Air Malta in €31m loss - state support under consideration

Alan Cini

Feb 16th 2010, 08:46

I take the opportunity to thank AirMalta for contacting me back immediately after posting my comment on 29th January. Special thanks to Mr Brian Bartolo and lets continue using our national airline, it s the airline which we should help for all our benefit, after all its base will remain Malta. Thanks

K Vella

Feb 10th 2010, 18:22

Your comments are partially correct: keep in mind that the flight is 1 Euro on one part of the way, the other part of the way is say 26 Euros. Ryanair offer those kind of services not just to Malta but everywhere in Europe. The turnaround between one flight and another is about 30 minutes or so. They do not have sales offices, you book online, all is paperless, etc etc - all is geared at minimising costs. Take the airmalta model - completely different. Also they operate certain routes on a loss and make up with other routes that are 'expensive'. Volumes, volumes, volumes are what count. That does not make it unfair competition otherwise (a) the office of fair trade in the UK would have stepped in and (b) so would the EU. That's called free market! airmalta? you are right - theoretically they should be accountable to you and me and our fellow maltese taxpayers. But tehy are not and never were - hence my suggestion, kill the lame horse and start afresh!

Stephen Grech

Feb 10th 2010, 10:47

I read your comments and you are right on a few points, but then may I ask you a couple of questions.?

If Ryan Air is not subsidised then howcome does it negotiate prices as mentioned by yourself.? So AirMalta get more passengers to Malta yet pay more then Ryan at it's homebase too??.

AirMalta had been asking MIA long time before Ryan dreamt of Malta to make passengers walk to and from airport terminal, and always was denied such request. Ryan came and guess what, they were allowed to walk. They are also allocated certain parking bay to make apron walking possible. May I ask why such preferential treatment??.

Unrealistic fares are unfair competition, and such fares are only offered so as to meet pre promised passenger traffic, otherwise the said "subsidies" aren't given. Do you really believe that a 1 Euro fare is a realistic price?. At MIA a simple black coffee would cost more then that, yet people expect to fly 3000 NM with a Euro.

Mismanagement brought AirMalta to it's knees nothing more and nothing less. Who are they accountable too, and why little is done about it remains a mistery.

K J Vella

Feb 8th 2010, 12:44

@ S Grech
While you may be privy to some internal information that the rest of us do not know, you miss the point completely on 2 key issues: (a) Ryan Air is not subsidised by the government - that would be illegal in the EU. What is probably happening is that RyanAir promise a large volume of passengers at the negotiating table to get better airport prices from MIA. RyanAir manages to sell its seats and dispense with extra costs - all of the operations revolve around cost minimisation and NOT subsidies - this is well documented. (b) Instead of moaning on fuel prices, sterling losses etc, AirMalta should get its act together and look at customers: ie how to compete to get more customers and serving them profitably. The government and appointed management seem to be tackling gross inefficiencies but only as far as is politically possible. Don't think that another government would do better irrespective of their good intentions. Airmalta needs to be privatised and not funded by the people. If I were a shareholder in AM, I'd sell. Having said that AM offers reasonably good services but prices are a joke!

Stephen Grech

Jan 31st 2010, 18:03

Dear Kevin Zammit,

Again you are one of those who think you know it all, and yet you got it all wrong. Before you put your fingers to keyboard kindly try to check things out please.

Airline employees ( not only AirMalta) offer rebate travel to all its past and future employees and not free tickets. For example a so called free tickets to London (which are only two per year) would cost more then you pay with RyanAir, and is only subject to space on an aircraft. Then there are unlimited 90% fares which are based upon sector milage. Also staff pay the full fare Taxes and fuel surcharges whilst still holding a standby ticket.

Since you know so much on the aviation business, could you kindly enlighten me why Ryanair sells tickets at unrealist prices eg Euro 1.? I know the answer but I leave it up to you to enlighten us all. Ryan with Euro 1 manages to pay wages and buy Million dollar planes and make a profit too.

Yes Ryan is subsidised by our government for the cheap ticket you buy, whilst Airmalta isn't.

Now with all means Go Ryan.

Kevin Zammit

Jan 30th 2010, 19:59

Airmalta has been used as a source of employment opportunity by polititians. To add insult to injury all Air Maltastaff including their relatives from uncle to his kids get to fly for free. So the airline is for the benefit of the "administrative" staff not those that pay for their tickets to fly.

For example, why is there an airmalta rep in heathrow while Birmingham and Manchester functions only too well without one? Is it because it is conveniently located in London? How much is this staff costing the airline and at the end of the day for what? So that they can yell at you and shove you around?

Go Ryan air ... Airmalta is not worth the extra money to fund parrochialism

M.Bezzina

Jan 30th 2010, 16:18

The loss is because of the recession!!

Oliver Magri

Jan 30th 2010, 14:11

re Scullion:Comments typical of our mentality of 'Mhux Xorta?' Zewg minuti l'hawn u zewg minuti l'hemm! Investigators (and, more importantly, Insurers!) will view things differently following an accident .
re All others:In my humble opinion, EU membership has thrown Air Malta in with the sharks when it is still saddled with an island mentality. Govt. uses the company as an employment agency at times employing people who should not be allowed within a mile of an airport. How can Air Malta compete with cutthroat companies like Ryanair who hire and fire at will (they don't even employ their own pilots), when Govt thinks it has a moral obligation to protect all jobs at all costs? EU membership does not allow this to go on indefinitely. Alitalia and Olympic Airways are cases in point.Employees are now expected to bear the brunt of past decisions that have cost the company millions! The country as a whole and the powers that be should decide once and for all, whether we are EU members in name only, or whether we still yearn to live by village club statutes which allow political patronage, shoddy leadership, sub standard work and unaccountability!

CJ Francica

Jan 30th 2010, 13:44

When will we realise that the main problem with Airmalta is that the cost base of the company is FAR FAR too high .... Airmalta could work just as efficiently with 50% of its staff but there is no way this could ever be achieved .... of all the government entities Airmalta has by far the laziest and most underperforming workforce. As long as they get their breaks, shift allowances and days off they dont seem to care about anything .... no one has ever had the guts to make a clean sweep and introduce proper working methods ... no one has ever bothered to bring in advice on how these people should work properly (vide foreign airports) ... anyway, useless going on ... government please intervene for the sake of this airline ... either close it down or leave it in the hands of people who know how to run airlines efficiently and not erba "rakkomandati" whose main aim is to protect the staff and unions.

Stephen Grech

Jan 30th 2010, 13:29

Quote: Its easy to point fingers, BUT AT LEAST back up your opinion with some type of evidence or logic sense.

Under PN government: Sea Malta .......Busted and sold at a cheap price
AirMalta losses last six years with majority of assets sold.
etc etc etc.

Could you kindly enlighten me to whom shall I point my finger.????. To make you happy I point it towards GWU as this is the newest trend. Before it was Alfred Sant.

One simple question come to mind. "How come with all the publicity and drive force by the government visa the Euro, why did AirMalta continue dealing in STG.?

