Finance Minister Tonio Fenech this afternoon fended off criticism on the appointment of Air Malta's Chief Restructuring Officer, Ray Hart and his links to recently-appointed CEO Peter Davies.

Labour leader Joseph Muscat yesterday called on the government to explain the links between Mr Davies, Mr Hart and others recently engaged to work for Air Malta.

The Catalise website shows a testimonial for the company from Mr Davies when he was CEO of SN Brussels Airlines, a situation which raised eyebrows in some circles. 

Mr Fenech explained at a press conference that Air Malta had selected Catalise Australia Ltd to help in the management of the restructuring. Mr Hart is the CEO of the company.

Catalise has a six-month contract, with a brief to temporarily fill key management posts which are currently vacant - such as chief financial officer, human resources manager, and to train Maltese staff who will eventually take over.

The government last month announced that Mr Hart had been engaged as Air Malta's Chief Restructuring Officer. No mention was made at the time that it was actually his company which had been engaged to handle the restructuring. 

It was important, Mr Fenech said today, that Air Malta had the right people to manage the restructuring process, as the European Commission could otherwise question the restructuring plan on that basis.

Restructuring, he said, had to start immediately, and not await the Commission's final approval of the plan. It was not clear, Mr Fenech said, when the Commission completed its assessment of the plan.