Efly European Airlines, the locally registered low cost carrier that started operating in September, discontinued its Malta-Catania flights on Tuesday, travelmalta.com reported.

When contacted at its San Gwann office, the airline’s senior management was not available, but a secretary told Island Travel Trader Online that frequencies to Catania – its only route – had been discontinued “for now” and that the last flight had been on Tuesday.

Efly’s website, although still showing a timetable, no longer accepts online bookings nor does it explain the stoppage.

The airline introduced a scheduled frequency from Malta International Airport to Catania on 19 September using a 112-seat, BAe 146-300.

A spokesman at the Department of Civil Aviation, meantime, quashed rumours that efly’s Air Operator Certificate – a mandatory licence – had been withdrawn. The airline, he told Island Travel Trader Online, ceased operations for its own reasons.