Rafel Sammut enlighten us and who is reponsible to make Airmalta profitable again as it did from it's second year of operation with the "Ghasafar tac-Comb", up to the day we replaced four work horses B737-200 with five smaller RJ 70's. It was from those British/ Maltese Government decision that AirMalta started it's downhill spiral. At first loss was maksed as top management started selling assets such as spare parts so as to balance the sheet and showing profits.

M.Bezzina

Jan 30th 2010, 12:51

Dawk l aghsafar tac comb my friends!!!!E oh zmien helu kif addejtni!!

Stephen Grech

Jan 30th 2010, 11:31

With all due respect to the general public who freely write down comments on legal or company limits, may I simply point out that ethically before you comment on such, you need to know and have hard copies of such limits. Frankly you all do not know what you are talking and commenting about. A limit is a limit, and no one is allowed to go beyong it. If the limit is breached that flight is illegal, and no authority or insurance will justify such breach even if only by one minute. So kindly shut up.!

Secondly but most important of all, my only concern are the credentials of individuals appointed as Chairmans. My question to the minister responsible of AirMalta, "Does Mr Sammy Portelli know anything about the Airline business, and its operations and tomorrows strategies.?". If not, then my opinion is that Mr.Portelli is another political appointee, a small thankyou present for a past favour.!!.

Would you board a plane, where the Captain knows nothing regarding flying, but is sitting in the helm because he was a Captain in the "Dejma."? Help me god I'm wrong.

Rafel Sammut

Jan 30th 2010, 10:25

@ Jo Cassar,

As far as I know Gonzi-Pn has no control over either of the two factors that caused Airmalta's losses, those being the weak sterling which was a result of the economic downturn in the UK and rising oil/fuel prices.
Therefore i would like to correct you for two things:
1) Any government could have been in power but this loss would have still taken place, so your wrong blaming it on Gonzi-Pn.
2) The "Milk cow" has not gone bust, this just shows how much you don't understand in business and/or finance.
Just because an organisation makes a loss it does not mean they've gone bust, if so then half of the worlds biggest organisations who made a loss in the last financial year, all due to the same reason, i.e. recession, would all be bust !?!?

Its easy to point fingers, BUT AT LEAST back up your opinion with some type of evidence or logic sense.
Thank you.

Robert Scullion

Jan 30th 2010, 10:14

@mark pace

Original story ... They can work up to 13 hours, but the Union decided that they should only work 12. So no international regulations were broken, though the company had to foot the bill and cause disruption to hundreds of passengers.
I would be concerned if the pilots were tired, but seeing as they had no problem with the flight, then it would have been fine.
http://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20090426/local/striking-air-malta-cabin-crew-could-face-dismissal

Caroline Sammut

Jan 30th 2010, 08:29

Malta is not being competitive enough in the tourist industry. We are not investing enough money on infrastructure! Our roads are going from bad to worse! We don't have holes now, we've got craters! Getting more tourists especially from Europe is the only solution to our financial problems.

E. Azzopardi

Jan 30th 2010, 01:09

The least, the very least, that Air Malta and the Minister can do, once handing over "the people's money", is to give an thorough explanation to "the people" of what really went wrong.
The statement of the price of oil and the weak sterling is simply not good enough. For example, the sterling has been weak for quite a long time now and one needs to know what has been done during this time to cut costs. Sorry, but when companies are overmanned (if this is so) then we all know what should be done. IT HAS HAPPENED TO MANY OF US without having been offered another job or early retirement schemes!!!!! We were just made redundant and thrown into the deep end. Why employees are not all equal is beyond many.
It is simply unjust.

mark pace

Jan 29th 2010, 22:11

@robert scullion.
OH....almost forgot....13 hours? thats almost a regular tour of duty for most KM employees!
Limits are much more complex than a flat 13 hours.Many factors come into it(like the time of day,rest periods etc etc). If you were flying back from a holiday would you like to be flown by an exhausted and tired crew?

mark pace

Jan 29th 2010, 22:01

@robert scullion"These unions have worked hand in hand with the company in trying to get out of the red."
Well that has worked quite successfully then, hasn't it . as a matter of fact it has.Unions managed to help AirMalta reduce its cost base and make it a leaner company. How? By improving flexibilty,improving work practices,reducing overtime and voluntary redunancy schemes. If AirMalta cant make a profit because of other factors its hardly the Unions fault now is it?
"or even the worldwide recession ... plus surely Air Malta could've expanded its services so it didn't rely on one country. Which is a management issue, and nothing to do with workers. but everyone knows you don't rely on one area.". you contradict yourself in one sentence. A worldwide recession means the whole world is in crisis and all markets are in decline. And where do you suggest AirMalta expand its services?The UK...it has...no luck there, Azzura?Pleeeaseee not again? And AirMalta curently has about 10 Intra European routes that perform very well(in a stable market).Always remember that AirMalta is an airline based in Malta(24sqm). How big it becomes is TOTALLY dependent on how big Malta comes.

Anthony Pace Gouder

Jan 29th 2010, 19:42

Hawn minn qieghed jilmenta li dan hu kollu kagun minn-Investiment hazin u zbaljat ! Barra min hekk jien nahseb ukoll ghall fatt li l-AIRPORT TERMINAL ( illum sar Shopping u Business Centre) maghdux KOLLU f'idejn l-Air Malta . Nahseb li dhul minn dan ghad hemm ! l-Investiment u l-bini propost tal-Business Centre , se tgawdi minnhu l-AM jew dan inkluza l-art tappartjeni lil-MIA BISS ? Ta min jghid li recentement HAL-FERH, f'Ghajn Tuffieha gie mibjuh lill-MIC Group , hekk minix sejjer zball ,ghall-Hmistax il-miljun Euro. Aktar qabel kienet inbijet ukoll l-HOLIDAY INN f' Tigne .Sit bhall-dak f'din il-lokalita minn jaf kemm dahhal miljuni ! Dan id-dhul ta'MILJUNI gawdiet, jew kellha tgawdi minnhu l-AIR MALTA (?.) ... ghax dawn kollha kienu PARTI INTEGRALI (ASSETS) tal-AIR MALTA . Araw li kellhom jinbieghu daz-zmin , minn jaf kemm kienu jiswew , imkejjlin mall-Prezz ta'Xarabank + Licenzja !!!!!!

Anthony Pace Gouder

Jan 29th 2010, 15:23

AIR MALTA = Eu 31,000,000 LOSS ....... MALTA TRANSPORT ASSOCIATION = Eu 55,000,000 PROFIT ! Kemm qedin sew ! Dawn qedin f ' IDEJN l-istess Ministru ?

Robert Scullion

Jan 29th 2010, 14:58

@Mark Pace

"These unions have worked hand in hand with the company in trying to get out of the red."
Well that has worked quite successfully then, hasn't it

"think LOCAL recession, think Sterling. Result 31 million loss."
or even the worldwide recession ... plus surely Air Malta could've expanded its services so it didn't rely on one country. Which is a management issue, and nothing to do with workers. but everyone knows you don't rely on one area.

Robert Scullion

Jan 29th 2010, 14:53

@lgalea

"The eu petty dictators do not want Airmalta to be profitable because their plan is to do away with all national airlines and have one federal eu airline."
lol ... really, you're getting carried away with your own silliness now.

