Air Malta can be recapitalized with €140 million, PN says

Nationalist opposition reiterates that local investment is what can save Air Malta, which would include issuing share options to its employees

Shadow economy minister Claudio Grech flanked by MP Antoine Borg and candidate Aaron Farrugia Piccione
Shadow economy minister Claudio Grech flanked by MP Antoine Borg and candidate Aaron Farrugia Piccione

Air Malta can be recapitalized with €140 million, through local investment and issuing share options to its employees, the Nationalist Party said this afternoon.

In a press conference by shadow economy minister Claudio Grech, tourism spokesperson Antoine Borg and general elections candidate Aaron Mifsud Piccione.

Grech also proposed the setting up of a training fund for workers. The PN’s four proposals have been discussed at length with stakeholders, including representatives of the airline’s workers.

In a nutshell, the PN is reiterating that Air Malta remains controlled by the local sector which a long-term plan which remains constant, irrespective of who is government. Grech said that the PN wanted to discuss its proposals with the government, whilst pointing out that the government was not consulting the opposition.

“The only meeting we had with Minister Edward Zammit Lewis was nine months ago,” Grech said.

The PN said that whilst low-cost airlines were important for the economy, Air Malta needed to become more competitive. It argued that saving the airline should not come through axing routes.