Although the formal offer was only made on Tuesday, there is a certain euphoria in the tourism sector following reports that both Ryanair and EasyJet seem interested in the government’s latest offer to operate new and underserved routes to Malta.

As published in Tuesday’s Government Gazette, the routes offered are Malta to Luton, the Republic of Ireland, Pisa and Mulhouse-Basle.

Intense negotiations are going on and there may also be other low cost airlines who decide to take up one or other offer before the call for expressions of interest is closed on 25 August.

There is no exclusivity in the offer, so any or all airlines may apply for the same route but, unless it is a question of a locality with heavy demand, the two giants usually stay out of each other’s way.

Once the offer period is over, and the names announced, there will only be the final rounds of negotiations left. This is strengthening the hopes of operators that one or other low cost operation may be up and running by November this year.