"The aircrew were observing INTERNATIONAL REGULATIIONS "
I understand the regulations to be a maximum of 13hours, with airlines operating to 11 or 12 hours individually. The delayed plane would have meant that they worked 12hrs 3mins. Still within the International Regulations.

"As for eu bashing I shall NEVER forgive those who ROBBED me of my INDEPENDENCE AND FREEDOM "
that would be the Maltese public that voted yes in a democratic referrendum, then supported pro-EU parties at every election since then.

I think you do more for the pro-EU side than you think .... oh yeah, Death Penalty in Lisbon treaty, you've still to explain that one (though I suspect you'll say you have, maybe talk about a cat with curiosity, or just not reply when you get stuck for words)

Alan Cini

Jan 29th 2010, 13:52

Better Airmalta take care of her customers. What about the disastrous customer care? I have been trying to contact airmalta customer care by email regarding a serious complaint from Wed Oct 28 2009 and someone thinks I had a reply from them? I have sent remiders on 10th November and 6th January 6 2010, without any reply back. To say it all I received a call in November from the supervisor, stating that they will investigate the case but nothing more from them till the present date. Would just appreciate If I get an answer back from you Airmalta and I always remember in my ears..."Grazzi talli ghazielt AirMalta"...

michaeldegiorgio

Jan 29th 2010, 13:39

i said last sunday and say it again today if thenew chairman is not on the full time bases then whats the use of having anew one alot has been said i like to state a few facts that have not been mentioned firstly after having a ceo a certain mr funk who was on a large salary we decided to let him go and we went for a home product also the rjs 70 knocked a big hole in the company hedgeing was mentioned done a bit on the late side then one has to remember that there was a mou for three years agreed by the government and the 4 unions to try and turn things round this ment no pay increases change of work practices and outsouring the cleaning and catering departments also people were employed on full time bases when we all know that the tourist industry is a seasonal industry so please leave the work froce along as they have bent backwards to turn the company one last note 3 unions have completed there agreements as usual thegwu is left for last just to turn the public against it

paul Mallia

Jan 29th 2010, 13:34

Hi Renald,
it is very commendable that you write about KM Staff take home pay, but I would just like to comment that NOT ALL Staff are in this situation. Clerical staff know quite well that many High Level Staff are getting their Bonuses and all their perks and their free cars, transportation and the lot, while others (Captains and Engineers) have had their agreements in force for the last two years or so, and this at additional take-home pay, not like us other clerical staff who have been forced to freeze our pays for so long a time that we don't even know where we stand! I appreciate what you do for all the staff and am grateful for it, but I agree with someone who commented about the GWU's stand in this matter. No, Air Malta is not going down the drain because we staff are harming the Company, (remember that we are all employed and no one owns the Company) but because no one wants to do anything about it, and it is not the staff, I can assure you. Whatever political belief staff profess, they are all fantastic. I leave one and all to consider who?

Mario Desira

Jan 29th 2010, 13:27

The international situation is partly to blame, but the biggest fault was decisions taken by the management starting in the middle 1990s and inlcude the RJ70s, promoting the hub concept, not considering less conventional alternatives to helicopter operations as well as general bureaucracy.

While costs have been reduced, probably the real saver was the substantial number of staff who left the airline. Incredibloy, a recovery plan drawn up arround 2003 which had as one its baisic tenets the crazy assumption the price of oil will remain static or go down. down. Peak oil has been reached and even dips in price are always part of an upward rising curve!

In life, as well as at AirMalta, what really matters is tackling problems with a combined dose of intuition and logic. Evidently, certificates, qualifications and diplomas are not equivalent to taking the right decisions! No commercial entity can survive unless a holistic approach is taken, because no plan can ever be drawn up in isolation, ignoring the present state of the world and especially the future state of the world! Let us hope Airmalta indulges in less business planning and more lateral thinking!

C Zammit

Jan 29th 2010, 13:01

To all people calling the govt to sell the airline - may I just say that it should be considered only after trying to manage it properly. What I suggest is going back to basic.

Check which lines are profitable all year round and every year and keep them profitable. Scale back the rest. Of course, people will have to be fired - but if we sell Air Malta this will still happen. If you r not profitable - you r not!! Under the govt or private sector you have to perform. I am not saying that staff don't work - But there is wastage of people for sure. If you want profit, then aim for profit. If you want that we have hundreds employed, then keep it and lets face the bill.

But the basic knowledge would be to enhance the routes which profit and ditch the ones that dont and scale back the company to reflect the new size.

It is never easy - but what is? Having us pay for mis-management?

Philip Sultana

Jan 29th 2010, 12:26

Between 2000 and 2009, the world’s airlines lost $49.1 billion – averaging $5 billion annually. 2009 losses were $11 billion, and 2010 will see losses of up to $5.6 billion. Recent losses are blamed on the recession and rising fuel prices. (Source: www.timesonline.co.uk)

Air Malta was exposed to these pressures and importantly, Sterling's decline was an added impact because of the airline’s and Malta’s dependence on Britain.

As one of the drivers, or at least facilitators, of Malta’s tourism, Air Malta is interwoven in the fabric of the Maltese economy. What hurts Air Malta is likely to hurt Malta and it is definitely not in the country’s interests to allow the collapse of Air Malta. Failure will hurt the country and could lead to the disintegration of the Maltese economy.

The airline and country are facing real danger – other national airlines, some of high standing, collapsed in recent years notably, Swissair and Sabena – and this could happen to Air Malta. Whether or not one agrees with the politics of the Government, it is crucial that the Maltese rally in support of Malta’s appeal to the EU.

Mary Borg

Jan 29th 2010, 11:45

I was under the impression that the fuel surcharge paid on each and every ticket making airmalta one of the most expensive airlines was intended to make up for the increase in fuel cost. With respect to the airport handling costs problem, it should be seriously looked into since it may in fact be hindering comeptition, thsu sdepriving both Airmalta and travellers of the benefits of a competitive market.

Joseph Agius

Jan 29th 2010, 11:40

@T Mifsud
Thanks for your explanation but those decision shurley made things worse for Air Malta.Air Malta lost a lot of cargo capacity by acquiring the RJ70s.Yes I agree with you that they where wrongly used.The idea was also to starts shedule flights from major europen Airports to London City Airport as at that time that was the only Turbine Aircraft to land there.Air Malta could not longer carry flight to London Heathrow with the Boeing 737-200 becouse of noise polution but they could have bought the 737-500 it could have done the same job as the 737-200 but with more modern engines and avionics,that was another reason why the Rjs where bought.Now a days as far as I know Air Malta got ride of all its RJs.Once again I dont think its the Unions whom made things worse for Air Malta but whom manged the company.Let's hope that Air Malta wil be abel to fly out of the danger zone.

Philip Vella

Jan 29th 2010, 10:39

to all thos air mallta haters please read on ....

The sterling's decline also dealt the airline a heavy blow, costing a further €12.8 million, but, perhaps, the biggest loss-maker was the fact that, in a bid to help Maltese tourism industry, the company increased its flights at a time when tourism was doing badly.

