Air Malta’s chief financial officer, Alfred Lupi, is not reporting for work although industry sources were unable to say what led to this situation.

Mr Lupi is the second airline executive in as many weeks to follow this route after chief operating officer Brock Friesen went on long leave, as was officially explained.

The airline would only say Mr Lupi is on sick leave but sources said he would not be returning to work for Air Malta. An airline spokesman said Mr Lupi was still on the company books. Mr Lupi joined Air Malta in 1999 and in the past also served as a director of the Central Bank of Malta.

Most of the day-to-day management of the company is now in the hands of consultants Ernst and Young, which were roped in to draw up a rescue plan for the loss-making air carrier.

The government, unions and the consultants are meeting regularly to work on the plan aimed at bringing the airline back on a sound financial footing.

The draft plan would have to be submitted to the EU this month, with the final version being handed in by May.