The PN said today that while it agreed that Air Malta should have a strategic partner, the government should also consider selling shares to the public. 

Shadow Minister Claudio Grech said the opposition would be supporting the government to reach the most advantageous agreement with Alitalia/Etihad. 

He stressed since Air Malta has a much bigger value for the Maltese economy than that of any other company, it should not become a feeder airline to serve a bigger network

Instead of selling such a big stake to Alitalia (49 per cent), the government should also consider selling some of the airline’s shareholding to the Maltese public and a smaller stake tot he strategic partner, he said.  

“Since the restructuring programme has almost worked and the airline will soon return to profitability, we think that the government should consider inviting the public to participate in the airline shareholding and possible profits,” Mr Grech suggested.

Mr Grech said that the PN was against a reduction in the current route network and frequency of point-to-point flights as this would have a negative effect on the tourism industry and the connectivity of the island.

With regards to the future of the airline’s workforce, Mr Grech said that while the government had already said that none of the airline’s workers would lose their jobs, the PN did not agree that certain crucial areas of the airline, particularly the engineering section should be hived off. He said that this would be a very short-term vision for the company.

Referring to statements made by Alitalia’s chairman that the Italians will not invest a single Euro into the Maltese airline, Mr Grech said that he hoped that this was not true and that the Italians would  also invest substantial amounts of cash in the airline.

PN spokesman Censu Galea and Antoine Borg insisted that in the discussions the Opposition would have with the government, it would insist that no Air Malta airport slots should be surrendered to Alitalia and Etihad and that the company should grow and not rationalise further.

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