We are spending 3 or 4 days on Malta and then moving up to Sicily on May 30th for 9 or 10 days. We were hoping to see Palermo prior to meeting up with our daughters and son-in-laws in Agrigento and then continuing as a group up the East coast to Syracuse and out from Catania to Naples. There doesn’t seem to be a good way to get to Palermo from Malta. It appears travel times will be from 6 hours plus no matter which way we travel. It looks like "all roads really do lead to Rome" (unless we fly direct to Catania). Has anyone here gone from Malta to Palermo by direct flight? And if so, how? I find a few limited flights from Ryan air but not on the Monday, the 30th.

Looks like you're seeing the loss of Alitalia. Until somebody decides to step in it's not likely to get better.

try using www.skyscanner.com

You may be able to shorten the trip by using a combo of Ryanair and Easyjet thru Naples

If you do that you'll have an unprotected connection with all the risks that brings.

There are ferries and flights from Malta to Sicily . . . not to Palermo/NW side of the island though. So maybe a change of itinerary is in order??

Janis makes a good point IMO I cannot address the unprotected connections since I have no idea of exactly how short the connection might be. Only YOU can decide about the possible risks involved

AirMalta currently has several non-stops MLA to PMO (Mondays and Fridays). Don't know what their future schedule is.

Offers for Monday, May 5th 2022:
Ryanair: Malta dp 14.15 - Catania ar 15.00, fares start at 15 EUR (plus luggage fees)
Airmalta: Malta dp 5.35 and 20.50 - Catania ar 6.15 and 21.30;fares start at 40 EUR (plus luggage fees).
Catania airport Palermo: bus every hr until 20.08, 2 1/2 hrs journey; fare 14 EUR

All,
Thank you for your comments and suggestions. My wife and I will change our plans. We'll add another day to Malta, then on May 31 take the 20:50 Air Malta flight to Catania. Upon arrival we will train, bus, or taxi to Taormina -- which appears to be around an hour. We will spend 2 1/2 days in Taormina and then when the "kids" arrive at Catania on June 3 at 12:55, we'll have checked out and train down to meet them for lunch. Then the family adventure starts by travelling from Catania to Agrigento by bus. We are not going to stay in Catania from Malta as this part of the original plan will remain, which is to move from Agrigento to Ortigia for 3 days , then up to Catania for 2 days, and out to Naples where everyone will likely split up.

There is a ferry from Malta to Catania:

https://www.ferryhopper.com/en/ferry...ania-traghetti

The catamaran mentioned by Michael (https://www.virtuferries.com/schedule/6) runs (since decades) between Malta and Pozzallo. The transfer from Pozzallo to Catania is done by bus, organized by the ferry company. Check the fares. The ferry solution is often more expensive thane the flight solution.
There will be no more bus between Catania airport and Taormina at your arrival at 10pm. You will have to take a taxi.
May be you will visit Siracussa after Catania: you will have to change buses or trains at Catania anyway in order to reach Siracusa whereas there are direct Siracusa - Naples trains.

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Thank you for your response. I appreciate your time.