Finance Minister Clyde Caruana has claimed there are “mercenaries” and people with “hidden agendas” hoping to see KM Malta Airlines fail, as the national carrier negotiates the sale of part of its operations.Speaking during the Times of Malta event on Tuesday morning, Caruana said he had witnessed numerous attempts to undermine the airline, describing it as the single issue that has consumed most of his time as minister.“When the time comes, I will spare nothing and no one, because I have had enough with the undercurrents,” he said.Caruana claimed there were “many mercenaries who would like to see the airline go bust again”, saying he had witnessed attempts to “derail or undermine things”.He stopped short of identifying those he believes are working against the airline, but pointed towards people formerly employed by the previous national carrier who are now in different positions. He suggested some could stand to benefit from KM Malta’s roughly 20% market share if the airline were to fail.The minister also addressed the fact that KM Malta has yet to publish audited accounts since being established in late 2023. He promised the airline would be “crystal clear” about its situation and publish the accounts, but only “when the time is right”.Caruana said the airline is currently at a delicate stage as the government discusses terms with several unnamed “big airlines” over the planned partial privatisation of KM Malta.“I have a Plan A. If that fails, there is Plan B. But both plans will see that the company has a future,” he said, insisting he would not jeopardise negotiations by revealing further details at this stage.•