End of an era for Scotland - Malta flights

With a tear in my eye I prepare to board the penultimate Scottish flight to the beautiful Maltese islands. I cannot stop asking myself: Why, why, why? Why has Air Malta cancelled these flights?

Tourism from the UK has dropped by over 13,700 in the first nine months of this year, yet numbers from Scotland have risen. Why, then, cancel the only flights?

Global fuel prices are at their lowest for many months, so why cancel the flight which has traditionally the highest occupancy percentage of all UK flights? Why tell the Malta Tourism Authority the void is to be filled by charter flights when in reality, a couple of token trips via Newcastle are planned for Christmas and Easter at a price of over £300? Do they not realise this can only harm Malta? Why this masochistic attitude?

Air Malta either cannot or will not answer these questions, and believe me I have tried. I have asked this of every one I could contact. A response was a novelty, but even my one response was inconclusive spin!

Well, I am ready to board now, my 14th visit this year, my 215th visit over the past 21 years but who cares? I can hear the bells toll. Will I be forced to make it my last?