Now Shut up.

R. Azzopardi

Jan 29th 2010, 10:20

Before blaming the government, can't all you anti-privatisation fanatics see that the days of state-owned airlines are long gone? Get out of the bubble you're living in and see what happened to British Airways, Alitalia, Air France, to mention but a few. None of them are doing particularly well. I dare say that Air Malta had a fantastic year compared to other state-owned airlines. These companies were profitable in their hey-day. times change and circumstances change with them. We have to accept it.

renald williams

Jan 29th 2010, 10:16

just for info some Air Malta employees…
since 2004 have had a reduction in their take home pay…
since 2004 have had their reduced take home pay still frozen…
since 2004 have had to work average 4.5 extra hours weekly…
to get the same frozen reduced take home pay…
peace and health to all Maltese

T Mifsud

Jan 29th 2010, 09:58

@J Agius

The RJ70 decision was not effectively an Air Malta decision. In those days there were 3 factors which led to this decision 1) Malta was bargaining and negotiating entry with EU, 2) The UK had EU presidency and 3) British Aerospace was a company about to close shedding workers and creating a National crisis in the UK. The foreign secretary had come to Malta for a meeting on EU negotiating matters. Shortly after the decision to buy 4 RJ70s was made (saving British Aerospace thus Air Malta now owned 50% of the world's fleet of RJ70).

Malta was in good light with the UK on EU entry.

RJ70s were used and abused on routes not suitable for that aircraft and it became an anathema. Azzurra took over the unwanted aircraft and went belly up for as well other reasons.

The only difference today if Air Malta did not have the RJ70s is that it would have some extra cash to cushion this recession. Still the Profit and Loss would have been affected as it is today and with the same difference in profit and loss.

Mike Magri

Jan 29th 2010, 09:40

Miskina l-AIR MALTA .... Minn `BAQRA` tahleb il-flus, gvernijiet nazzjonalisti gabuha `Baqra` marida bill-guh..!!

Zgur li IL-KAGUN ta dan KOLLU, gej min investimenti HZIENA u ZBALJATI HAFNA li saru fix-xiri ta l-ajruplani RJ70`s, u nvestimenti bazwijja ohra fl-Italja, ecc... ecc.... ecc...

GHARUKAZA.......!!!

silvio axisa

Jan 29th 2010, 09:33

As an ex-Km employee, i am saddened by the news. I don't intend to comment on political appointments and who's best and who's not...figures talk loud enough. I believe the employees themselves should be the best 'leaders' . I recommend heavy soul-searching and drastic cost-cutting.... There are some fat cats who do not augur well for the future of the airline, whether they are politically-motivated or not...is another issue. I wish to suggest two main changes....
1. Revamp the reservations system. If need be go back to the old reservations system, where the airline operated its own...if need be scrap the whole 'call-centre' system...Try to make a booking thru the call centre...and you are faced with incompetent res staff, who do not have any entrepreneurship or airline experience. My personal expereince is horrendous. Be aware that there are many other ways of how people book their airline tickets.....
2.. Revamp the website.... Try booking on line and at some point you would end up having to log-in again becasue there would be no 'go-back' option. It should be called 'user-frightening'.
I wish the management and airline staff the best of luck.

Mark Galea

Jan 29th 2010, 08:52

@all my friends
Correct me if I am wrong, but I have not heard anything from our friend Tony Zarb and co. Lying low as usual Tony? Bad luck we are not under LP rule, else you would have suggested a marriage!

Joseph Agius

Jan 29th 2010, 08:38

@Robert Scullion
Nothing personal but you balmed the Union and you forgot to blame the biggest part of all this mass.Who bought the RJ70s?(Thy cost Air Malta bunch of money everyday to be stored in UK just beacouse they where USLESS Planes) Who bought the stake in Azzura Air?I dont think it was the Union who did so.The ground handling faces the day to day running no matter what conditions are,while others where sitting on a chair in an office thinking how to make more money for there pockets.We payed astronomic prices to travel with Air Malta and know wea re going to be asked(If the EU can grant it) to rescue Air Malta..........someone have questions to answear

Philip Vella

Jan 29th 2010, 08:26

@Joseph Calleja,
The Government never pumped any money into airmalta.

abby Mifsud

Jan 29th 2010, 01:07

Victor Vella is right. Can the current Air Malta Chairman explain why he is announcing a 31 million loss and loads of promotions are being dished out to people who had a promtion just one year ago?
Can we have an explanation when he says that he is loosing money at Ground Handling and loads of promotions have just been issued there even to illeterate people?
The reason is that GWU members will not have a collective agreement and will continue with their 7 year wage freeze and still counting. Qumu minn hemm tal- PLaburista u start defending the Air Malta workers on this issue.

jo cassar

Jan 28th 2010, 22:50

Yet another maltese milk cow gone to bust under gonzi-pn

J Grech

Jan 28th 2010, 22:34

Reading all these comments makes me sad, thinking that such an Airline with a superb service is making a loss. In my opinion, the only way to tackle the situation is by reducing ground personnel and increasing more work load on the remaining ground labour. Another option might be the introduction of the A318 or B737-600 aircraft to minimize fuel costs on short flights which are not usually packed with passengers say when an a319 or a320 is utilised.

Mark Pace

Jan 28th 2010, 22:25

@Mr Scullion..think LOCAL recession, think Sterling. Result 31 million loss. Yes, AirMalta needs help. And a company that has helped the whole country fantastically over the past 35 years i think it deserves help.

Mark Pace

Jan 28th 2010, 22:19

@Mr Scullion..with all due respect, when u mention unions may i remind u that AirMalta employees are represented by four completely different unions. ALPA(cockpit crew), UCC(cabin crew), Engineers and the rest are split between the two power unions UHM and GWU.
I can speak for the one i am member of(UCC) and others i come into direct contact with(ALPA and Engineering). These unions have worked hand in hand with the company in trying to get out of the red.Results from an administration point of view have been achieved.AirMalta is now a much leaner company,with a significantly lower cost base.But financially things are bad.very bad. but if u honestly think that this is all down to greedy unions then youve really got the wrong end of the stick. these wage increases cost the company a fraction of that 31million loss! And if a flight has to be delayed(not cancelled) because the EU you love so much regulates that 14 hour flight in the middle of the night is the maximum a person could fly,penalising both AirMalta and the crew thousands of euro if you go over that limit, would you fly back?Think Sept 11,think quadrupling oil prices, think GLOBAL recession,

Charles Zammit

Jan 28th 2010, 22:15

It is hoped that the workers of Airmalta will not share the same fate as GO's workers. This nomination augurs very little where the workers' interests are concerned.

D . galea

Jan 28th 2010, 21:57

What i can comment about is the Cargo system! I personally have visted the Aircargo department to pick up some items and it literally takes ages to get the service!! Totally beuracratic company.... i cannot understand why it takes such a long time to get a box delivered.. with so many staff running around.. a new tip for the new management. people are fed up with this monopoly! all we need is a new cargo companies and Air cargo can shut their doors.

