Air Malta CEO Clifford Chetcuti has resigned “for personal reasons” and the Government said that, although it has full confidence in him, his decision is being respected.

The Minister for the Economy, Investment and Small Businesses, Silvio Schembri thanked Capt. Chetcuti for his sterling work in the strengthening of the airline during the past two years. He also commended the outgoing airline executive for his resilience and personal commitment in leading the company through such challenging times.

The Government said Capt. Chetcuti will be supporting the company until Air Malta appoints a new CEO, saying he “has also kindly offered his unconditional support to the national airline at no remuneration”.

An airline pilot who had joined Air Malta as a cadet and eventually also serving with Emirates and Qatar Airways, Capt. Chetcuti has recently often ended up in ALPA’s cross hairs throughout its ongoing bitter dispute with Air Malta over pilot redundancies.