With the public transport operator threatening to pull out of Malta if it continues to make serious losses, Patrick Cooke heads to the Valletta terminus to find out if commuters would miss the company if it left.

Jill O’Donnell, Briton living in Gozo

I would be very disappointed if Arriva left. I think they have finally got it right. The timings are right and there are always plenty of buses so I think it would be a real shame if they had to leave now.

An alternative if Arriva left? They could bring the old buses back, they were beautiful. They were a bit small, especially for the summer, but in the winter they were fine, and I think they were lovely.

Manwel Zammit, from Xlendi

Even though I don’t use the buses much, I do think it’s great that Arriva is here and I would hate it if the company was to leave.

I would not know if there are any real alternatives.

If Arriva was replaced by something – and it is kind of hard to replace it with something better – I would feel bad.

Stefan Camilleri, from Marsaxlokk

I would feel much more comfortable if Arriva left the island, for sure. The time it takes to go to school and back is too much.

We wait for 45 minutes every time we need the bus, so it would be much better for students if the company left.

They need to rearrange the routes and it would be better if some drivers left the profession.

Mary Vassallo, from San Ġwann

It would not be so good if Arriva left Malta, we need them. It would be better if they stayed and improved the current system.

I am not totally happy with the system at the moment.

Some of the routes are not good enough. It’s better if they start again.

Karen Busuttil, from Marsaxlokk

I would not mind if Arriva left the island as long as a better company took over and we get a better system of transport.

The old system was better. Maybe the old buses were breaking down, but the system was better.

Joanne Pace, from Valletta

I’d be more than happy if Arriva left the country. I think the best thing would be to use a Maltese company instead of a foreign company; we have a lot more people capable of doing a good job.

I think Arriva brought nothing but a fiasco to Malta.

Mario Galea, from Dingli

If they replace Arriva it would better. I’d like it to go back to how it was before with the old buses.

They could change the buses, make them the same colour as they were before and bring back the old timetables.

Josephine Cachia, from Żejtun

I don’t use the system too often, I mostly use my car. Am I happy with the system when I use it? It depends. If there were a viable alternative I would like Arriva to be replaced.

If you are behind an Arriva bus in your car you realise the buses still cause pollution. The company is not the best we could have.

There has to be an alternative system. An underground system or trams would be nice but they would require a lot of work.