Alpa given guarantee that necessary changes at Air Malta will take place, union claims

J. Scicluna

Jul 15th 2011, 00:20

Is it true that Pilots' taxis that carry them individually to and from the airport and cabin crew transfers cost Air Malta around 600,000?

Howcome ALPA never mentioned this cost; is this not a cost that is utterly wastefull?

Most of the crew for major airlines make their own way to the airport. I've seen Lufthansa cockpit crew take the U-line to Frankfurt airport. ALPA makes so many comparisions with other airlines' crew, but not in this matter.

I guess it is so much easier to see "waste" in others' than in one's own, eh Dominic!?

Rocco Camilleri

Jul 14th 2011, 17:41

Well done ALPA. You had to be the ones to bring the Government on the right track, which means that we do not have 'Cwiec' Maltin as was said by one of the Ministers some time ago. Malta has bright people and learn in a short time.Now its up to you to see that the guarantee given by both of them is adhered to. If you succeed to bring the tickets/charges in line with the Low Cost, for sure you will gain more passengers than the Low Cost, because Air Malta always had a name over other airlines in the past. Keep it up and augur you success for the benefit of the Airline, yourself and Malta as a whole. Maltese who has Malta's blood running in their veins should make use of YOU.

Mr Mario P. Sciberras

Jul 14th 2011, 17:09

Don Quixote of trade unionism in Malta. Guess who?

Mr Joseph Apap

Jul 14th 2011, 16:57

Some two years ago my wife and together with other maltese were on a flight to Tel Aviv Izrael. We were on a tour of Izrael during the Holy week. I met a person of high standing at Air Malta who informed me that although the plane was full with passengers the amount paid by the tour operator did not cover even the costs of the flight and certain pilots were only on duty for some two days in a month.

That is when I realised that something is definately wrong at Air Malta
You cannot carry out a business if you do not even cover the cost
Well done ALPA that you have called off the strike and told the government of thongs that could be done much better

Mr J Busuttil

Jul 14th 2011, 16:38

What a cheek most of you have you are really disappointed that they have discussed and got grantees all you wanted was a collision course and the company going bust to satisfy your political intentions. Shame on you all.

Well done ALPA as you made the government hear you out and got the guarantees you wanted to secure your living.

Mr Stephen Borg

Jul 14th 2011, 15:55

What guarantees can the government give?

1.Stop giving subsidies to Low Cost Airlines?
They cannot because if they do most Low Cost Airlines would drop their routes to and from Malta and leave our Tourism industry in a big vacuum.

2. Revise contracts with MIA?
They cannot because MIA is a private company which at the end of the year has to register a profit. How can they revise contracts which would be favorable for Air Malta and not favorable for MIA and other airlines with the European Union monitoring us.

The only thing which would save Air Malta is privatization. This happened before with Alitalia and Olympic and will have to happen for Air Malta if the company is to survive.

francis Buhagiar

Jul 14th 2011, 15:52

ALPA these promisses are valid till September, when the tourist season passes it will be another story as usual.
Frans Buhagiar

Mr Victor Calleja

Jul 14th 2011, 15:39

Nispera li dawn il garanzijji tal prim min istru mhux bhall tas soltu. (with a pinch of salt)

Mr Charles camilleri

Jul 14th 2011, 14:53

The bottom line is that Air Malta has to operate as a commercial concern or bust. On this and rightly No guarantees were given that the Airline will continue to operate with the same compliment or unless there is a profit. There was no guarantee that there will further subsidy for the company. All the guarantees given were to implement certain measures to reduce costs.

Ms Rose Cilia

Jul 14th 2011, 14:48

Words are cheap and when they are coming from those two they are even cheaper !

Mr Joseph Calleja

Jul 14th 2011, 14:15

Ho Ho Ho it must be Christmas already, A job guarantee by Gonzi. Hoss fl-ilma on that one. Like I said before ALPA never intended to walk out because they know that if they did so would their jobs. This was a game of chicken and both parties chickened out. One thing that Alpa has accomplished for sure and that is they did a lot of damage to the credibility of Air Malta. Because of the strike threat,. a lot of passengers had to make alternate reservations and some even had to cancel their original plans thanks to this game of chicken that Air Malta (the government) and Alpa. The jobs are still hanging in the air for a lot of others and the pilots might have managed to save some of their jobs. We will know soon as the results of the meetings between Management and Alpa come out. The meeting was between Alpa, the management and the government and nobody else was invited. In any case let's hope everything turns out in favour of trying to save Air Malta. In the meantime like some commentators below said, make sure you have a copy of any guarantee you get from our government because as many other employees will tell you, that guarantee is worth nothing. Good Luck

ALFRED FRENDO CUMBO

Jul 14th 2011, 14:03

Why is it that almost all these people who are putting in comments seem to be so sad that ALPA called off the strike and came to their senses?

