Redundancies, outsourcing, depend on productivity - Air Malta

Etienne Aquilina

Oct 24th 2009, 23:49

@James Muscat. Did it not ever cross your mind that low cost airlines also want low cost fees? All low cost airlines beg airport authorities for lower parking and landing fees etc. Air Malta, being the National Carrier also serves non-profitable routes as part of its social commitment to the Maltese people, not to mention the numerous health related travels of people udergoing treatment abroad. Try and get such concessions from your so called low cost carriers and see for yourself, not to mention the impeccable safety track record and Air Malta's commitment towards passenger safety, first and foremost before all commercial implications. So next time you criticize YOUR National airline, get your facts right first!

maria curmi

Oct 24th 2009, 23:08

Please MPS note use Airmalta when flying not private jets so you could save some Airmalta workers jobs safe even if it is only to watch your favorite team play

T Sammut

Oct 24th 2009, 21:34

So what ? Is the workers of Airmalta different from us ? Airmalta should lower thye prices , outsource and be competitive !

E. Vella

Oct 24th 2009, 21:29

Air Malta is not being subsidised one euro from the government. It is eating into its own reserves which are dwindling fast so status quo is not an option. Something drastic has to be done to save Air Malta from the obvious - and that means Air Malta needs to be managed on commercial terms and not on social terms. The government is only subsidising low-cost airlines (35 Euro per ticket) for 'underserved routes'. Air Malta has to pay the premium charges on its routes plus also it has to operate loss making routes for the national interest i.e. tourism.

@James Muscat
Nobody is keeping anybody from coming to Malta. Hello....we are in the EU!! Ryanair or any other low cost can start operations from Brussels South (Charleroi) tomorrow if they want to. But no they will not pay MIA airport fees which Air Malta is paying in full. They want us to subsidise their tickets from our taxes. Are you aware that the government pays 35 Euro for every passenger Ryanair carries on its routes to Malta?

In the least I expect that Air Malta should be allowed to compete on a level-playing field.

James Muscat

Oct 24th 2009, 20:25

AirMalta needs to be in 2009 not years back. Examples: We kept the low cost airlines away from Malta for the sake of Airmalta to the detriment of the local tourist industry. The Brussels Malta route at the moment is more expensive than a flight from London to NewYork ! The low cost airlines cannot operate from any airport they want to Malta. AirMalta has been operating a "hidden" monopoly for years about time it gets a shake up!

Mary Ann Borg

Oct 24th 2009, 20:08

Dear Jesmond Micallef: It's not that cool to continue paying taxes to keep our national airline running. I totally agree with you that our country must have a national airline and this should be Air Malta but this should be run strictly on commercial terms not on union terms. We have another dockyard situation here and it will be sad for all Maltese citizens if we were to lose the airline. It is useless trying to keep up with competition when your competition is run well while you have your own airline burdened with old socialist mentalities that hold everyone at ransom the moment one tries to change things around.

Jesmond Micallef

Oct 24th 2009, 15:26

Dear Maltese people,

These are difficult times for the world we live in. Take care of your nation's airline, Air Malta. Other bigger nations airlines are a national pride for them, same should go for the Maltese and their ambassador airline, Air Malta !!

Keep cool but also safeguard your nation's hard work.

E Gatt

Oct 24th 2009, 14:23

I thought the word ' redundancies' was taboo.

Never mind the the impact on the deficit but we taxpayers are expected to pay for government/parastatal salaries even if the organisation does not need their services.

maria curmi

Oct 24th 2009, 14:19

AIRMALTA WORKERS WILL PROBABLY GET A BAD COLLECTIVE AGREEMENT LIKE WSC WORKERS DID WHICH WAS SINGED IN A HURRY LEAVING WORKERS IN A BAD SHAPE