Ryanair has admitted that one of its cabin stewards on a flight to Malta advised passengers over the PA system that Malta’s public transport system was “quite inefficient”.

However the low-cost airline distanced itself from this remark and said it would make sure it did not happen again in the future.

Readers called The Times dismayed at what took place on a Ryanair flight from Bari a few weeks ago. A member of the cabin crew made a public announcement to the mainly Italian passengers recommending that they use the service of transport companies “because Malta public transport, especially after 11 pm, is quite inefficient”.

Maltese passengers felt offended by the announcement, stressing that it gave the country a bad name.

“We were shocked by what we heard as these things tarnish Malta’s reputation,” one passenger told The Times.

“While Maltese taxpayers are subsidising Ryanair flights to boost the tourism industry, the airline allows its employees to give such a bad image to arriving tourists about Malta,” another passenger complained.

Asked for a reaction, a spokesman for Ryanair confirmed the incident but said that this was only a personal initiative of one of its stewards.

“This was an isolated incident of a crew member trying to provide advice to passengers based on individual experience and opinion,” the spokesman said.

Ryanair said that it had investigated the matter and would make sure it would not be repeat.