The government and the trade unions have agreed to set up a steering committee to oversee restructuring of Air Malta, GWU General Secretary Tony Zarb said this afternoon.

He made the announcement after Finance Minister Tonio Fenech had a number of meetings with the trade unions that represent Air Malta workers.

Mr Zarb confirmed that the trade unions had had informal meetings to discuss the situation at Air Malta.

Mr Zarb said that at today's meeting, the unions were briefed about the current state of Air Malta, but the government's plans were not spelled out.

Consultants from Ernst and Young, who had been studying the situation, were also present.

Air Malta workers are represented by the GWU, the Airline Pilots' Association, the engineers' union and the union of cabin crew. A number of workers are also in the UHM.

UHM General Secretary Gejtu Vella said the union would not be taking a lead role because it did not have official recognition in Air Malta, but wished to be involved in view of the importance of the airline for the economy.

The series of meetings on Air Malta restructuring started yesterday when President George Abela chaired a meeting between Mr Fenech and a PL delegation which included party leader Joseph Muscat and former Air Malta chairman Louis Grech, now an MEP.