The Nationalist Party yesterday called upon the Prime Minister to come clean on the current situation at Air Malta, saying the ongoing speculation about the airline’s future was worrying.

Addressing a press conference in Safi, PN tourism spokesman Robert Arrigo referred to reports that the government was planning to sell off parts of the airline.

He said the company’s employees and the tourism industry in general should be informed about what was going on as Air Malta was vital to the country’s economy.

It was a matter of concern that the company’s chairman had said she reported directly to the Prime Minister, as this showed the government was interfering in the running of the company.

As an example, he mentioned the raft of promotions awarded at the airline recently.

This, he claimed, had added €250,000 to the costs of the ailing company.

Air Malta was also experiencing many changes in management and this showed the government’s lack of direction for it.

Marthese Portelli, the Opposition’s spokeswoman for European affairs, said the restructuring plan for the airline, reached with the European Commission in 2012, had been described in positive terms even by Prime Minister Joseph Muscat.

Now he should explain his ideas for the future of the company and clearly state which parts of the national airline he would be selling off and to whom.

The Opposition, she said, wanted to reiterate that it was available to discuss with the government the way forward for Air Malta.