MSultana

Jan 28th 2010, 21:41

I think it is better if all the Maltese community thank Air Malta for its service. Do you know that it is the only airline that helps medical cases and do a lot of charity? Or now that it is making loss, now it's not good anymore. Come on people. Typical Maltese - if Air Malta is in good days - Wow and if it is passing through bad days - everyone against. Grow up people. Support one of the first Maltese companies that made a good name to Malta. At least be supportive to its employees. If one is bad, not all the company is bad. We love you Air Malta.

Galea. L

Jan 28th 2010, 21:40

Karl Abela
Others have already answered your post.
As for diminishing Fenech Adami's and Gonzi's achievements, they have done and are doing it themselves without having anyone else to do it for them. I and others only point to the facts and the facts condemn them.

lgalea

Jan 28th 2010, 21:35

Robert Scullion
No Scullion. It has everything to do with the eu. It was the eu that forced the government to force AirMalta to shed its other operations. The eu petty dictators do not want Airmalta to be profitable because their plan is to do away with all national airlines and have one federal eu airline.

The aircrew were observing INTERNATIONAL REGULATIIONS Scullion. Aren't workers supposed to obey International Regulations? What about the mismanagement by those appointed by the pn government? Why is it always the workers and the unions to blame? Yes Scullion, as a faithful eu servant you show your hatred for the workers and the unions like your masters.

As for eu bashing I shall NEVER forgive those who ROBBED me of my INDEPENDENCE AND FREEDOM through their treachery and deceit and shall continue to fight to get back my and Malta's INDEPENDENCE AND FREEDOM back. I SHALL NEVER FORGIVE THEM scullion. NEVER.

And as I always say, I am Galea not scullion.

Robert Scullion

Jan 28th 2010, 20:03

@lgalea

Yet again its bash the EU in your anti-EU drive.
Have you considered that the fact Air Malta doesn't make a profit is because the Unions hold it to ransom always demanding more pay and less work. Wasn't it last year that the company had to cancel a flight from Moscow because the cabin crew claimed they would arrive 3 mins over their time, even though this was still within safety limits.

This has nothing to do with the EU, but everything to do with the Unions who, quite frankly, are making a mockery out of the original concept of what a union should be - standing up for workers rights, ensuring a decent pay/hours. Not any of this 'we demand more money or we'll strike' nonsense.
"ground handling costs in Malta were 40 per cent higher than abroad" -- need we say more about how the Unions control Air Malta for their own benefit rather than the country.

Charles J. Buttigieg

Jan 28th 2010, 19:32

From the inception date until he was removed from Chairman, Berty Mizzi always managed to roll the boat ashore safely and during his tenure of office the last figure on the balance sheet was always in black. Then along came Joe Tabone and we all remember the mess he put the airline through. Louis Grech started to put the house in order, he succeeded and his input proved to be miraculous. Then one of the PN strategists was appointed as chairman and his achievement was publicly announced today.

It is said that when battles are lost they change the generals not the soldiers so now Air Malta will have a new general soon.

Sonny Portelli is a good sport, I’ve known him since the 70s, he’s a good work horse, efficient and by en large has what it takes to be a good leader. Aided by Joe Cappello, the airline’s CEO, Sonny should prove to be the required element which Air Malta didn’t have during the last years.

I wish Sonny Portelli, Joe Cappello, and the Management and staff a successful future. Flimkien kollox possibli. lol

Maria Vella

Jan 28th 2010, 19:28

I hope that Airmalta will not become the second drydocks. As a taxpayer I would like to see my money well spent. For the pride of keeping the national logo on a few planes is not worthwhile to throw more money down the drain.. During the past years bigger airlines have been bought by stronger ones. When politicians became stubborn for national pride's stake they only made a mess out of things only to give in to reason later. Maybe it is time to sell the airline and save what can still be saved.

Joseph Calleja

Jan 28th 2010, 19:12

One thing for sure, from some of the comments made below, it seems Air Malta has some very dedicated employees. Now if they can show some of that same enthusiasm towards the passenger who after all, provides for their salary.

Jesmond Micallef

Jan 28th 2010, 19:05

Ok....

The British Sterling seems to have got our own national airline by the ........ !!!!

How interesting !!! People of Malta, British Airways has lately merged with Iberia, right. This ammalgamation has made it the worlds third biggest airline. How nice, it seems that the big powerfull and priviledged want to remain big, powerfull, priviledged and off course proud !!!!

Is it not about time that thorough reconsideration be given to those who do not want to be part of the Eurozone !!! Britain is not a large country but it seems that British economic entities, such as BRITISH BANKS, for example, are indeed powerfull enough to decide Air Malta's future. !!!!

Think about it People of Malta. Air Malta Plc is seeking Government financial support !!! The Government should intervene here, as other European governments did with their own economic entities.

Ramon Mangion

Jan 28th 2010, 18:56

@ S Grech,

Airline fares are step up fares, and work on sort of different fare classes, once a class is full it moves to the next, that is why it gets higher. It is not that you book months before to get it cheaper, it depends on the number of bookings du to this system. At least that is how I recall that it works.

Regarding low cost airlines, I am still sceptic and will always fly air Malta, although to say the truth I had a bad one in Milan ( 9 hrs delay, no refreshments, airport practically empty etc...) in September 2008 and customer care basically were making fun of me for complaining.

schembri.ml

Jan 28th 2010, 18:35

Airmalta has always provided and maintained a dual carriageway to Europe and Africa.Besides it was always administered and owned by the Maltese citizens.It was always a tool for the common good of the Maltese people.

B Borg

Jan 28th 2010, 18:26

Now I am more than ever convinced that Malta is full of experts and --- lickers when it comes to foreign products & services!!! The Maltese are more than happy when the gov subsidise LCCs but NOT when it comes to Air Malta.. one of the few if not the only one that never received any subsidies for its shareholder. Don't you all think that Air Malta is providing daily bread for so many families?? Do you really want all these families to end up eating depending on your taxes?? Why don't we all start appreciating what our company can provide? Like many other airlines before, foreign airlines will stop their service when it's not profitable. AIRMALTA was and till now still is but it's future and that of its workers is very uncertain.

T Mifsud

Jan 28th 2010, 18:00

@J Farrugia
"should be tackled by the management and not by unions who dont have the company's interest at heart"

You are talking from your behind! It is the Unions who have the company most at heart since it is their members' only source of income. Management come and go, they play musical chairs even around government entities. The workers stay at the company at the mercy of management's good judgement. When the management gets it wrong they vent at times to the unions.

Hope you understand who needs the company most between management and workers!

c. camilleri

Jan 28th 2010, 17:59

The irony of all this is that up to a few weeks ago Air Malta had to concede to an increase in pay to the Cabin crew staff while other Airlines in similar predicament are shedding staff and changing working conditions for the rest of the workers.

C. Busuttil

Jan 28th 2010, 17:57

It seems that at last AirMalta has become l-ghasafar tac-comb.

