Air Malta denies pilots are 'overworked'

Air Malta said crew statistics reveal that the average monthly flying is a far cry from the legal limit of 100 block hours while the yearly average flying (677 hours) amounts to 72 per cent of the allowed legal maximum of 900 hours.

All other legal requirements besides the flying limitations are routinely met, it insisted.

The airline said it wanted to "strongly" rebut allegations made by the Airline Pilots Association - Malta (Alpa) that its pilots are being "overworked". The Alpa comments were reported by The Times yesterday.

It categorically denied that its pilots "were constantly reaching legal limits" and were "going far beyond what was allowed in the collective agreement".

Air Malta noted that its flight time limitations applicable to flight crew were in line with the current European guidelines and in some cases even more restrictive.

The national carrier said it issued a stop leave directive only for the peak months of July and August, a practice followed in all service industries subject to extreme seasonality trends. It has started granting leave to pilots as from this month. Moreover, during the peak summer months the airline said it flexibly allowed roster changes requested by the crew.

The airline said it believed that "misinformation" damaged the industry during these periods of extreme competition.