Marsa Airfield

Obsolescence and replacement. Marsa was a small, makeshift grass landing strip on a polo ground. It was unsuitable for the larger and more advanced aircraft being developed. The British military constructed dedicated, superior airfields at Ħal Far, Ta' Qali, and later Luqa, making the primitive Marsa strip redundant.

The site is currently the Marsa Sports Club. The exact location of the former landing strip is now occupied by a horse racing track (the Marsa Racecourse), a golf course, cricket pitches, tennis courts, and other recreational sports facilities. It is a major green space and sports hub in a densely populated urban area.

Marsa Airfield holds the distinction of being the first land-based airfield in Malta. Its use began around 1917 during World War I when the Royal Flying Corps (RFC) required a landing ground on the island. Operations were conducted from the polo ground within the Marsa sports complex. It served as a base for early biplanes used for reconnaissance and training, marking the beginning of land-based military aviation in Malta, which would become critically important for the island's defense in World War II. It was never a commercial airport and had no permanent infrastructure like paved runways or a control tower.

There are no plans or prospects for reopening the site as an airfield. The area is fully developed as a major sports and recreational complex and is surrounded by dense urban development. Malta is served by the nearby Malta International Airport (LMML/MLA), making another airport in this location unnecessary and logistically impossible.