'No plans' to withdraw BA flights to Malta

British Airways have no intention of withdrawing any of its services to Malta from London, its franchise partner GB Airways said.

GB Airways' new managing director Keith Hatton said: "We have been flying to and from Malta for 10 years and have no plans to withdraw our service to London. Our winter schedule remains unchanged, with daily flights to London Gatwick."

Mr Hatton reacted after a reader of The Times said in a letter he had just had confirmation that British Airways would be withdrawing its direct flights to Malta from April.

A GB Airways spokesman said everything was normal and the London schedule would be the same as it was last year.

However, from October GB Airways will no longer be flying to Malta from Manchester.

GB Airways, which flies to a range of Mediterranean and European destinations, became a British Airways franchise in 1995 and employs Maltese cabin crew.

The franchise agreement runs until 2010 and so GB Airways' aircraft - which operate with BA flight numbers - carry the standard British Airways livery while British Airways seats and colour schemes are to be found inside the passenger cabins. The arrangement also gives GB Airways affiliate membership of the OneWorld global airline alliance, allowing passengers easier international travel between leading airlines.