Updated 1.15pm with government reply

Air Malta's decision to stop flying to Frankfurt was a major concern, the Nationalist Party said this morning.

Frankfurt was one of the main European hubs and an important source for operators, said PN spokespersons Claudio Grech and Antoine Borg. 

Instead of stopping the Frankfurt route, the government and Air Malta should do their utmost to increase the number of passengers. 

The stoppage of the Frankfurt route was a result of the downsizing of the Air Malta fleet, a decision which has imposed severe limitations on the airline's operations, the PN said. Air Malta has also stopped operations to Berlin and Gatwick.

In a statement later, the government accused the PN of not missing out on any opportunity to take political mileage from any issue, even from commercial decisions. 

The Air Malta management and board were taking decisions in the best interest of the airline in what is a very competitive environment.

"It was under the previous administration that Air Malta was taken to the brink, leaving the airline in front of the European Commission, being forced to cut routes, while other airlines entered into lucrative routes," the Tourism Ministry charged back.