Christian Peregin, Nikki Abela Mercieca
Pilots threaten to strike
Air Malta pilots’ strike planned for July 16
Air Malta pilots, feeling “betrayed” by a “defective” restructuring plan drawn up by Ernst & Young, are threatening to ground the whole airline fleet in three weeks’ time unless their demands are met.
Their main demand is a three-year moratorium on Malta International Airport charges.
“The MIA has drained us. They charge us for everything: the car park, security, cargo, passengers and our offices,” the president of Airline Pilots Association (Alpa), Domenic Azzopardi said.
“Cutting the (airport) fees by €2 is not nearly enough... we need a moratorium of three years until we get back on our feet,” he said, in reaction to details of a draft copy of the restructuring plan that appeared on The Sunday Times yesterday.
Based on a 10-aircraft fleet, the national carrier will have to lose 511 workers including about 57 pilots, 53 cabin crew, 21 engineers and the rest from loaders and officer workers. The government will have to provide €25 million more to recapitalise Air Malta while the company must raise €51 million in bank loans or bonds. Some passenger charges are planned to increase profitability.
But Capt. Azzopardi is unimpressed.
“We are not going to save the airline by charging customers to use their Visa card or by removing discounts for children. If we place more charges on the customer, we might as well close.”
Instead, Air Malta should focus on making profit from things like cargo. “For example, agents charge customers €50 to send a one kilo parcel from Malta to the UK but Air Malta only makes 50c,” he said, adding these were suggestions the union made but did not seem to have been taken on board.
Mr Azzopardi added the airline would not be helped much by removing freebies for the Finance Minister or the Prime Minister. Asked whether the symbolic gesture was appreciated he replied: “Symbolic gestures won’t feed us.”
The pilots will stage a protest in Valletta on July 15 and Alpa plans to ground all Air Malta planes the following day.
“This is the last straw. We cannot go on like this. The work is not being done well. We have been ignored and now we are taking a stand so we will not be ignored any longer.”
Capt. Azzopardi spoke of “preferential treatment” being given to low-cost carrier Ryan Air, saying that to have a level playing field, the government must give the same exact benefits to Air Malta.
In a statement, Alpa said it was not in the interest of the company to make pilots redundant considering the money invested in their training. The union has offered solutions by coordinating the “leasing” excess pilots to other airlines who need them.
In reaction, Malta International Airport said in a statement that while being sensitive to the current situation being faced by Air Malta and its employees, the company categorically denies the claims regarding Malta International Airport's alleged responsibility for the current situation the national airline is in. Malta International Airport said it is conscious of the importance of Air Malta for the tourism industry and the economy and it looked forward to continue constructive discussions with the airline's management.
Meanwhile, the general secretary of the General Workers’ Union, Tony Zarb complained about the way the restructuring plan was made public. “We are surprised that we did not get such news from the government or the company but through The Sunday Times today,” he said.
“I cannot confirm the numbers because we had never heard the ones that were published. I would like to point out that we were previously speaking about 600 workers and now the number changed to 511. Which one is the correct number,” he asked.
Mr Zarb stood by the union’s position that the government should give an alternative job to workers who did not opt for early retirement.
The issue boiled over last week when it was revealed that employing surplus Air Malta staff in the public service could be forbidden because the EU could interpret this as a form of state aid.
The union will be meeting the company this week to discuss the breakdown of job losses in each department and how the airline arrived to such numbers.
Air Malta employees were reportedly “in a state of panic” yesterday. Insisting on anonymity, one worker said employees deserved better than to hear about a draft plan from a newspaper and although it was only in draft stages, many were taking it to be a fact.
He argued that judging by Air Malta’s workload in the past, the number of workers to be laid off was unsustainable, adding that employees were left in the dark even with regard to the work the airline was targeting for the future.
Air Malta said yesterday the report that appeared on The Sunday Times was not based on the “finalised version” sent to the European Commission. “The final report contains amendments that were not reflected in the article and do not mirror the current thinking on the way forward.”
The airline added that the 190 loaders mentioned by the newspaper actually referred to the whole ground operations division and not to the number to be laid off.
