The Air Malta commercial team is studying the possibility of reopening the Frankfurt route, Tourism Minister Konrad Mizzi said in Parliament this morning.

He was responding to a supplementary question asked in Parliament by PN MP Robert Arrigo, regarding the Frankfurt route.

The Air Malta team, the minister said, was evaluating the possibility of opening a number of routes, as well as others which were closed down in the past.

If Air Malta were to reopen this route, he said, it would need to come with a long-term holistic plan.

"It would need to be done well," he said, "and not end up with Air Malta returning there for a single season."

"It would have to be done well and would not result in Air Malta returning for one season," said the minister. 

Answering a separate question relating to Air Malta by PN MP David Agius, he said that they are finalising the business model for Air Malta and how it would operate in the coming years. "In the coming weeks we will consult with unions and the opposition. "

"The key focus must be revenue growth. One cannot have an airline that reduces routes and shrinks all the time. "

"Our plan would be based on growth. "

"We want an improved productivity from the employees and over the coming months we will negotiate the collective agreements with the four unions."

"This will mean more flexibility for the company to operate."

"I believe in Malta there is a market for a niche airline based in Malta, that has more planes than we have now and services key airports, offering different products. Part of the products Air Malta is working on is business, which would be better than the club class we have now, economy would be normal, and the possibility of introducing a ticket-only product that competes with low-cost carriers."

"Our thoughts are to tap profitable routes than can be grown. We are working with all airlines on this. The MTA, the Malta International Airport and government works on route development, to try and tap routes which don't currently exist."