VIP Terminal at Malta International Airport
Allura delivers a refined art experience
“We wanted the VIP Terminal artwork to reflect the beauty and cultural wealth of Malta, and to showcase the best of our local artistic talent. We trusted Allura with this very important project, and the VIP Collection exceeded our expectations.”
Tina Lombardi, Senior Vice President, Malta International Airport
The VIP Collection is a curated series of artworks, selected and commissioned by Laura Swale on behalf of Allura, for the five private lounges at the newly completed VIP Terminal, officially inaugurated by Prime Minister Dr Robert Abela on 11 June 2025.
The carefully assembled VIP Collection brings together new commissions and acquisitions from contemporary artists, alongside original works from the airport’s existing collection. The result is an elevated cultural experience which reflects Malta’s creative spirit and identity.
The broader VIP Terminal project is featured ina Design Dispatch article.
A dialogue between master and contemporary artists
Works by renowned Maltese artists Luciano Micallef and Esprit Barthet were selected from the existing collection and reintroduced in new settings. Complementing these are recent works from the Allura Art Collection by Mark Schembri, Laura Swale and the late Marianne Ogden.
Bespoke commissions were created for the lounges by Allura artists Christopher Saliba and Henry Falzon, alongside further commissioned works by prominent local painters Rune Bo Jakobsen, Richard Saliba, Caroline Said Lawrence and James Vella Clark.
A showcase for Malta
For many distinguished guests arriving at the airport, the new VIP Terminal provides a critical first impression of Malta. While the space offers luxury and serenity, it also serves a deeper purpose: to create a strong sense of place and reflect the cultural wealth of the islands.
“With its premium offering and carefully curated aesthetic to give a sense of place, the VIP Terminal reflects Malta International Airport’s commitment to ensuring that the company invests in sustainable projects - contributing to a quality tourism product and aligning with the government’s vision for our industry… allowing our guests to get the best first and last impressions of our islands.”
Alan Borg, CEO of Malta International Airport
A journey through Malta
The five lounges, the Emerald Lounge, Ruby Lounge, Heritage Lounge, Harbour Lounge and City Lounge, each present a distinct aspect of Malta, their names reflecting the themes and subject matter of the artworks within.
The artworks, unique characters in the story of each space, complement one another in a visually engaging welcome to Malta’s most discerning guests.
Celebrating collaboration and creative excellence
Allura is honoured to have contributed to this landmark project and proud to support the promotion of Malta’s art and culture to international guests. We would like to thank Malta International Airport for bringing us on board.
Finally, we would like to acknowledge and thank the artists involved for their invaluable contributions and we look forward to working with these outstanding artists on future projects.
Click here to view the full photo gallery of the VIP Collection.