Since the signing of the memorandum of understanding last May, four "experienced and talented" pilots had resigned from Air Malta to seek better pastures abroad, the Airline Pilots' Association said yesterday.

ALPA also noted that 11 expatriate pilots who were employed at an Air Malta base overseas had resigned from the airline after being trained and re-qualified at considerable expense.

The association was referring to an article in The Sunday Times entitled 'Air Malta increasing passengers, revenue - No resignations from captains'.

Sources close to Air Malta were quoted as saying that "despite various reports over the past months, including claims by the Airline Pilots' Association that a number of Air Malta pilots were to step down over the restructuring exercise being carried out at the national airline, no captains have left their job".

In the light of this, ALPA said in a statement that while it was true that one pilot who had submitted his resignation decided to withdraw it at the last minute due to personal reasons, the rest of the information provided was nothing more than a "blatant lie".

One of ALPA's members has already successfully completed his interview with a European airline and is awaiting placement, giving rise to the possibility of another possible resignation.

"Thus, as a matter of fact, a total of 15 pilots have resigned in the last six months. Prior to this, the last resignation submitted by Maltese crew was over four years ago," the association said.

"The sources (quoted) appear to be more concerned with attempting to discredit ALPA. Facing the truth fairly and squarely might ensure less turbulent skies for our national carrier, its employees and their families."

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