A long-term solution which considered all the current realities was what was required for Air Malta, both Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi and Labour leader Joseph Muscat said this morning.

Addressing separate party activities, Dr Gonzi stressed the important of weighing whatever was said about the company since this could be badly interpreted, and, therefore, detrimental.

“We have to be calm and choose the best routes for the benefit of workers and the people.”

Air Malta, he said, had been a strong company at certain times but it had also gone through difficult periods.

Tough decisions had already been taken in 2004 and these had to help revive the company.

However, the oil crisis which led to an increase in the cost of fuel followed and the company had now come to a point where its losses could not continue to be allowed to grow so the necessary decisions had to be taken.

A positive attitude was being shown by all, including by the opposition and unions. The President took the initial step and was now leaving it to the others to find the technical solutions.

Dr Gonzi said that Parliament would tomorrow debate a bill which would allow the government to borrow for Air Malta. The government, he said, would do whatever was necessary to save the company.

“My appeal at this point is to not make Air Malta a political ball. This would be detrimental to workers and the company.

“We should learn from the past but find solutions for the future.”

Dr Gonzi said that the solution for Air Malta should not be short term but permanent.

The reality of airlines was now different from what it was five, 10 years ago – there was now the reality of the low cost competition.

Air Malta, the Prime Minister said, had a strategic function and a delicate balance had to be found which would deal with the different realities.

Dr Muscat also hoped for a long term solution – covering, at least, the next 10 years.

The burden, he said, has to be shouldered by all and not by the workers and the solution should not be one which would only take the airline to the next election.

The Opposition leader noted that the RJ70s and Azzurraair decisions had cost Air Malta €150 million. They were two bad decisions which had put the company in a frightful situation, bringing the airline, together with other bad decisions, to its knees.

He recalled that there was a time when the company was very strong and public bonds which had been issued when the company had been set up had been repaid in full and with interest.

It had to be pointed out, he said, that Air Malta had never received a cent in subsidy and it had always subsidised the government through the taxes its paid and its property.

This point was also being stressed in a letter MEP Louis Grech had written to the European Commission to put pressure.

But the last time the airline registered profits from its core operations was in 1998.

Since then it started facing difficulties and to collapse.

A memorandum of understanding in 2004 had been aimed at resolving the situation and the government soon said that the airline was no longer in trouble. Facts were now showing this had not been the case.