The Airline Pilots’ Association has again hit out at aspects of the draft Air Malta Restructuring Plan, while also complaining that a handful of companies are continuing to make millions of euro at the expense of Air Malta and its survival.
In a statement, the union welcomed Air Malta’s new CEO, Peter Davies.
"Although neither ALPA nor Air Malta’s Restructuring Committee were ever consulted in the selection or remuneration of the new CEO, the pilots’ union still extends its support by cooperating with him to resolve Air Malta’s current situation in the shortest time possible. ALPA looks forward to the expeditious appointment of the new management team," the union said.
It added that with every passing day Air Malta is continuing to lose money to the benefit of its competitors.
"Major issues in the draft restructuring plan proposed by Ernst and Young still need to be addressed. Without giving too much detail to figures laid out in this plan, due to the confidentiality agreement signed, ALPA wishes to convey its disapproval to the fact that a handful of companies continue to make millions of euro at the expense of Air Malta and its survival," the pilots' union said.
"The excessive charges by MIA, as already mentioned by other airlines operating out of Malta, are crippling the company. Current contracts that Air Malta has negotiated need to be redressed. Carriage of cargo, in flight catering, in flight entertainment, aircraft cleaning, IT services, call centre and other services which have been outsourced in recent years need to be renegotiated. Air Malta can no longer afford to continue operating a service outside of its profit margins."
It added that the restructuring plan outlined by Ernst and Young concentrates on staff reduction as being a solution to the company’s problems. However ALPA said it does not feel that this alone will ensure Air Malta’s future.
"The pilots' union is not against redeployment of staff and in favour of exploiting the company’s last few assets to its maximum"
"Support has already been shown to the failed restructuring plan which was carried out in 2004. For this reason ALPA does not want history to repeat itself. The pilots’ union will endorse a carefully designed restructuring plan in the interests of Air Malta and not to a project which protects the interests of select individuals."
The pilots underlined the importance of Air Malta for tourism.
"One of the main reasons why Air Malta was created back in the seventies was to ensure that the developing tourism industry thrived. Without Air Malta certain routes will be removed, isolating Malta from its European compatriots. It is easy to turn around the airline into a profit making one, but not within these constraints," the union said.
It said it has set up a facebook page to discuss Air Malta. (alpaforairmalta)