Air Malta, pilots heading for conciliation talks

Air Malta and Alpa - the union representing Air Malta pilots - have failed to come to terms over the collective agreement despite having been engaged in lengthy negotiations, the airline said yesterday.

The proposals by Alpa go beyond the capacity of the company to absorb the high cost in the current circumstances and are unsustainable, an airline spokesman said.

Air Malta has informed the union that it considers the two sides to be in dispute and has invoked the provisions of the current collective agreement which provides for compulsory private conciliation.

The provisions are intended to resolve situations such as the current one without there being any negative impact on the company's operations or its customers.