(Adds government statement)
The government should declare its tourism strategy for the country and its thoughts about low cost carriers and how these were affecting Air Malta's future and the country's tourism objectives.
The Labour Party's spokesman for tourism, Gavin Gulia, asked the government if it was negotiating new routes with low cost carriers, such as to Stansted, near London.
If this was the case, the government should say whether it had studied the effects of such decisions on tourism and the restructuring of Air Malta.
The government should also say if negotiations regarding vital destination where Air Malta would be reducing operations were being undertaken.
Dr Gulia said that for the PL, low cost carriers should be given priority on routes which generate employment and new passengers, and not where they would simply substitute existing work.
The government, he said, should say if the restructuring of Air Malta was being carried out independently or separately from the current negotiations between the government the Malta Tourism Authority and low cost carriers.
The government should remember the disclaimer by its own consultants in the draft restructuring plan that unless the government planned its actions regarding low cost, the plan would be irrelevant.
Opposition is being insensitive - ministry
The government accused the opposition of being insensitive to Air Malta’s and the country’s interests at a delicate moment for the airline.
The country, the Finance Ministry said, needed a strong airline to serve the people, strengthen the tourism industry, create jobs in tourism and provide a service to investors and businessmen who used Air Malta to create employment in Malta.
The opposition, the ministry said, was on the Air Malta restructuring committee so should appreciate more the sensitivities and need for everyone to safeguard the national interest.
The government said it was renewing its appeal for sensitivity at this moment in the interest of Air Malta and the viable jobs it created.