Alitalia/Etihad to buy 49% stake in Air Malta

A memorandum of understand has been signed with Alitalia, which will be taking a 49% stake in Air Malta, Tourism Minister Edward Zammit Lewis announced at a press conference this afternoon. Alitalia is 49% owned by the UAE’s Etihad Airways, which has been leading the Italian flag-carrier's revival after years of financial losses. Dr Zammit Lewis said this was a win-win situation. Consumers would benefit from Alitalia's global partnerships through improved connectivity. The tourism industry would  benefit as a much wider network of tourists would be accessed. What was being done was being done to benefit the workers, he said. The four trade unions that represent the workers at Air Malta were summoned to a meeting with the government at the Auberge de Castille this afternoon and told the news.   Dr Zammit Lewis said this would herald a turnaround for Air Malta and would allow the airline to grow.  He stressed that the deal requires everyone to be on board, from management, all stakeholders and the Opposition as well as the public. Air Malta chairperson Maria Micallef said the deal was still in its early stages. "The MoU means from now onwards we will not speak to other airlines,...