AirMalta will stop its Frankfurt route but will retain its code sharing agreement with Lufthansa, Minister for Tourism Edward Zammit Lewis confirmed in Parliament.

The Nationalist Party had previously heeded warnings that by reducing Malta’s connection to Frankfurt airport, it would mean that the country would lose access to one of Europe’s main hubs.

Air Malta's decision to stop flying to Frankfurt and reduce services to Berlin, has infuriated tour operators, particularly those connected to the German market.

The operators said they could not understand how the national airline concluded it did not need to continue operating in one of Europe’s busiest airports.

Mr Zammit Lewis did say that Lufthansa will be carrying out two flights per day to the airport.

Responding to a parliamentary question from Opposition MP Censu Galea, Mr Zammit Lewis also said that the next summer season (26 March 2017 – 28 October 2017) will see the national airline operate 150 flights per week across 29 different destinations.

It will also be looking to hold 1.2 million passengers.

There will an increase in flight frequencies to Munich, Brussels, Amsterdam, Vienna, Zurich, Rome, Catania, Lyon, Palermo, Prague and Moscow.

Whereas there will be a reduction in flight frequency to London Gatwick, Berlin, Manchester and Geneva.

The changes were being made for commercial reasons in order for the airline to operate for efficiently, Mr Zammit Lewis said.