Transport operator Arriva will be leaving Malta by the first quarter of next year under a transition agreement being finalised between the company and transport authorities, The Sunday Times of Malta has learnt.
Transport Malta and Arriva management are currently negotiating the terms of the deal through which the Transport Authority would take over the company and a portion of its substantial debts in a nominal sale.
The authority is then expected to issue a call for expression of interest to re-award the licence. The details of the deal are still being ironed out but there is agreement on the broad terms.
It averts the option of the company filing for liquidation a messy prospect for both Arriva and the government.
Well, brace ourselves for disruption as despite all the criticism of Arriva, I think a lot of 'blame' should be attached to the government that brought them in and since kept moving the 'goalposts'.