The European Commission received Air Malta's restructuring plan yesterday evening, the last day of the deadline given by Brussels.

A Commission official confirmed to timesofmalta.com that the Maltese government has adhered to its six-month deadline and delivered the plan on time. According to the official, the Commission will now study its contents and come to a decision, as soon as possible, on whether the government's plan for the restructuring of the national airline can be given the green light. However, no deadline for the Commission's decision has been set.

A spokesman for the government also confirmed that the restructuring plan for the airline has been finalised and presented to the Commission.

"At this stage we can't give any more information as the plan has to be negotiated with Brussels," the spokesman said when asked for more details on the plan's contents.

Last November Malta was given temporary permission to grant a state loan of €52 million to the national airline so that the company could stay afloat. This was subject to the condition that the government submitted the  restructuring plan within six months.

EU rules stipulate that state aid to Air Malta can only be given once. If the Commission is not satisfied with the plan, it can ask the Maltese authorities to make amendments. If the Commission remains unsatisfied, Air Malta will have to pay back the loan immediately which in that case would mean that the company would have to fold.

The GWU and the Airline Pilots' Association have already voiced objections to the plan. It is expected that the airline will focus on its core profit-making routes, possibly reducing its fleet of 12 aircraft by leasing some of them to other airlines.

The company employs 1,512 workers and its collapse may also effect another 2,672 workers employed with various Air Malta suppliers, according to the Commission's analysis. The company's workforce is expected to be slashed by some 600 jobs as part of the restructuring process.