P Farrugia

Jan 28th 2010, 17:54

I though 'state aid' was now out of any economics dictionary - isn't the name of the game now efficiency and productivity? otherwise you just keep postponing a problem.

adrian agius

Jan 28th 2010, 17:42

''''In its recommendations, Brussels said it wanted Malta to specify the measures necessary to correct the excessive deficit by 2011 and accelerate the reduction of the deficit if the economy recuperated more than anticipated.'''

How is it possible that Malta will reduce it's deficit to 3% by the end of next year with all these huge losses and with the €55 given to bus owners????

Can somebody please explain it to me cos i'm not very financially minded.

Corey Attard

Jan 28th 2010, 17:32

Can we trust anyone to Finance?First Gohn Dalli in 2003, now Tonio Fenech.

m farrugia

Jan 28th 2010, 17:28

it's about time amalta starts fillng up its planes instead of flying with MEPs, ministers, chairmen & employees' tfal tat tfal. LCCs are subsidies by taxpayers but at least they manage to deliver & fill up their planes. With Airmalta we taxpayers will probably end up paying for years of mismanagement but amalta still manages to fly empty planes instead of offering last minute offers.

at with all due respect, are these politically appointed chairmen always travelling on taxis and club class really aware of what today's independent travellers look for, that is accessibility and low fares for short breaks?

Karl Abela

Jan 28th 2010, 17:27

@ Galea L. What a sick joke of bad memories!!!!

Airmalta made a profit for 20 years under the labour government because Air Malta was the only choice for us Maltese citizens and we were charged 600 euros for a flight to London at a time where wages were a fraction of today. What kind of profit was that???Dak kien sussidju bil-pulit ghal Airmalta!!!

Galea, you need to try harder. You are trying to diminish Fenech Adami's and Gonzi's achievements but your arguments are lame possibly due to your hardcore loyalty to the labour government of the Mintoff and KMB era and your undying hatred towards the European Union.

M Debono

Jan 28th 2010, 17:19

@Mr Victor Vella

well said.. prosit

Joseph Calleja

Jan 28th 2010, 17:18

Stop pumping money into Air Malta, Privatization is the only solution. Spare the tax payer more grief and expense. The same thing happened with the Drydocks and mostly everything else the government owns and runs. Isn't Air Malta and MIA owned by the same one and only Government? Now I see clearly why they want to sell the Selmun Palace Hotel. And why are ground handling costs in Malta 40 per cent higher than abroad? Maybe the Minister can explain all that to the taxpayer. Good Luck Mr Portelli

M. Cachia

Jan 28th 2010, 17:18

@ James Cassar - when you say that AirMalta employees receive perks such as free flights, due to operating in a monopoly scenario you might want to know that this is not correct. This is all part of what is called IATA Resolution 748. It is binding for all commercial transport operators. It has nothing to do with being generous to staff.

@ Charles Vella - when you say that you had a Landing ACCIDENT in Gatwick last summer, you may want to re-phrase as the term ACCIDENT in aviation lexicon is far more serious than perhaps a discontinued landing manuevere, which itself is considered as part of every appraoch & landing.

s.baldacchino

Jan 28th 2010, 17:17

Yes,air malta staff are ARROGANT from top to bottom...

Andrew Zammit Manduca

Jan 28th 2010, 17:16

@ Vincenzo Galea

Firstly I think you are very mistaken. Mr. Zammit did all he could in his power to hide the mistakes of the previous chairmen unfortunately as you might know yourself dealing with the government is not easy especially when you have unions who always want to create havoc. I would also get my fact right and think properly why Mr. Zammit resigned from chairman. He has been since 1987 as mentioned before chairman of various government entities that needed big help and he has always managed to sort out many of the problems they had. So if I were you I would apologize for you incorrect statement. I am glad to hear that the government is actually considering financial aid as it has always kicked its own National Airline in the face and never gave them any aid what so ever but give subsidies to all low cost airlines that come to Malta. That is why Ryanair operate at such low prices. Also Ryanair use the same staff at check-in to clean the planes and as cabin crew hence operating costs are low. Plus their staff is paid a very basic pay.

Alfred Farrugia

Jan 28th 2010, 17:09

Can we know how much AirMalta is paying for the services it receives in foreign airports? How much is AirMalta, for example, paying Alitalia at Heathrow for handling passengers?

Is anybody responsible to check any miscommunications between AirMalta and other airlines? When I missed an AirMalta connecting flight at Heathrow because of bad weather, British Airways informed me that the late AirMalta flight on the same day was full, and that I needed to take the next day’s flight. I did not believe British Airways that a second AirMalta flight on the same day was full. After I checked with contacts in Malta and several journeys between Terminals 4 and 5, I finally boarded the late AirMalta flight - and there were a dozen empty seats or more! Before I boarded I was forewarned that there might not be any food for me and for another passenger who was in a similar position. If the flight was fully booked, there should have been food for everybody! Something was wrong somewhere, and probably more than just one thing.

Running an airline is not easy, but there are a number of matters that need improvement.

J Farrugia

Jan 28th 2010, 17:06

S Risso made me cry and laugh at the same time. Air Malta NEVER has any state aid. it went on its own steam. No government ever helped it financially. Now is the time ot aid this airline since it faces harsh competition and never went for redundancies. The sacrifices made by the workers should be acknowledged by one and all. And it is still flying with flying colors.

P.Scicluna

Jan 28th 2010, 17:06

I cannot understand how Ryanair they transport 16million passengers with only 2000 staf and air Malta has 1500 for just 3 million.We need to learn more from the eccentric owner of Ryanair.Recently I was in Spain and in one airport there were 14 Ryanair planes leaving the ground in a span of one hour. Not easy for air Malta to be in black now after all these losses. Air Malta should look for a strategic partner . But who wants an airline with all these losses and smaller than a reginol one. I think companies like Ryanair is more interestead in its licence and he will pay anything for it, WITH A GOOD CONTRACT and not like the ship building. But sometimes I wonder why the PM always appoint people in top positions all coming from same company were he was Chairman? we need new FRESh faces with big ideas, guts and business knowledge Albert Mizzi sttyle.

Joe Falzon

Jan 28th 2010, 17:00

its incredible how such readers comment on the airmalta fares. visit airmalta.com website and you will see book early fares from EUR99 inclusive of taxes. all airlines including the subsidised low cost airlines increase their fares close to departure. the government had to resort to all sorts of taxes including the famous bed tax to finance the low cost airlines. the subsidisied low costs only contribute to 21% of all arrivals into Malta. low cost airlines make money because they receive hefty contributions from governments and local authorities. LCCs have already costed the government over EUR6 million

J Busuttil

Jan 28th 2010, 16:56

Nobody wants to listen. The price of fuel has skyrocketted.

Charles Micallef

Jan 28th 2010, 16:54

Air Malta employees have nothing to fear if the worse came to the worse they will be equally treated in line with Malta Drydocks Employees and Bus Owners,

r pace bonello

Jan 28th 2010, 16:52

Mr Fenech said the airline made its €31 million loss in the financial year ending March 31, 2009 owing to high fuel prices and the weak Sterling. What about over manning? Job guarantees at AirMalta as well?

