Etihad, to which Air Malta’s fortunes have been tagged in the hope of a strategic acquisition, could be planning to remove James Hogan as its CE over his failed spree of acquisitions in Europe, Handelsblatt reported citing “multiple independent sources” who spoke on condition of anonymity. Air Malta was hoping that Alitalia, a subsidiary of Etihad, would acquire 49% of the ailing airline in a bid to remain afloat after a massive E260m restructuring package negotiated under strict EU state aid rules. Air Malta must reduce staff and gain new efficiencies to compete against low-fares giants without taking any form of state aid, under EU rules. But hopes that it could achieve this through a strategic acquisition by Alitalia or Etihad, appear to have faded in recent weeks. <br/>