It took Air Malta more than two years to decide to stop providing hot meals to economy class passengers and serve them a so-called baguette instead, Times of Malta has learnt.

The ‘baguette deal’, which will see the national carrier save about €8 million over the next two years, has strings attached: a compromise had to be struck with the caterers – Sky Gourmet Ltd – extending their contract by a further five years, to 2021, an airline spokesman has confirmed.

The new food service was introduced at the start of the New Year and falls in line with the restructuring programme agreed to with the European Commission whereby Air Malta had to increase in-flight revenue, particularly through paid catering services.

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