along with the addition of lounges for arrivals and VIPs.

By the late 1980s and early 1990s, the airport underwent further transformation with the construction of a new terminal. As the facility modernised, it evolved into the bustling international gateway we know today, a far cry from its humble beginnings.

Do you remember the airport looking like this?