Air Malta says crew caused 16-hour delay

Yesterday’s Air Malta flights KM 572/3 from Malta to Moscow (Sheremetyevo) and back, were delayed by over 16 hours due to cabin crew’s refusal to operate them, the airline said this afternoon.

The airline said in a statement that as a result of this delay, Air Malta was facing a bill which amounted to over €109,000.

The issue arose after a delay of 18 minutes was announced on the Moscow flight out of Malta yesterday evening. Due to this delay, the flight's cabin crew claimed that if they operated the flight they would exceed their flight time limitations by three minutes.

Air Malta said that its costs were incurred due to the provision of hotel accommodation, meals and refreshments, alternative flight arrangements as well as transportation and communication facilities which Air Malta provided to its 163 stranded passengers in Malta and in Moscow.

Other costs included salaries, customer care claims, and the consequential delays of four hours on the Malta-Manchester-Malta KM146/7 flight, as well as a three-hour delay on the Malta-Vienna-Malta KM512/3 flights.

The flight to Moscow, scheduled to depart yesterday evening at 11.40 p.m. departed at 4 p.m. today with the return expected in Malta at around 1.30 a.m. tomorrow.

The flight time limitations are currently the subject of arbitration proceedings between the airline and the Union of Cabin crew. The collective agreement stipulates that, since this issue has been referred to private arbitration, until the procedure is concluded, both parties agree that no unilateral action will be taken.

Air Malta said the cabin crew's action was highly inappropriate not only because Air Malta and the Union of Cabin Crew were engaged in arbitration on this issue but also due to the irresponsible nature of the claim.

A spokesman said the airline would be filing a judicial protest against the Union of Cabin Crew as well as against the individual members of the crew.

Air Malta said it gave utmost importance to the safety and well-being of its clients and staff and reassured its customers that in the circumstance everything possible was done to minimise the inconvenience.