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NOEL DARMANIN
Jun 27th 2011, 22:38
I positvely agree with a strike and will be a real strike. ALPA has the power to do it and hope it will as no one has ever tried to stop these irresponsible decisions. LET ALL THE PAST SENIOR MANAGEMENT PAY BACK ALL THE EXCESSIVE WAGES EARNED, drying AirMalta. Enjoy the low cost airlines now that what happens. tourists travelling with a minimum fee and forget our national airline. Who is responsable for all this, the Government and and his entities. (MIA). Sorry to say we had good MALTESE CHAIRMEN before with a very successful decisions. And now again, foreigners to decide. I remember Mr Prime Minister used to say he is proud that Maltese people can decide and succeed. What about now???
Brett Davies
Jun 27th 2011, 18:39
Well i booked flights months ago to Manchester on the 17th July as i'm the best man at a wedding.... Whats going to happen to that flight then? I booked with Airmalta as i trusted them more than RyanAir n EasyJet but by the looks of things you guys are more screwed up then both put together!
I really hope this strike doesn't go ahead and the' big bosses' can sit down and talk out there problems like actual humans not businessmen!
I work in the tourist industry as well and know for sure that if this strike happens it's bye bye Air Malta and Hello Easy Jet n Ryan Air! Think of the long term effects people!
Mr Charles camilleri
Jun 27th 2011, 14:51
Would Capt Azzopardi pls inform us how much is a Captain's pay and the number of weekly working hours before going into other details.
M.O. Micallef
Jun 28th 2011, 20:46
of course not ...but I can assure that he affords to retire today and live a better life than most of the maltese people...so do you think he cares. Another point : with his experience and flying hours he is in a better position to get a job than those pilots who will be made redundant as they happen to be the most inexperienced ones. In fact that is what the pilots are stating that they want to bring Airmalta ...more ...on its knees and make it go bust...what the heck....after all most of the senior pilots own small businesses and investments which render good money.
M. Cachia
Jul 1st 2011, 12:30
At least 30% less than LCC! You make the maths now and tell us all since you seem so eager!
Ms Maria Vella
Jun 27th 2011, 13:08
Way to go gous - what about people who have bought their flights with their hard earned money? what about their rights?
Mr norbert schembri
Jun 27th 2011, 18:29
Ask your irresponsible govt who sucked airmalta dry.
Fran Abela
Jun 27th 2011, 12:50
Is there a clause in the pilots' contract that says pilots cannot all but have to leave a leaway for emergency flights ? If I remember correctly when Alitalia pilots went out on strike they were penalised for not operating at least a minimum of flights in case of emergency requirements. Before anyone gets me wrong I am not saying that pilots cannot strike but as they provide an essential service they have to ensure that there is a minimum of flights operating. Correct me someone if I am wrong. I still think that to go ahead with a strike will cause irreparable damage to Malta in general. The pilots or whoever goes out on strike has to remember that he is not hitting out at government but causing inconvenience and loss of money to people who have booked flights in advance. These are ultimately the people who are going to suffer because of industrial action. If your problem is with government what has the Maltese taxpayer or tourist got to do with it ? Strikes only cause inconvenience to third parties. Sit down at a negotiating table all of you, pilots, unions, government officials, etc. and thrash out your problems in a civil manner.
Lino Busuttil
Jun 27th 2011, 11:36
Strikes are dangerous no doubt, risky and a last resort but they are civil rights and if one defending his right to work is not a good reason I do not know what is. This is the last resort as the Union has been offering multitude of solutions which even the Minister can vouch for. If you read the article ALPA is not defending just those who are targeted to loose their jobs but mostly those who will remain. With 2euros cut in MIA fees Air Malta will fold down in 2 or 3 years anyway. Only with 20euros moratorium i.e. 20million total annually will our cost base be dented enough to turn the airline around. This man is offering solutions not protesting for glamour.
