The Speaker of the House of Representatives turned down a request by the Opposition to have an urgent debate on Air Malta, but seconds later the Prime Minister stood up to say that he is ready for a discussion on the subject, with the House agreeing to hold the debate today.

The debate will follow the Prime Minister's statement to the House about the future of Air Malta.

Earlier in the day, PM Abela had announced that Malta will have a new national airline on 31 March 2024, replacing the Air Malta Plc.

Abela and Finance Minister Clyde Caruana said that the current national airline, Air Malta, will fly until 30 March. The new airline, which will be under the company KM Malta Plc., will then start flying the following day.

Following this development, the Opposition had requested the Speaker of Parliament Anglu Farrugia to give a ruling on its request to have an urgent debate on this changeover.

Addressing Parliament, Opposition Leader Bernard Grech said that the government is afraid to discuss the matter. However on his part, Prime Minister Robert Abela denied this and said that if there is to be a discussion on the matter, he has no problem for it to be allocated on another day.

In his ruling, the Speaker said there is no urgency to debate the matter now, considering that both sides had agreed to discuss the issue at a later stage. The debate did not satisfy the "urgency" requirement.

But Abela rose to say that he had not qualms in discussing the issue today. After some rather heated exchanges, it was agreed that the House sitting would be extended after its usual 7pm finish, to debate the matter until 9pm.