Over the past days, the government has been tackling sector after sector of the Air Malta employee base.

The template, if we may say so, has been remarkably similar: the sector goes on the warpath and announces a series of drastic industrial actions including strikes.

The airline and the government backing it react with alarm, including foreseeing the collapse of the airline as a result of as single strike.

Then a last-chance meeting is held and everything is solved. The government gives guarantees that are accepted by the workers and the issue is closed with only the paperwork left to be done.

Sector after sector, the employee base is being tackled.

There are not unsubstantial issues left. It would seem, for instance, that while the revamped airline will still need pilots and cabin crew, it may not need a groundhandling staff as part of the company. Hence the government proposal to create a new company and register the groundhandling staff on its books. Agreement on this proposal is still not registered.

One assumes at this point that this template has been cleared beforehand with the European Commission so as to avoid any repetition of the Malev debacle or that of Estonia Air.

But even if this current series of serried negotiations were to be brought to a favourable conclusion, even if all the workers would have been placated, a large swath of public opinion is still sceptical and even alarmed. One can see this from the many statements by concerned constituted bodies one can find in this issue.

For Air Malta is important not just for its employees but for the Maltese economy as a whole. Over its 40-year history, it has served the Malta tourism sector, at times where this sector was not the giant it is now. It lost money to sustain routes that were not profitable. It kept access routes to Malta open even when they were not viable. It showed the Maltese flag where they had never heard of Malta.

There has been talk of Air Malta losing its prestigious slots at London Heathrow and elsewhere. Of Air Malta becoming a feeder subsidiary to Alitalia. Some reports spoke of Air Malta becoming a feeder with regards to Southern Italy while more recent ones spoke of Air Malta becoming a sort of extension of Alitalia with regards to the North African area.

These reports have been denied, but still they keep cropping up. The constituted bodies continue to appeal for Air Malta to be retained as it has always been with regards to Malta and Maltese tourism.

Without knowing what will be Air Malta's configuration as part of Alitalia (with its own identity and colour) it is difficult to see how the airline can continue to remain the Air Malta it has always been to the Maltese population and economy.

At the same time the airline's history has been one of success mixed with huge financial losses that almost led to its collapse. It has been plagued with inefficient management, political interference, loss-making ventures. There is a saying that says that what goes round comes around.

The constituted bodies, in other words, must not battle on behalf of an idealized Air Malta but rather be realistic in what can be saved out of this dire situation.

Some argue for Air Malta to be privatized to the Maltese citizens instead of to Alitalia but are they sure that this will cure Air Malta from its endemic loss making? Are they sure this is the panacea to cure all ills? Are they sure that, rescued from the Alitalia threat Air Malta will not return to the sins of old?