MSciberras

Jan 28th 2010, 16:47

WOW!!!! So many experts writing here!!!! AirMalta is staffed by some of the most dedicated people you can find anywhere, many of whom, especially some v hardworking managers, are underpaid. It is the most vital commmunication artery of a tiny island nation with tourism being an important part of the economy. If airmalta were replaced overnight by Ryanair, the range and volume of routes that connect Malta to her vital tourism markets would be drastically reduced as purely commercial principles decide which routes to fly. Then what? Private industry in Malta and the Maltese public consider airmalta another government department that should provide cheap flights to/from every destination. When that does not happen, we hear the 'experts', be they hoteliers, or JoeX who could not get his cheap flight. My tuppence worth is that recognition on the part of the EU that the airline cannot be just another 'company' for a small island nation must be established. Furthermore those who rely on Airmalta for much of their business - from the restaurant operator to the hotelier - must pay AM a fee, just as they for their utilities. Call it a tax.......but in economics it's called efficient pricing.

Victor vella

Jan 28th 2010, 16:47

Attention All
Please note that under the regim of Laurence Zammit, a wage freeze was imposed on all ground staff for the last 7 years. THANK YOU . This action did not effect the cockpit crew, the cabin crew and the engineering people, as these all have had a collective agreement with an increase in their pay. With this the Gwu was aware and did nothing. Apart before Mr Zammit left Airmalta, durning the last 2 weeks not less than 30 call for applications (promotions) were issued. Finally I wish to thank Mr Zammit for the new practices he have imposed to be practiced by his appointed chief officers . The way they treat the employees is really .........!!.

A Anderson

Jan 28th 2010, 16:45

Could losses be linked to 'ineffective marketing'?

Or that Air Malta cut many of its routes, such as Stansted, Glasgow and many others?

Rather than advertise the route properly to increase its viability, it seems Air Malta has decided to just not operate any more. How will that philosophy increase business?

Maybe it is me, but I think that Air Malta has given up before it even tries - and sorry, your marketing is not proving effective. I am sure more can be done.

If there is no choice, people are going to use other air lines - and why not?

g.c.Forte

Jan 28th 2010, 16:41

@ Igalea...ASpiteri...................Ilqattu il likk ... short and sweet, but you made the best and true comments.

Arthur Ellul

Jan 28th 2010, 16:40

Air Malta cannot be privatised.

why, because if the operator decides to pull out and operate the fleet elsewhere, we will be stranded.

We will be at the mercy of the few remaining airlines that decides to use our airport for refuelling.

Remember Balkar Airlines, when they stopped over at luqa for refuelling and opened the New York route for us, now they shifted operations elsewhere and bye bye the Malta stop over en route to New York.

I think that the government is sensible enough to look at the perspective this type of privatisation will bring, total isolation and at the mercy of others.

and what will happen to us?

lgalea

Jan 28th 2010, 16:36

Is AirMalta to follow SeaMalta, the Shipyards and all those entities that the eu ordered us to pass on to private foreign hands?

Galea. L

Jan 28th 2010, 16:35

J Farrugia
The Unions have every interest for the company to prosper because if not their members will suffer. It's what management or rather mismanagement like when the unsuitable aircraft were bought in spite of all advice to the contrary that puts companies and their employees in danger.

Karl Abela Yes Karl, Airmalta always made a profit under PL administrations but it has gone to the dogs under pn governments and pn-appointed managements like what happened in all companies that had pn-appointed managements.

PM Camilleri Privatization only means shedding workers, increasing prices and a shoddy service.

Alfred Demicoli You are right. The government handed out aid to cheapo airlines instead of Airmalta.

Michael Vella

Jan 28th 2010, 16:28

what have they done to our airline, our national pride!. I've just gone through the Air Malta press releases of the past 3 years and all we've been hearing and reading one press release after the other is how Air Malta's marketing is top notch, avant garde, sales are the best ever, seat factor has improved etc etc....As far as we all know Govt has not interfered with Air Malta's management decisions so the likes of Mr. Friesen, Mr.Capello, Mr.Zammit and Mr.Bartolo owe the Maltese public an explanation. Government must investigate what's been going on as these losses say that many things have not been right in the past years....and it is not the usual excuse that they resort to...the lower grade workers wages are not to blame...they're among the very lowest in Europe.

mickel van gurchom

Jan 28th 2010, 16:17

How come Ryan Air with fares much lower than Air Malta still makes a profit.?
Indeed as more people mention, lower your prices and everybody will fly Air Malta.
Last year to fly to Dusseldorf booking with Air Malta was double the price as was booking with Lufthansa.Surprise was that it concerns the same flight(airplane), probably everybody booked with Lufthansa. Just before take-off no seat were offered with Lufthanse while Airmalta was still offering last minute at even higher prices.
So be happy with more sales and a profit as no sales and a loss!!!!

Stephen Facciol

Jan 28th 2010, 16:17

@ Karl Abela

Air Malta made profits for at least 20 years in a row (1976-1996), and from 1998 till some of the following years. It was only from 2003 onwards, that Air Malta started consistently making losses !!!

Ron Saliba

Jan 28th 2010, 16:10

@S Risso

Please try to get your facts right.

N Xuereb

Jan 28th 2010, 16:06

Reading the paper today I only read -31M for Air Malta, -55M for Transport, -165M for the Power Station and -266M budget deficit last year, ... Is Malta still "finanzi fis-sod"? U hallina Gonz

Jon Vercellono

Jan 28th 2010, 16:05

Some of your commentary is incredibly short sighted and unbelievable. If you desire to rationalize service and quality down to zero levels a la the budget airlines - you are entitled to your beliefs. Additionally, customer service (which on the whole and every time I have enquired about flights or flown is incredibly dedicated and a true asset and reflection of Maltese hospitality. Privitisation is not the be all and end all - the same solution doesn't work for every country - its not one size fits all. Privitisation will lead to employee apathy and customer alienation. Air Malta is often the first impression of Malta that people get, and I'm proud to say that it is often a very good reflection. I'm proud we have such a dedicated and proud airline. For those who say that the prices are high - shop around on the website and pay attention long before the date you want to travel - there are bargains to be found. Don't knock and try to rationalise an incredible national asset - and stand up for it - don't let others do so either.

Fabian Mizzi

Jan 28th 2010, 16:03

@ S Risso
Do you know the difference between an airline and and airport operator ? Air Malta is the airline while MIA are the airport operators. The ywere the ones who obtained a permit for the extension of premises & made improvements to runways etc.

@ Karl Abela
Yes Air Malta did make profits and the Government of Malta benefited from all the profits. Air Malta is surely not the old Dockyard.

GGrima

Jan 28th 2010, 16:02

ma nistax nifhem.....ir Rainar jaghmlu l qlieh b 25 il ewro il biljett, u L Airmalta taghmel telf sostanzjali!!!!!!!!! Hemm min qed ipapija sew milli jidher....Mismanagement dak sur Gonzi

a.camilleri

Jan 28th 2010, 15:59

me and my wife wish to travel with airmalta everytime that we go to the uk as our family is over there, but the price is not always possible to do this, example is ...early this month my wife had to go to a funeral in london, we checked air malta and price was 287 , we checked one of the low cost airline and it was 101, thats a big difference in the price, had to take that one.

