The Malta Hotels and Restaurants Association said it believed that immediate changes have to be made for Air Malta to regain its health and start thriving again. The country needs Air Malta as it is an indispensable partner of the industry. “Without it, we will probably lose the conference business, the specialist tour operator business, and other important niches that the airline has developed over the years. It is clear therefore that Air Malta is strategically vital for tourism, but it is also vital to have a healthy and thriving airline,” the MHRA said.

The tourism industry has a lot to thank Air Malta for, as the airline was pivotal to the growth of tourism to what it is today. However, the world is changing, particularly after the economic recession, and only those that embrace the necessary change will survive and thrive.

The MHRA said that given goodwill from all sides, changes can be managed with the least possible harm to those concerned and the industry at large. Without these changes the future of Air Malta and Malta’s tourism industry can only be described as difficult, at best. It augured that the necessary decisions will be taken in the shortest possible time to eliminate the doubts and anxiety of the airline employees and all those directly involved, and the uncertainty which is felt in the marketplace.