Air Malta to Cease Operations, New Airline KM Malta Airlines to Launch
VALLETTA, March 30 (Reuters) – Air Malta, the national flag carrier, will cease operations this Saturday, paving the way for a new government-owned airline. This change comes after European Union regulators denied another public bailout for the struggling airline, according to announcements from Air Malta and the Maltese government.
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After 50 years of service since its inaugural flight, Air Malta will be replaced by KM Malta Airlines on Sunday. The new state-owned carrier will inherit Air Malta’s fleet of eight leased Airbus A320 aircraft.
Air Malta had built an extensive network of flights across Europe, North Africa, and the Middle East. However, persistent government interference led to a bloated workforce and an unsustainable wage bill, ultimately contributing to the airline’s downfall.
Finance Minister Clyde Caruana highlighted in October that Air Malta had been operating at a loss for two decades. At one point, the airline employed 1,400 staff to manage just nine aircraft. In contrast, the new KM Malta Airlines will operate eight aircraft with a streamlined workforce of fewer than 400 employees.
This restructuring aims to create a more efficient and sustainable national carrier for Malta.
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