Air Malta says industrial action will delay flights

T Mifsud

Mar 1st 2009, 10:40

(Part 2)
In a reaction, reported in timesofmalta.com yesterday, Captain James Fenech, ALPA president, said in a statement that several bugs in the new system have been brought to the attention of Air Malta. Some had been rectified but others remained.

"What Air Malta considers as a "state of the art" system does not even allow a pilot to see where his contractual and legal Off days are. He is not even able to print his roster as attempting to do so responds with a "fatal error" on the system.


"The new format is not user friendly and it is proving difficult to check if legal and contractual flight time limitations are adhered to. Air Malta is contractually bound to issue an online roster which must include certain data . This data is not all being shown in the new roster system," the ALPA president said.

He stressed that ALPA is not trying to inhibit progress.

"On the contrary, even though no consultation or discussions took place prior to Air Malta's overnight implementation of the new system, ALPA has already shown Air Malta some areas where the new system does not work correctly. ALPA finds it hard to believe that Air Malta claims the software was extensively tested for over a year when ALPA noted several obvious bugs within a matter of minutes."

He added that ALPA had no problem trying out a new roster system, but until such time that the new system worked in a format that was satisfactory to both sides, pilots still had to use the previous tried and tested format of online roster in parallel with the new system.

T Mifsud

Mar 1st 2009, 10:27

Flights are more often than not delayed by 15 mins or more anyway. I have been on a flight where the pilots delayed the flights by more than an hour because they decided it was unsafe to depart. What matters is that my family and I arrive safe and sound. I have full trust in the pilots even in the worst of weather because they will not think twice to take action in the name of safety.

Air Malta had better look at their ticketing website instead. Going in 3 times in the same hour gives you three different prices. It's a gamble! Also while I understand the experience of some cabin crew, Air Malta should address the attitude of some cabin crew who seem grumpy and half willing to work. And last but not least, last summer I almost died in searing heat in one of their coaches on the way to the plane! No air-conditioning in 38 degrees in a coach full of passengers! Come on! Summer is coming, Take care of us!