Low-cost airlines Easyjet and Ryanair have each confirmed interest in new routes offered by the government in October.

Easyjet is interested in operating a twice-weekly flight to and from Newcastle and Ryanair is interested in running a twice-weekly flight to and from Bristol and other routes from the UK and Italy.

The deadlines for submission of expressions of interest had been extended by two weeks in order to continue negotiations with a number of airlines, the government said.

Malta Tourism Authority chairman Sam Mifsud said that attracting airlines to service the low-cost routes on offer had proven to be an uphill struggle, given the prevailing economic scenario.

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