Air Malta facing ITA Airways-style replacement

Flag carrier Air Malta is to be wound down and replaced by a new national airline. Chief executive David Curmi told the Times of Malta that the transition will be “largely seamless”  after the European Commission rejected Valletta’s request to pump almost €300 million into the business “We are nearing the end of long, difficult and complex discussions with the European Commission, which did not want a photocopy of Air Malta. We showed the commission that we mean business,” Curmi said, adding that a five-year business plan for the replacement airline was being put together. The airline’s 300 staff are