Air Malta pilots' resignation

I refer to your front-page story (December 5), "Air Malta increasing passengers, revenue - No resignations from captains" in which your reporter Jesmond Bonello writes: "Sources close to Air Malta said 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."

Mr Bonello then goes on to say that "Despite various reports that some pilots intended to resign as they sought better positions abroad, the company has not received any resignations."

ALPA would like to voice its disappointment regarding the fact that your reporter saw it fit to juxtapose an irrelevant untruth concerning its members in the middle of a report on Air Malta's financial performance without contacting our union to verify his 'sources'.

Neither did he approach Air Malta for that matter. I am quite sure that the company would have provided him with the correct statistics.

In the light of the above, ALPA would like to set the record straight.

While it is true that one pilot who had submitted his resignation decided to withdraw it at the last minute for personal reasons, the rest of the information provided is nothing less than a blatant lie.

ALPA notes with regret that since the Memorandum of Understanding with Air Malta four of its experienced and talented members have already resigned from Air Malta to obtain better conditions abroad.

ALPA also notes that 11 expatriate pilots who were employed at an Air Malta base overseas also resigned from the airline after being trained and requalified at considerable expense.

At present, one of ALPA's members has already successfully completed his interview with a European airline and is awaiting placement. This means that another potential resignation is in the pipeline.

Thus, as a matter of fact, whether Mr Bonello's sources close to Air Malta like it or not, a total of 15 pilots resigned in the last six months! Prior to this, the last resignation had been submitted over four years ago.

It clearly emerges that Mr Bonello's sources are not well informed. They 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.

Editor's note: Jesmond Bonello based his report entirely on information supplied by an Air Malta official.