PN, MHRA express concern at Alitalia chief’s ‘surprising’ remarks

The press statement issued by Alitalia Chairman and communicated through Ansa, the Italian national press agency, on Wednesday afternoon came as a great surprise especially given the sensitivity of the matter, the Malta Hotels and Restaurants Association said.

Ansa reported Luca Cordero di Montezemolo saying that if Alitalia’s deal on Air Malta goes through, “it is a zero risk operation, maybe even minus zero. It is an investment of not even one euro for Alitalia but which can provide interesting connections to Sicily.” When introducing the talks with Alitalia, the Tourism Minister said any future deal will give the national carrier better connectivity with the rest of the world.

In a statement, MHRA said it has to date been very prudent in addressing the Air Malta restructuring initiatives that government has been spearheading. MHRA has however repeatedly stated that Air Malta performs a critical role in the success formula of the tourism sector and the Maltese economy as a whole.

MHRA said that the statement issued yesterday by Alitalia is not only concerning but also prejudices the value of the Memorandum of Understanding recently signed with the Maltese government. At this stage MHRA questions which process was adopted by government that led to choosing Alitalia as the preferred potential strategic partner for Air Malta over other airlines or solutions presented and reviewed.

MHRA stressed that what is at stake is nothing short of the most important conduit for our economy. Any mistakes on the matter of Air Malta will definitely have serious and irreparable consequences on the economy. Allegedly giving away Air Malta through a strategic alliance to a foreign company which itself is facing financial challenges for “zero euro” as confirmed yesterday by the Alitalia president raises serious doubts on the viability of the deal that may lead to the strategic partnership with Air Malta. Consequently MHRA called upon the Minister of Tourism Edward Zammit Lewis to take note of such remarks as reported yesterday in the Italian media.

“MHRA reiterates that we cannot make mistakes with Air Malta. Malta would suffer enormously without Air Malta,” MHRA said.

In another statement, the Nationalist Party said it expected the government to explain whether it is true that Alitalia will not make any investment to buy almost half the shares of Air Malta. The PN said the national carrier has a strategic value for Malta and such comments made by a prospective investor do not bode well.

The PN respected the confidentiality asked for by the government but now that Alitalia has spoken up about commercial arrangements the government should go public with what was discussed.