Chamber welcomes news of Alitalia partnership for Air Malta

The Chamber of Commerce has welcomed news of a prospective sale of 49% of Air Malta for strategic partnership with Alitalia and Etihad.

“The Chamber has always underlined the strategic importance of Air Malta to our economy, not least the tourism sector. It recognises the efforts and results of the difficult restructuring process to bring the airline’s finances back in the black.”

But the Chamber also highlighted the challenges of competitiveness, calling for further improvements in order to achieve complete viability.

“This is a sensitive matter of utmost long-term economic importance. All parties involved must put the national interest and the long-term interest of the airline as a foremost priority of all considerations,” the Chamber said.

The Chamber said it would offer all its help to assist in the relocation process of workers. The Chamber said it was confident that the current strong economic climate, coupled with the skills of the workers involved, will benefit workers and private employers alike when it comes to absorption into the labour.

“This strategic partnership is being regarded as a new beginning for Air Malta,” the Chamber said. “It is the first step in a long process that the Chamber hopes will come to a successful conclusion to lead to a more stable future for the national airline.”