Michael Debattista

Jul 14th 2011, 13:53

Re MHRA I recall times when they made a fuss at the news when Air Malta was about to reduce the flights to some destinations they insisted that Air Malta keeps the frequency, not caring at all that Air Malta was doing the flights at a loss. Can these guys decide what they want - a healthy airline or just seeking their own interests not caring at all for the consequences ?

May I suggest that MHRA pays Air Malta to make up the difference on loss making routes ?

Or else just stick and deal with Low Cost airlines.

Michael Debattista

Jul 14th 2011, 13:53

Re MHRA I recall times when they made a fuss at the news when Air Malta was about to reduce the flights to some destinations they insisted that Air Malta keeps the frequency, not caring at all that Air Malta was doing the flights at a loss. Can these guys decide what they want - a healthy airline or just seeking their own interests not caring at all for the consequences ?

May I suggest that MHRA pays Air Malta to make up the difference on loss making routes ?

Or else just stick and deal with Low Cost airlines.

Mr Joseph N. Attard

Jul 14th 2011, 13:40

Well well well. So Mr Azzopardi wants a 25,000 a year rise, does he? And at the same time he asks Air Malta to cut costs, does he? Oh Boy. I'm off to my afternoon siesta, before I go crazy.

Mr Peter Murray

Jul 14th 2011, 13:19

Yeah right.Take Gonzi's guarantees to the bank and see what happens as his credibility and integrity are shot to hell.Let's see if and when all these "guarantees" are implemented and more crucially when!

Mr mario gellel

Jul 14th 2011, 13:15

GIVEN GARANTEE FROM GONZI AND TONIO ??? BABY THINK TWICE.

godwin difesa

Jul 14th 2011, 13:13

The common sense had prevailed it is good for all parties and for Malta in general.Air Malta have a big potential but it have to be privatized same like Malta Dry Docks,Sea Malta,and others with control from some government authorities.Only the private sector can make profit as there will not be any interference
from any political party in the power.We tax payers we cannot continue paying for these losses how can an air line be profitable having 137 workers for every air craft ,It like you are saying having 10 sales person in
a 30mts shop impossible and these things they new them how they let them go for this long time shame
for us as we can do much better with our Air Line as the was ours and healthy like a cow getting milk every day but now it is sick so we have to cure it and the only medicine is PRIVATIZE .

Mr George Calleja

Jul 14th 2011, 13:02

ALPA is more concerned about other contracts but is hiding that, although knowing that Air Malta is in dire straits, it is asking 25 thousand euro annual increase to Dominic Azzopardi and Co!!!

Mr Lawrence Fenech

Jul 14th 2011, 12:59

Gonzi u siehbu Tonio taghwilkomx bil-mitktub biex twahhluha ma garantizja li tghakhom qabel. Halluna kemm kelna garanziji, kollha taru mar-rih.

Michael Debattista

Jul 14th 2011, 12:53

MHRA and co against ALPA.
Some Air Malta employees go to court and hold ALPA responsible for damages.
Pilots wages mentioned in the media.
Is this a joke or what ??? Personally I do not have any personal interests in Air Malta except for the well being of the company as the whole country will benefit, and even more I do not care how much these pilots earn. Why is everyone focusing in the wrong direction ?
Why is it always that everyone is interested in what other are earning ?
Why doesn't anyone instead of focusing on the wrong issue seek in detail ALPA's claims and tries to investigate these contracts that ALPA is mentioning ? We should have a few good journalists capable of doing it ?
Let us not let a few columnists and dictators obscure the true picture. Let us look at facts - that a few businessman apparently are draining Air Malta to death. Is it true ? I do not know. That is what ALPA is saying and no one challenged this so far.

Mr R ferriggi

Jul 14th 2011, 12:32

more promises, more pie in the sky,,,,,,,,,,,, more failures arriving.

at least we will let the election come and pass and then good/bad luck ....... to whoever has to face the tragedy.

my prediction:

1. a half-baked solution will be implemented in this year, trying to appease everyone.
2. this will fail in 2/3 years time ( past the election,,,,,) .
3. eventually Airmalta will go bust anyways.
4. the maltese public will be asked to fork out x millions to keep airmalta afloat because EU money will not come again.

Joe Abela

Jul 14th 2011, 12:31

CONGRATS FOR YOUR WORK ALPA!!!!

Mr Jeffrey Mallia

Jul 14th 2011, 12:29

" The Prime Minister has guaranteed" Ohhhhhhhh we've all heard this before didn't we ?????

SEBASTIAN MAGRI

Jul 14th 2011, 12:28

CHANGE AIRCRAFTS OR GO BIOFUEL( SAVE EUR10.000.000 YEAR) aircraft BOMBARDIER

Mon Swinger

Jul 14th 2011, 12:25

ALPA, you are soon to be sued by the third parties who will lose out on income from your point of sale suggestion.