Air Malta’s chief operating officer, Brock Friesen, has been placed on long leave with immediate effect in what could be the first sign of the government’s restructuring plan.

The airline said Robert Palmer accepted to oversee the commercial operations. “Mr Palmer is working hand in hand with Ernst & Young on the Air Malta restructuring project in his capacity as consultant”, it added.

In 1999, Mr Palmer joined easyJet as financial planning manager and, in 2002, became group financial controller. During his time at easyJet, the airline changed from a 12-aircraft operation with a turnover of £100 million to a 145-aircraft, £2.7 billion listed company and Mr Palmer oversaw the financial decision to get 120 aircraft and also the acquisition and integration of Go Fly in 2002/3.

Mr Palmer was also a director of a number of easyJet’s subsidiaries, including its joint venture ground handling company. In 2007, he joined British Midland International as chief financial officer where he implemented a number of structural business changes including cost reduction measures and cash optimisation and working capital management.

Industry sources said Dr Friesen met Mr Palmer and, after the meeting, managers who were answerable to Dr Friesen were asked to report directly to Mr Palmer.

Dr Friesen, who was responsible for the airline’s commercial operations, used to report directly to Air Malta’s chief executive Joe Cappello.

In March, he was one of three candidates short listed for the post of Air India chief operating officer.

The news follows the government’s confirmation on Sunday that the first meeting of the steering committee formed of the unions, management, the consultants and the opposition will be held on Friday.

Last week, the EU Commission gave the government the green light to provide the airline with emergency aid to the tune of €52 million on condition that a restructuring plan was put in motion to cut down Air Malta’s losses and put the airline on a sustainable footing.