The Malta International Airport (MIA) is planning a major reconfiguration of its main car park – adding 66 new parking spaces and introducing a lane dedicated exclusively to Y-plate vehicles, which include taxis booked via apps like Uber, Bolt, and eCabs.

A planning application filed earlier this year with the Planning Authority outlines a redesign that will reshape how the airport manages passenger pick-ups and parking.

The move comes after months of debate over how Y-plate taxis should operate at the airport. The Malta Taxi Licensed Association, which represents white taxi operators, has long argued that the “unregulated presence” of Y-plate cars was putting them at an unfair disadvantage.

Last month, MIA introduced a new policy requiring app-based taxi passengers to walk down to the main car park for pick-ups, rather than being collected directly outside the arrivals hall. The airport’s planning application now formalises that change, carving out space in the car park specifically for Y-plate traffic.

According to the proposed plans, the car park will be reorganised into a mostly one-lane ring road reserved for Y-plate vehicles. To accommodate this, existing parking bays – which currently run parallel to the terminal building – will be reoriented perpendicularly. This new layout will not only streamline traffic but also create an additional 66 parking spaces for airport patrons.

The project also includes landscaping changes. While no trees are expected to be permanently removed, some will be uprooted and replanted once construction is complete. In addition, Primrose trees will be planted within the car park itself, giving the area a refreshed, greener look.

The Planning Authority has yet to issue a recommendation on the application, and it remains to be seen whether any modifications will be required before the project gets the green light.

If approved, the changes could ease congestion around the terminal while also signalling a shift in how Malta’s transport ecosystem balances traditional white taxis with the growing presence of ride-hailing services. For passengers, it means a more structured system – albeit one that adds a short walk between baggage claim and their booked ride.

MIA’s proposal reflects a broader trend: airports across Europe are rethinking how to accommodate the rise of app-based transport without clashing with legacy taxi operators. For Malta, the introduction of a dedicated Y-plate lane may be the first step toward a long-term rebalancing of the taxi wars playing out at the arrivals curb.