Air Malta to close in March, new airline to replace it, PM says

Malta’s government will shut down loss-making airline Air Malta in March next year and immediately replace it with another flag carrier after the European Union refused to allow a fresh injection of state aid, Prime Minister Robert Abela said on Monday. The new airline will retain the Air Malta name and aircraft, Abela told a press conference. He said the transition would be largely seamless and services would not be affected although unprofitable routes would be discontinued. Air Malta operated to 37 destinations in 2019. The new airline will operate to 17. Booked Air Malta passengers will be offered a refund or rebooking with the new airline. Air Malta workers will be re-employed by the new airline. The new arrangement was agreed with the European Union and is broadly similar to what the EU agreed with the Italian government a few years ago when it closed down Alitalia and started a new airline, ITA.<br/>