The Tourism Ministry is denying a report in The Sunday Times of Malta saying that the government has received an alternative offer for the purchase of shares in Air Malta, other than the one announced with Alitalia.

On Sunday, the newspaper reported that talks had started with Banayoti Holdings Limited, a private business enterprise based in the UK and Canada for the selling of 49.9 per cent of stakes in the national carrier.

Today the government said that although preliminary talks had started, no negotiations are taking place with the said company with regard to Air Malta.