Over the years, one of the greatest maladies of Air Malta has been gross over-staffing. In fact, the Alitalia plan envisages a severe trimming of the workforce.

It also envisages the hiving off of significant Air Malta departments, including ground handling and engineering.

As Alitalia will not be investing a single cent in the takeover, the government is expected to take over all current debts and liabilities of Air Malta, amounting to about €66 million.

It appears that Air Malta will be closed down and a new airline established to service mostly feeder traffic for Alitalia to and from North Africa and the Middle East, and cease flying to nearly a third of the current European destinations, which are deemed unprofitable.

If the Alitalia plan is acceptable, inclusive of the aggressive cost-cutting measures proposed and the demise of Air Malta, why is it that Air Malta cannot be properly restructured on the same basis by the government and the private sector, starting off again from zero (i.e. with no liabilities) and run as a proper commercial enterprise, without any political interference?

Surely a thorough flight rationalisation can be worked out, trimming certain unprofitable routes as necessary, but bearing in mind the country’s vital tourism industry, which obviously is not one of the principal objectives of the Alitalia plan.

The Maltese are renowned for their resilience and business acumen. Perhaps it is time to put them to the test and entice them to come forward to save Air Malta for the benefit of the country.