R. Cassar

Jan 28th 2010, 15:58

Does the Government consider Airmalta as a company or just another department under the minister's authority!

Kevin Zammit

Jan 28th 2010, 15:54

I have been a regular flying every week with Air Malta for the past 4 years. Air crew are great but administration is arrogant and think they answer to know one. I have had a few run ins in the past but tried to close one eye but I have had enough. Now almost 2 months ago I had a small incident at heathrow that was blown out of proportion by the air Malta representative. I requested an apology through customer service ... or at least to be given a reason why one would not be forth coming. Is that too much to ask?

It took them 2 months to deal with it and barely any communication at all ...

Now to add insult to injury my tax money is going to fund some more unproductive jobs!

James cassar

Jan 28th 2010, 15:50

Air Malta enjoyed its Monopoly for years. When it did, it's employees enjoyed benefits and perks nobody else did. Free flights, overtime, workers' compensation.

Now that the haydays are over, we are expected to fork out millions to subsidize what should have been a viable and profiable airline. Now that the damage has been uncovered, it is the nation who is to be made accountable. Nobody brings ex air malta chairmen into the limelight and scruitinize them for spending millions in Turb-prop engines which were left to deteriorate into scrap metal as long as they mad ehefty commisions out of everything.

E. Azzopardi

Jan 28th 2010, 15:50

The Drydocks, the Transport Assoc., Air Malta ..... !!!!
I thought that Air Malta already has state aid some three or four years ago when it was said that it was a turnaround. It wan't. The taxpayers cannot keep on having their money being given to entities which are not producing. Then privitise the national airline!!!

Charles Vella

Jan 28th 2010, 15:46

I think it's time for Air Malta to change its way of doing business. Apart from the economic crisis which certainly was partly to blame for the loss, Air Malta needs also to improve its customer service. Last August we had an accident on a flight to Gatwick during landing which was never mentioned. Later when i contacted customer service for explanations I could not beleive the rudeness of the reply I got. No assistance was given even tough all passengers where under shock.

ASpiteri

Jan 28th 2010, 15:44

ahleb guz kien jghid is-salvatur ta malta!

hallas gahan!

Alfred Demicoli

Jan 28th 2010, 15:43

@Vincenzo Galea

Air Malta got the action all right. It was when the government, owner and administrator of Airmalta, chose to subsidise foreign airlines that were making hunderds of millions in profit, instead of helping Air Malta.

Now it is only fair that the government assists Air Malta in this time of need.

Mr Zammit did all he could, but was helpless.

Jan Chircop

Jan 28th 2010, 15:42

@S Risso,

Idiot Air Malta doesn’t own the runway and didn’t get any permit for new offices, that’s MIA another company.

Give me us break

Alfred Demicoli

Jan 28th 2010, 15:41

@Mr Debono

Air Malta got the action all right. It was when the government, owner and administrator of Airmalta, chose to subsidise foreign airlines that were making hunderds of millions in profit, instead of helping Air Malta.

Now it is only fair that the government assists Air Malta in this time of need.

Mr Zammit did all he could, but was helpless.

PM Camilleri

Jan 28th 2010, 15:35

The only solution for Air Malta is for it to be privatised. The sooner the better.

s.grech

Jan 28th 2010, 15:30

Although I do not know anything about airlines I do know that Airmalta fares are very expensive in my experience 3 tickets in February to Vienna will cost me € 736 . Airmalta should have a good look at low cost airlines and see how they are making money .

S Risso

Jan 28th 2010, 15:27

What leg are you trying to pull now???? Didn't Airmalta just get a development permit for a new section of offices? Did they not spend millions on upgrades to runways , parking lots and the sorts?? State aid indeed!!! If I or anyone put a new wing on our house--can I or anyone apply for state aid???? Can we fudge losses like this --this is totally gross and insulting to the Maltese public. Enough is enough! Air Malta would rather fly empty than fill them with lower rates. We will never see the forest for the trees, will we???? Also, handling costs 40% higher than abroad?? How can it be when there is such a meager wage in Malta???? I look in disbelief when the wool is being pulled over our eyes such as this--Shame on you!

Karl Abela

Jan 28th 2010, 15:22

Did Air Malta ever make a profit?

Or is this another Dry Docks saga with Joe Public investing his/her taxes with a return of even more losses?

K Micallef

Jan 28th 2010, 15:17

One very simple way of reducing losses (which potential passengers would also find highly attractive) would be that instead of having a flight with a half-empty plane which, nonetheless uses almost the same amount of fuel and requires the same manpower and wage costs, it would be wise to have cheaper "last minute" flights to fill up the otherwise empty seats. It is strange that the cost of tickets increases as the flight date approaches and then, from first-hand experience, find that there are plenty of empty seats on board. Every drop counts!

Stephen Facciol

Jan 28th 2010, 15:11

Apart from the restructuring which is necessary for Air Malta, if we really want to help Air Malta recover, we need to establish true FAIR competition between the latter and the low cost airlines. In other words, Air Malta might not open up certain routes or close down some of the actual routes because they might not be feasible to operate, but then, if a low cost airline turns up and offers to operate that same route ONLY if a subsidy (usually renamed as "Financial stimulus package") is granted, the subsidy is granted and the low cost airline operates that same route which Air Malta without any subsidies would have considered as uneconomic. If this is fair competition, well ...

J Farrugia

Jan 28th 2010, 14:57

It is unacceptable that if there are still bad work practices which are hindering efficiency, these should be tackled by the management and not by unions who dont have the company's interest at heart. It is the management who has to face it's board of directors and it is the management which has to deal which such antiquated practices which hinders the efficient ruunning of the ground handling operations. it is the unions' fault which is making such ground operations much costlier than in other countries so let's stop the rot. The workers have made many sacrifices to sustain the company and those who dont want to budge from old practices for their momentary gains, should be thrown out of the company. let's continue to make airmalta our national airline more efficient and turn it into a modern airline which is the jewel in our crown.

john borg

Jan 28th 2010, 14:52

Mr Lawrence Zammit, a blue eyed boy, has been serving as Chairman of this and that (mind you, all government-owned entitites) since 1987 - almost 23 years. I am sure that he does not have a problem resigning from Air Malta. Good luck to him!

vincenzo galea

Jan 28th 2010, 14:51

@Mr Debono
Hallina. Who wants a good listener and nothing else? AIR MALTA WANTED ACTION, EFFICIENCY, GOOD MANAGEMENT AND VISION. And it did not get it under Mr Zammit. No wonder he ''asked'' not to be re-appointed. well........wasted years !!

lgalea

Jan 28th 2010, 14:48

Is AirMalta to follow SeaMalta, the Shipyards and all those entities that the eu ordered us to pass on to private foreign hands?

Karlo Zammit

Jan 28th 2010, 14:40

issa ghamilna cento...min go tagen ghal gewwa in nar....mhux ta b'xejn il gonz ha jmur ghand 'id daddy' = EU !!!! helpppppppppppppp

M Debono

Jan 28th 2010, 14:26

what a loss.. Mr Zammit was a good listener. Wishing you good luck..