Tourism minister dismisses ‘false’ reports on Air Malta's China takeover

Tourism minister Edward Zammit Lewis has this morning dismissed a PN news report that Air China will be “directly involved in the operations of Air Malta,” claiming that the Opposition’s report are entirely unfounded and “false.”

In its report published on Sunday, PN news organ il-mument claimed that Air China is ready to "swallow" Air Malta, and that the government – spearheaded by Prime Minister Joseph Muscat – is foreseeing the direct involvement of Air China in the operations of Malta’s national airline.

Moreover, it claimed that three choices have been tabled before the government: ranging from the sale of the majority of Air Malta’s shares, to the possibility of Air China providing a cash injection to Malta’s airline.

Dismissing the reports as “false,” tourism minister Edward Zammit Lewis also took exception at the Opposition, claiming that it does not have any credibility.

“The Opposition already does not gave any credibility, and if it continues to walk down this same path, it will become more ridiculous,” the minister said.

In October, Air Malta posted a €16 million loss for the year ending March 2014. While halving its losses, the airline has insisted that it is moving in the right direction and is projecting to maintain its position amid several major setbacks such as the closure of the Libyan routes and increased competition in the peak summer months.