Stephanie Farrugia
Jun 27th 2011, 13:37
well if you read the comments posted here and other related sites you will see that even by just threatening to strike,people will be put off even harbouring the thought of flying Airmalta--after all ,MIA won't even be effected ,they will still get their revenue.I can understand that the tension and frustration all of you have been subjected to makes you want to hit out, but expecting a three year moratorium from MIA --and I am not saying that it is not long due to the airline--is by far already a dead end before starting!
So I ask, who will really suffer? Which ever way you look at it, civil right or not, the Airline loses out all round. MIA certainly will not! I do not agree that this action will safeguard the future of those left to pick up the pieces, it will only give certain policy makers a very quick and good excuse to close down the Airline and open it as they wish,with their conditions and wages...just look at Sabena and other airlines for proof.
I do wonder about the glamour bit!
Mr Carmel Farrugia
Jun 27th 2011, 13:42
Strikes will only endanger the 800 jobs that are being planned should remain at Air Malta. ALPA and the GWU should ask the Alitalia employees what happened when they went out on strike during the restructuring process. Just in case I can reply myself. Alitalia was closed down and re-opened as Alitalia-CAI with new owners and much less employees. The others remained out.
Mr norbert schembri
Jun 27th 2011, 18:26
"MIA certainly will not! "
Mhux ta l-istess opinjoni E&Y, dawn qed jghidu li kif tieqaf l-AirMalta "MIA will operate at a loss". Issoltu tghakhom, tparlaw fil vojt bla bazi u ricerka ta xejn!!
Stephanie Farrugia
Jun 27th 2011, 18:46
Sur Schembri
Qabel ma toqoghd tajjar l in nies ,aqra u ifhem kollox ..jien kont qed nirreferi ghal strike meta ghidt li l MIA ma tigiex affetwata, mhux hekk tfalli l Airmalta.
u jekk ifallu l Airmalta,ibqa cert li terga tinfetah kumpanija ohra ,b kundizzjonijiet u pagi kif iridu, u xorta tibqa min fuq l MIA
Nispera li fhimt Issa
Mr FRANS H SAID
Jun 27th 2011, 11:21
I can appreciate their situation. BUT - will a strike help or make matters worse? If Airmalta loses its credibility, then not 511 workers will loose their job, but far more that that. A strike is a powerful but dangerous weapon and must be used with extreme care.
I do not feel that a strike will solve anythintg, probably it will make metters worse.
Mr Karl Consiglio
Jun 27th 2011, 11:29
The threat of making matters worse would be the entire point of the strike,
Lino Busuttil
Jun 27th 2011, 10:55
How much clearer can it get. Capt Azzopardi really put it bluntly for all to see. There is no political tricks here, this is above politics this is big money between big bosses.
Not that inefficiencies need not to be removed as soon as possible but the major solutions are there for all twho want to read, BUT something is holding ACCOUNTABLE MEN at the top to challenge MIA the major rain on Air Malta as a base airline. And tackle the "theft" on cargo to avoid putting the brunt on passenger fairs. But nowadays there are few real MEN and no ACCOUNTABILITY.
Look at those who made you, the public believe that an MOU and cutting wages would make Air Malta profitable, like Chairman Zammit and his directors and Mr Funk. Are they accountable? And the Minister of the time? Is he accountable. Only the employees are, they are targeted to be fired for mistakes done and still being thought by top people who do not stop deceiving the public about what are real solutions.
lyn nobbs
Jun 27th 2011, 11:54
I do hope we are not going to see a repeat of the behaviour that occured during the bus strike,we arrived on the day it started and it was very frightening and our holiday was spoilt by actions by drivers for the rest of our holiday. We have just booked flights for early August......very expensive as travel to london diffucult and regional airports are so expensive!!!!
Kenneth Galea
Jun 27th 2011, 09:15
This article straight away makes me think twice whether I should book with AirMalta my next trip to Malta.
Why did we have to instruct Ernst&Young to draw up a plan for the restructuring of AirMalta??? These people (Ernst &Young) might be good when it comes to the theory of matters but on practical side I question their efficiency tactics.
Mr Alan Kay
Jun 27th 2011, 09:01
12 aircraft, soon to be 10 and 103 pilots, madhouse economics 10 pilots per plane?